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We have some sad news to report out of the D.C. legal community, where one of the founding partners of a high-powered boutique recently passed away. William Consovoy, 48, made his mark among conservatives through his litigation efforts at Consovoy McCarthy and Wiley Rein.

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The firm did not mention a cause of death, but it is known that Consovoy had been diagnosed with brain cancer about two years ago. He was unable to argue a challenge to affirmative action before the Supreme Court this past fall due to his treatment.

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Consovoy, who once served as a clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas, led the Supreme Court Clinic at his alma mater, the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, for more than a decade. He argued two cases before the Supreme Court (Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins and Evenwel v. Abbott), briefed in others, like Shelby County v. Holder (a successful attack on voting rights) and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College (what is likely to be a successful attack on affirmative action), and was part of the litigation team in others still (Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin). Prior to his death, Consovoy had even represented Donald Trump in the former president’s battle to shield his tax returns from Congress.

Consovoy McCarthy published a statement in a memoriam on PR Newswire:

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“Most of the legal community knows of Will because of his brilliant analytical mind. With good reason. He was an exceptionally skilled writer and among the top advocates of his generation. And he was widely respected throughout the legal world for his unique skill as a litigation strategist,” said Tom McCarthy, co-founder of the firm. “But to those lucky enough to count him as a friend, Will was so much more than that. He had a huge heart and was the most loyal of friends. Always putting others’ interests before his own, Will went out of his way to help a friend or family member in need. He loved to make other people smile—and loved even more to make them laugh. It is his love, loyalty, and laughter that we will miss most of all.”

We here at Above the Law would like to extend our condolences to William Consovoy’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.

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In Memoriam — William S. Consovoy [PR Newswire]
Consovoy McCarthy Founding Partner Dead at 48 [National Law Journal]

Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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