Stuart W. Risch

Stuart is a business litigation partner with a deep understanding of complex legal, regulatory and administrative issues. His extensive experience includes the leadership and management of legal teams from large groups to senior executive level and includes criminal, national security, veterans and administrative law (ethics, investigations, and personnel). Stuart’s exceptional career experience benefits clients across industries and includes work within the firm’s Government Investigations and White Collar Practice. 

Before joining Shook, Stuart served as The Judge Advocate General (TJAG), Lieutenant General, the most senior uniformed legal officer within the United States Army appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. In this role, he oversaw the defense of the Army’s interests in thousands of lawsuits, leading one of the nation’s largest law firms, comprised of over 10,000 lawyers, paralegals and support staff with offices located across the globe. Stuart led the activities of the JAG Corps’ licensed attorneys and certified paralegals in delivering principled counsel and premier legal services. He was also the senior military legal advisor to the civilian Secretary of the Army and the four-star Chief of Staff of the Army in development of policies and programs and on the full range of legal and policy matters for the one-million-person, worldwide Army. In addition, Stuart operated the Department of Defense’s only ABA-accredited law school and established an Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) and a holistic wellness program.

Initially, Stuart entered active duty with the JAG Corps in 1988, and then proceeded to serve in a succession of leadership roles throughout his military career. He was the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, where he oversaw representation of the Army in civil matters before federal, state and foreign courts, and served as Chief Judge for the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals. In these roles, he directed the Contract and Fiscal Law, Regulatory and Intellectual Property Law, Litigation, and Environmental Law Divisions as well as the Trial Judiciary, and presided over three panels on the Army’s Appellate Court. He also served as Commanding General of JAG’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia. Before his appointment as The Judge Advocate General, Stuart also served as Deputy Judge Advocate General for four years. Stuart’s military service encompasses three combat tours of duty in Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, including Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn and Iraqi Freedom II. His military awards include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.

Stuart earned his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and also earned a Master of Laws Degree with a concentration in environmental law from The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School. In addition, Stuart has a Master of Strategic Studies Degree from the U.S. Army War College, and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from Lafayette College. His military education included the Judge Advocate’s Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff Officer’s Course, and the Army War College.

Stuart is adept at translating his military legal experience and service to benefit his clients in his private practice. Among the many services he offers, he enjoys serving as a legal advisor and ethics counselor to executive leadership. Stuart is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, in addition to other state and federal courts.