S. Robert Sutton has been engaged in the practice of law since his graduation from the Stanford Law School in 1980, specializing in general civil and white collar criminal litigation. Immediately following his graduation from law school, he went to work at Jenner & Block in Chicago, Illinois, where he obtained his first experience as a litigator, and honed his legal research and writing skills. He worked at Jenner & Block for two years before returning to live in Montgomery County, where he was born and raised. Mr. Sutton graduated from Walt Whitman High School in 1973, before obtaining his B.A. from Northwestern University in 1977. In September of 1982, he went to work at Steptoe & Johnson, in Washington, D.C., where he continued to develop his research, writing, and litigation skills.
In 1985, Mr. Sutton joined Janis, Schuelke & Wechsler, a white collar criminal defense and civil litigation “boutique,” where he was able quickly to assume significant responsibility over a variety of matters. During his twenty-six years with Janis, Schuelke & Wechsler, Mr. Sutton represented hundreds of clients in a variety of matters primarily involving civil and white collar criminal litigation. On the civil side, he has been involved in litigation involving personal injury, allegations of medical malpractice, insurance coverage disputes, business disputes, and disputes involving employment related matters. In white collar criminal matters, he has participated in internal investigations, and the representation of targets, subjects, and witnesses in grand jury investigations.
From the onset of his association with Janis, Schuelke & Wechsler, Mr. Sutton was afforded the level of increased responsibility that he had sought, and he continued to develop professionally. He was admitted to the partnership in 1989. Mr. Sutton’s professional development and competency also is reflected by the fact that he has consistently maintained an “AV Preeminent” rating: the highest possible rating of General Ethical Standards and Professional Ability, based upon evaluation by other attorneys and members of the judiciary. The General Ethical Standards rating denotes adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities. The evaluation of Professional Ability includes an assessment of legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication ability, and legal experience.
Mr. Sutton left Janis, Schuelke & Wechsler, and established the Law Office of S. Robert Sutton, so that he might provide his clients with his legal services at more reasonable rates. Mr. Sutton always has prided himself upon his personalized, professional service, attention to detail, and his ability as an effective advocate.
Mr. Sutton began his practice in Chicago. He first gained admission to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in 1980. Upon his return to the Washington area, he was admitted to practice before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in 1982. This was followed by admission to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, in 1984; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, also in 1984; the Court of Appeals of Maryland, in 1993; the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, in 1996; and the Supreme Court of the United States, in 2001.