PROFESSIONALS

Brian J. Leske

Partner / Boston, MA

P   ‭617.573.9400‬
E   bleske@ashcroftlawfirm.com
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Brian J. Leske has held senior legal positions in government and business for the past twenty-five years.

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He provides both general guidance and strategic legal advice, bringing innovative thinking, sound judgment, and a results-oriented approach to solve a wide array of difficult and complex legal and business problems. His specialties include litigation strategy and management, enforcement strategy, ethics and compliance, internal and government investigations, corporate governance, and appellate and constitutional law.

Mr. Leske previously served as Chief Legal Counsel and Deputy Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Mitt Romney in the Massachusetts State House. There, he managed Executive Branch legal operations and advised the Governor on legal and policy aspects of legislation, litigation, ethical compliance, judicial selection, and the scope of executive power. He also served as the Homeland Security & Legal Policy Director of the 2008 Romney presidential campaign, where he provided policy and communications advice to the Governor in areas such as national security, technology & innovation, corporate & regulatory reform, constitutional law, and criminal law.

Before joining Governor Romney’s staff, Mr. Leske served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts in the Anti-Terrorism & National Security Unit, investigating and prosecuting domestic and international terrorism cases. He also represented the United States in criminal appellate matters before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit as one of three members of the Appeals Unit.

Prior to relocating to Boston to join the Justice Department, Mr. Leske worked in Washington, D.C., as in-house counsel for a global telecommunications company, managing litigation, arguing federal appeals, and advising executives on legal and compliance issues. Before that, he was in the Litigation and Supreme Court Practice Group of an internationally-recognized law firm.

In 2008, he returned to Washington, D.C., to serve a one-year academic appointment at Catholic University, Columbus School of Law. As a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law & Scholar-in-Residence, Mr. Leske taught advanced courses on appellate advocacy and a constitutional law seminar on separation of powers.

Mr. Leske is a Founding Board Member and former General Counsel of Teardrops to Rainbows, a non- profit organization that raised over $1M to help children with cancer. He is a three-time Finisher of the Hawaiian IRONMAN Triathlon (1.2M Swim/112M Bike/26.2M Run) and an avid sailor. Mr. Leske lives in the Boston area with his wife and three daughters.

  • Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
  • Chief Legal Counsel to the Governor of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.
  • B.A., Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • District of Columbia
  • Commonwealth of Virginia (Associate Status)
  • Law Clerk (Intern and Extern), U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Washington, D.C., 1993-1994