While serving as Special Counsel and head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Hampton:
- Headed the independent federal agency responsible for deterring government misconduct, protecting whistleblowers and others in the 2.2 million member federal work force from retaliation and other types of employment discrimination, and enforcing the Hatch Act’s prohibitions on political activity by public sector workers.
- Oversaw agency accomplishments including: highest ever number of favorable outcomes for federal employees in FY 24; issuing policies for AI, government transparency and accountability, and the Hatch Act (with the last one deemed “historic” by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington); initiatives to support military reservists and veterans; and securing temporary job re-instatement for thousands of probationary employees wrongfully fired.
- Advocated for watchdog independence and for federal employees, particularly veterans. His “good government” efforts won praise from CREW, Senator Ted Cruz and others.
While serving as an Assistant Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) and head of the Office of Legal Policy (OLP), Hampton:
- Managed and participated in OLP’s major functions: formulating legal policy (civil and criminal); coordinating DoJ rulemaking and DoJ input on other Executive Branch regulations; and assisting with judicial candidate vettings, nominations, and confirmations.
- Reported to the Deputy Attorney General and interacted frequently with all Departmental leaders including U.S. Attorneys, FBI, and Drug Enforcement Administration. Also communicated with Office of Management and Budget (particularly the Information and Regulatory Affairs section), general counsel for Cabinet departments, and various interagency policy committees.
- Focused on multiple areas of legal policy including: regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Facial Recognition Technology (FRT); corporate, environmental, and competition enforcement policies; deterring misuse of Unpiloted Aerial Systems (UAS, a.k.a. drones) through Counter-UAS and other measures while promoting commercial UAS deployment; forensic science; death penalty moratorium; Native American sovereignty and safety; combatting human trafficking; racial equity; protecting athletes; privacy; space; and the Reproductive Rights Task Force.
- Coordinated major rulemakings including: Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions; DEA telemedicine and scheduling regs; gun safety measures and victims’ rights; and Title IX updates. Also authored memorandum outlining the proper approach for DoJ components issuing guidance documents.
- Oversaw the vetting of the talented and diverse group of federal judicial candidates nominated by President Biden including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
In private practice and as an in-house counsel prior to joining Foley Hoag, Hampton:
- Advised the CEO and General Counsel for a major utility-scale solar energy company on major litigation and regulatory affairs matters.
- Helped lead successful response to litigation against health system in groundbreaking antitrust cases (brought by federal and state regulators along with follow on class actions) involving insurer contracts exposing provider to large money damages claim and enterprise-threatening government-imposed sanctions.
- Represented numerous entities dealing with State Attorney General office investigations and litigation in range of contexts including antitrust, consumer protection, False Claims Act, and tax matters. Developed strategies to resolve multi-state AG matters and joint state-federal regulator issues.
- Served as lead counsel for Fortune 100 company in successful federal court bench trial in False Claims Act case.
- Served as co-counsel for civil rights organization sued for discrimination in jury trial ranked as one of the ten “most noteworthy” in DC courts in annual Legal Times survey.
- Led efforts to relocate Confederate monuments away from university grounds, courthouses, and other prominent public spaces.
- Represented interests of Black voters before local and state election boards to ensure fair and meaningful opportunities to cast ballots afforded.
- Brought a lawsuit on behalf of the world’s best women’s soccer players to challenge gender discrimination at the 2015 World Cup. Litigation helped achieve several player goals including increase in prize money, the use of goal line technology, a finding that FIFA could be subject to another nation’s courts, and a commitment by FIFA to play subsequent women’s World Cups on natural grass.
- Served as lead counsel for media entrepreneur in successful effort to have lower court anti-business speech ruling overturned and defamation suit dismissed.
- Engaged by major city attorney’s office to conduct independent investigation with public written report assessing complaints against mayor and city council members.
- Served as co-counsel in breach of contract action before ICC International Court of Arbitration.
- Served as lead counsel in books and records suit in Delaware Chancery Court.
- Served as lead counsel for successful bidder on $2.6 billion healthcare-related state government contract.
- Served as lead counsel for alleged wrongdoer in state False Claims Act case with over $700 million in potential damages.
- Served as co-counsel for pharma company in successful breach of contract and bad faith suit against insurance carrier.
- Served as lead counsel for business technology company in successful defeat of protest proceedings seeking to deny client a $265 million state government contract.
- Served as lead counsel in the overturning of $120 million state government contract wrongfully awarded.
- Served as lead counsel for major commercial publisher in successful defense of copyright infringement claim.
- Served as co-counsel for antitrust class action defendant with lead responsibility for economist experts in collusion case.
- Served as co-counsel in successful appeal by psychiatrist seeking reversal of medical negligence judgment.
- Served as lead counsel for automobile manufacturer in successful defense of multimillion dollar indemnity action.
In North Carolina, as a Deputy Attorney General and Chief Legal Counsel for the Office of the Governor, Hampton:
- Oversaw judicial appointment process resulting in doubling of women trial judges and selection of the first Hispanic judge appointed to North Carolina courts.
- Drafted executive orders on range of budget, public health, and education issues including ensuring additional financial aid to low-wealth school districts.
- Served as point person for all legal issues involving the State and Native American tribes, particularly the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
- Played leading role in numerous multi-state matters including the Master Settlement Agreement to resolve tobacco litigation and joint U.S. DoJ-State AGs antitrust suit against Microsoft.
- Participated in briefing of cases before U.S. Supreme Court, DC Circuit, and Fourth Circuit while arguing cases in NC trial and appellate courts.
- Served as lead appellate counsel for the State in upholding first-degree murder conviction of dangerous armed felon.
CLERKSHIP
- Judicial Clerk to the Honorable James Dickson Phillips, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
