Highly regarded appellate lawyer representing clients before federal and state appellate courts across the country.
Practice also encompasses government-facing litigation involving challenges to regulatory actions.
Provides strategic guidance on constitutional law, administrative law, and statutory interpretation questions concerning draft legislation and pending litigation.
Handles cross-border disputes involving complicated legal issues.

A member of the Supreme Court & appellate practice, Lide has represented clients in various stages of appellate and trial litigation, as well as in international arbitration. A significant component of his practice focuses on government-facing regulatory litigation involving challenges to agency action.

A recognized appellate lawyer, Lide has authored countless briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal courts of appeals, has presented oral argument in several federal appellate courts and district courts, and has drafted pleadings and motions filed in trial courts at the federal and state levels.

Lide also represents clients on matters outside of litigation, including litigation risk analyses and public policy advice. In addition, Lide counsels clients in cross-border disputes involving complicated legal issues. He regularly provides critical strategic guidance on constitutional law, administrative law, and statutory interpretation questions concerning draft legislation and pending litigation. He maintains an active and wide-ranging appellate pro bono practice.

Prior to joining Akin, Lide practiced appellate and trial litigation as an attorney at another Washington, D.C. law firm and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Paul V. Niemeyer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. He previously served at the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of State.

Prior to law school, Lide worked as a child advocate at a public interest law firm in Charlotte, NC, served in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State, and carried out community development and refugee-related projects in East Africa. He is the founder and president of a nonprofit organization expanding access to education in Tanzania.

Lide attended the University of Virginia School of Law on a Hardy Cross Dillard Scholarship, graduated Order of the Coif, and received the Mary Claiborne & Roy H. Ritter Prize for honor, character and integrity, the Roger and Madeleine Traynor Prize for the best written work in his class, and the Raven Society Scholarship for leadership, scholarship and community service. He graduated with high honors from Princeton University, receiving the Spirit of Princeton award for contributions to campus life.

Representative Work

Representing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority in various challenges to a federal law concerning national regulation of horseracing, including presenting oral argument in several federal district and appellate courts.
Represented the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians at the U.S. Supreme Court following successful cert petition presenting the question whether the Bankruptcy Code abrogates tribal sovereign immunity.
Represented the petitioner at the U.S. Supreme Court in a case concerning the scope of a district court’s jurisdiction to review an invalid sentence under the federal habeas statute.
Successfully opposed a petition for a writ of certiorari—and a recommendation by the U.S. Solicitor General that the petition be granted—to protect a precedent-setting D.C. Circuit ruling that foreign officials charged with torture could not invoke conduct-based immunity.
Secured a favorable decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit overturning section 1782 discovery order.

Presented oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit on behalf of habeas petitioner in state custody.
Represented the Penobscot Nation before the en banc Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit in a dispute against the state of Maine over the boundaries of the Nation’s reservation and the scope of its fishing, hunting, and trapping rights.
Devised the winning appellate strategy and drafted appellate briefs to secure an affirmance by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit of a district court judgment overturning a jury verdict on an employment-discrimination claim.
Represented a national car rental company in successfully opposing application of a prevailing-wage ordinance that risked disrupting the company’s on-airport operations.
Argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on behalf of a conservation organization in an appeal involving federal regulations to protect endangered marine species. Represented the same client in securing an order requiring the Government to publish regulations limiting harm to marine species inadvertently entangled by the indiscriminate use of mile-long drift gillnets.
Represented an electric utility in securing a favorable decision at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit holding that FERC cannot independently prevent bankruptcy court approval of executory-contract rejections.
Successfully devised a strategy and drafted briefs that persuaded a federal appellate court to vacate an adverse multimillion dollar award of attorney’s fees in an antitrust matter.
Persuaded the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to overturn the dismissal of a prisoner’s complaint alleging state officials had violated the First Amendment and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act by interfering with his sincere Native American religious practice.
Assisted an American shoe and apparel manufacturer in an appeal of a lower-court decision, developing the appellate strategy and drafting the appellate briefs. Akin took over the representation of this client from another major law firm and convinced the appellate court to unanimously reverse the lower court’s decision.
Represented a nationally chartered trust company seeking to defend a $400 million judgment issued in its favor in the wake of a breached indenture agreement, drafting a motion to stay in the 2nd Circuit and a brief in opposition in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court accepted the arguments and denied the opposing party’s petition for a writ of certiorari, bringing the matter to an end so that the client could enforce the judgment.
Participated in drafting of merits briefs and preparation for oral argument on behalf of the petitioner in a Supreme Court case concerning whether comments the petitioner had posted on a social media site constituted a “true threat.” The Court ruled for the petitioner 7-2, overturning his conviction.
Helped to secure a unanimous decision in favor of the petitioner in a Supreme Court case involving a felon-in-possession statute. Agreeing with petitioner, the Court ruled that the statute did not bar the petitioner from transferring his lawfully owned firearms from Government custody to a third party.

List may include matters worked on prior to joining Akin.

Presented oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit on behalf of habeas petitioner in state custody.
Represented the Penobscot Nation before the en banc Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit in a dispute against the state of Maine over the boundaries of the Nation’s reservation and the scope of its fishing, hunting, and trapping rights.
Devised the winning appellate strategy and drafted appellate briefs to secure an affirmance by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit of a district court judgment overturning a jury verdict on an employment-discrimination claim.
Represented a national car rental company in successfully opposing application of a prevailing-wage ordinance that risked disrupting the company’s on-airport operations.
Argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on behalf of a conservation organization in an appeal involving federal regulations to protect endangered marine species. Represented the same client in securing an order requiring the Government to publish regulations limiting harm to marine species inadvertently entangled by the indiscriminate use of mile-long drift gillnets.
Represented an electric utility in securing a favorable decision at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit holding that FERC cannot independently prevent bankruptcy court approval of executory-contract rejections.
Successfully devised a strategy and drafted briefs that persuaded a federal appellate court to vacate an adverse multimillion dollar award of attorney’s fees in an antitrust matter.
Persuaded the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to overturn the dismissal of a prisoner’s complaint alleging state officials had violated the First Amendment and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act by interfering with his sincere Native American religious practice.
Assisted an American shoe and apparel manufacturer in an appeal of a lower-court decision, developing the appellate strategy and drafting the appellate briefs. Akin took over the representation of this client from another major law firm and convinced the appellate court to unanimously reverse the lower court’s decision.
Represented a nationally chartered trust company seeking to defend a $400 million judgment issued in its favor in the wake of a breached indenture agreement, drafting a motion to stay in the 2nd Circuit and a brief in opposition in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court accepted the arguments and denied the opposing party’s petition for a writ of certiorari, bringing the matter to an end so that the client could enforce the judgment.
Participated in drafting of merits briefs and preparation for oral argument on behalf of the petitioner in a Supreme Court case concerning whether comments the petitioner had posted on a social media site constituted a “true threat.” The Court ruled for the petitioner 7-2, overturning his conviction.
Helped to secure a unanimous decision in favor of the petitioner in a Supreme Court case involving a felon-in-possession statute. Agreeing with petitioner, the Court ruled that the statute did not bar the petitioner from transferring his lawfully owned firearms from Government custody to a third party.

List may include matters worked on prior to joining Akin.

Education
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2015
A.B., Princeton University, magna cum laude, 2006

Clerkships
U.S.C.A., 4th Circuit

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
Virginia

Recognitions

The Legal 500 US, Appellate: Courts of Appeals / Supreme Courts (States and Federal), 2024.
The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Appellate, 2022, 2024.
Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Appellate, 2021.

Affiliations and Public Service