Tony West (attorney) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tony West
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West in 2013
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| 17th United States Associate Attorney General | |
| In office March 12, 2012 – September 15, 2014 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Thomas Perrelli |
| Succeeded by | Rachel Brand |
| United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division | |
| In office April 20, 2009 – March 12, 2012 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Gregory G. Katsas |
| Succeeded by | Stuart F. Delery |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Derek Anthony West
August 12, 1965 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | Kamala Harris (sister-in-law) Meena Harris (stepdaughter) |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Stanford University (JD) |
Tony West (born August 12, 1965) is an American lawyer and former government official. He is currently a senior leader at Uber, a company known for its ride-sharing services. Before joining Uber, West held important roles in the United States government, including being the Associate Attorney General of the United States. He also worked as a top lawyer for PepsiCo, a large food and beverage company.
While working for the government, West helped make big decisions. For example, he was involved in the choice to stop defending a law called the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). He also helped the government get back billions of dollars from large financial companies. West worked on improving safety for people in Native American communities, which included new rules in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 2013. In 2014, he announced a huge agreement with Bank of America to settle claims against the bank.
Tony West is also the brother-in-law of Kamala Harris, who served as the Vice President of the United States. He was an advisor for her 2024 presidential campaign.
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Early Life and Education
Tony West was born in San Francisco, California. His parents were Margaret "Peggy" West and Franklin Delano West. He grew up in San Jose, California, with his two younger sisters, Pamela and Patricia. His father was the first in his family to go to college and worked for IBM. His mother was a teacher.
West went to Bellarmine College Preparatory, a private high school, and graduated in 1983. He then attended Harvard College, where he earned a degree in government in 1987. While at Harvard, he was the publisher of the Harvard Political Review.
After college, West started working on political campaigns. He helped with Michael Dukakis's presidential campaign in 1988. He also worked for the Democratic Governors Association. West then went to Stanford Law School, where he earned his law degree in 1992. He was the president of the Stanford Law Review at Stanford.
Career Journey
After finishing law school, West continued to work in politics and law. He worked for the California Democratic Party and also as a lawyer at a firm called Bingham McCutchen. In 1993, he became a licensed lawyer in California.
From 1999 to 2001, he worked for the California Attorney General. Later, from 2001 to 2009, he was a partner at a law firm called Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Francisco. He also helped lead Barack Obama's presidential campaign in California in 2008.
West is also on the Board of Directors for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., an organization that works for civil rights.
Working at the U.S. Department of Justice
West first joined the United States Department of Justice in 1993. He worked as a Special Assistant and later became an Assistant United States Attorney. In this role, he worked on cases involving child exploitation, fraud, and other crimes.
In 2009, President Obama asked West to return to the Justice Department. He became the Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice Civil Division. This division handles many important legal cases for the government. West led a review of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This review led to the government deciding that the law was unconstitutional and stopping its defense.
During his time leading the Civil Division, West helped the government get back over $8.8 billion in taxpayer money through cases related to the False Claims Act. He also oversaw cases that protected consumers and recovered more than $3.5 billion.
Leading as Associate Attorney General
In 2012, Tony West became the Acting United States Associate Attorney General. The U.S. Senate officially confirmed him for the role in 2013. This was a very important position, as he was the third-highest-ranking official in the Justice Department.
As Associate Attorney General, West led efforts to hold financial companies responsible for their actions during the Great Recession. These efforts resulted in huge settlements, including $16.65 billion from Bank of America and $13 billion from JPMorgan. In total, the department recovered nearly $37 billion.
West also oversaw investigations into credit rating agencies like Standard & Poor's. These investigations looked into whether these agencies misled investors. He also worked on improving policing practices in places like Puerto Rico, making sure police departments followed constitutional rules.
West also supported legal help for people who couldn't afford it. He worked to ensure that people accused of crimes had access to good legal defense.
Helping Native American Communities
During his time as Associate Attorney General, West helped pass new laws to protect Native American communities. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 allowed tribal courts to prosecute non-Native Americans who committed domestic violence in tribal areas.
West helped set up a special project that allowed some tribes to use these new powers early. He authorized three tribes – the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, the Tulalip Tribes, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation – to be the first to use this new authority. He also helped create a task force to address violence against Native American and Alaska Native children.
Working at PepsiCo
In October 2014, Tony West joined PepsiCo, a major company that makes drinks and snacks. He became the executive vice president of government affairs, general counsel, and corporate secretary. This meant he was in charge of all legal matters and government relations for PepsiCo around the world. He also oversaw the company's efforts to follow rules and laws.
Joining Uber
In October 2017, West announced he was leaving PepsiCo to become the General Counsel at Uber. This happened after an investigation into workplace issues at Uber. As General Counsel, West is the top lawyer for Uber.
In recent years, West has received significant compensation for his work at Uber. For example, in 2022, his pay package was worth over $10.6 million.
Political Campaigns and Advisory Roles
Tony West has been involved in politics for many years. In 1998, he ran for a seat on the San Jose City Council but was not elected. In 2000, he ran for the California State Assembly but also did not win.
He was a key fundraiser for Barack Obama's presidential campaign in California in 2008. In 2016, when Kamala Harris was elected as a Senator, West co-chaired her transition team. He also served as an advisor for her 2024 presidential campaign, helping to shape the campaign's messages.
Personal Life
Tony West married Maya Harris in July 1998. Maya Harris is the sister of former Vice President Kamala Harris. Tony West is the stepfather to Maya's daughter, Meena Harris. Tony and Maya met while they were both studying at Stanford Law School. They became friends there and started their relationship after they graduated.
