Jeff Bleich leads the diplomatic practice for Dentons, where he has been recognized as one of the nation’s top lawyers. He previously served as Special Counsel to President Obama in the White House, and as the 24th United States Ambassador to Australia from 2009-13. He holds, or has held, several other leadership positions including as Chair of the Fulbright Board, Chair of the California State University Board of Trustees, President of the California State Bar, President of the Bar Association of San Francisco, President of the Barristers Club of San Francisco. In 1998, he was appointed by President Clinton to serve as Director of the White House Commission on Youth Violence following the tragic Columbine shootings. In recognition of his service, he has received some of the nation's top honors, including the highest awards for a non-career ambassador by the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Director of National Intelligence. Jeff received a B.A. from Amherst College, an M.P.P from Harvard, and a J.D. from the UC Berkeley School of Law where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the California Law Review. He clerked for Judge Abner Mikva on the D.C. Circuit and Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist on the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2009, the City of San Francisco named a day in his honor.