Asa Hutchinson
Asa Hutchinson uses his experience as a former federal prosecutor, defense lawyer and former government official to represent clients in the areas of white collar criminal defense, complex litigation, international export controls and sanctions, corporate international relations, homeland security, and corporate investigations and compliance. Asa has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law teaching National Security Law.
In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Asa as the youngest United States Attorney in the nation. Prior to his election to Congress in 1996, Asa practiced law for 21 years, successfully defending clients in major white collar crime cases, while maintaining a vigorous civil litigation practice. As a Member of Congress from the 3rd District of Arkansas, Asa served on the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees, among others.
After being elected to his third term in Congress, Asa was appointed by President George W. Bush as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2001, where he combined tough law enforcement initiatives with advocating increased investment in treatment and education programs.
In January 2003, Asa was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the first Under Secretary of the newly created Department of Homeland Security. As one of the nation’s top-ranking homeland security officials, Asa was responsible for more than 110,000 federal employees housed in such agencies as the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Asa resigned in 2005 and subsequently joined the Venable LLP law firm in Washington, DC as a Senior Trial Counsel and a partner within Venable’s Litigation Division.
Since the forming of The Asa Hutchinson Law Group, PLC, Asa has been successful in while collar criminal cases ranging from foreign government bribery charges (FCPA) in Washington DC to forced labor charges in federal court in Dallas, Texas. Asa has also represented the Arkansas Secretary of State in voting rights litigation resulting from the State's legislative redistricting.
Areas of Practice
- 45% White Collar Criminal Defense
- 10% International Exports and Sanctions
- 10% Homeland Security
- 10% Commercial Litigation
- 10% Employment Law
- 5% Attorney Ethics
- 5% Corporate Investigations and Compliance
- 5% Corporate International Relations
Litigation Percentage
- 60% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Arkansas
- District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- University of Arkansas, School of Law, Fayetteville, Arkansas
- J.D. - 1975
- Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina
- B.S. - 1972
- Major: Accounting
Published Works
- Holes in the Fence: Immigration Reform and Border Security in the United States, 59 Admin. L. Rev. 3, 2007
- Did the Senate Trial Satisfy the Constitution and the Demands of Justice?, Hofstra Law Review, 1999
Representative Cases
- Qualls v. Hickory Springs Mfg. Co., Inc., 994 F.2d 505 (8th Cir 1993)
- Spradlin v. Arkansas Ethics Comm'n, 314 Ark. 108, 858 S.W.2d 684 (1993)
- Alaskan Oil, Inc. v. Central Flying Service, Inc., 975 F.2d 553 (8th Cir 1992)
- Crain Industries, Inc. v. Cass, 305 Ark. 566, 810 S.W.2d 910 (1991)
- Bennett v. State, 302 Ark. 179, 789 S.W.2d 436 (1990)
- Hallmark Cards, Inc. v. Peevy, 293 Ark. 594, 739 S.W.2d 691 (1987)
- U.S. v. Reeves, 730 F.2d 1189 (C.A. Ark. 1984)
Representative Clients
- ALS Technologies, Inc.
- Bio-Tech Pharmacal, Inc.
- Xela Enterprises, Ltd. of Toronto Canada
- Xe Services, Inc.
Classes/Seminars
- National Security Law, University of Arkansas School of Law, Little Rock, Arkansas, 2011
Honors and Awards
- Civic Star, presented by the Director General of the Colombian National Police
- Citations by the FBI and ATF for successful prosecution of a domestic terrorist organization, 1985
- Order Al Merito Civil Libertador Simon Bolivar, presented by the President of Bolivia
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Arkansas Bar Association
- Benton County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- National Association of Former US Attorneys
Past Employment Positions
- Venable LLP, Partner, 2005 - 2008
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Under Secretary, 2003 - 2005
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Administrator, 2001 - 2003
- Member of Congress, Representative (AR - 3rd), 1997 - 2001
- Karr & Hutchinson, Partner, 1986 - 1996
- U.S. Attorney, Western District of Arkansas, 1982 - 1985
Pro Bono Activities
- Constitution Project, Member of Board of Directors
Ancillary Businesses
- Homeland Security Consulting
- Board of Directors of Fortress International Group
- Board of Directors of Pinkerton Government Services
- Board of Directors of Intergraph Government Solutions
