A. Scott Bolden

Bolden was born in Joliet, Illinois to Raymond and Kathleen Bolden. Bolden's father, Raymond Bolden, is a criminal defense and civil rights attorney as well as a judge,[1] and was the head of the NAACP in Will County, Illinois.[2] His mother, Kathleen Bolden, was a civil rights activist. She supported his father's law practice in the early years, and later returned to college and graduate school to receive degrees in Black History and Sociology. She was a college professor, administrator and entrepreneur who owned Educational Associates and several businesses in the education arena.[3]

As a child and teenager, Bolden often traveled with his father, as the older Bolden tried cases across the state. They were often the only people of color in those courtrooms, which inspired his feelings about the law.[4] Bolden was also inspired by the way his father commanded the courtroom. Bolden would go with his father as he visited clients in local and federal prisons and observed of how his father would earn clients’ respect and trust. Watching his father's oratorical skills and presence before judges would shape Bolden's professional and personal life and would inspire Bolden to begin his own legal career.[2][5]

At Morehouse College and later at Howard University School of Law, he trained for leadership under the tutelage of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, Dr. Robert Brisbane, Judge William Bryant, Attorney and civil rights activist, Julian Dugas, Howard Law School Dean, J. Clay Smith, Judge Luke C. Moore and Judge Wiley Branton, among others.

Upon graduation, Bolden worked as Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office where he prosecuted hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases. He went on to work as Legal Counsel to the Committee on the Judiciary Council of the District of Columbia. In 1991, Bolden started as an associate with the law firm Reed Smith, making partner in four years, and was the first African American in the history of the firm to be promoted from associate to full equity partner.[6] Later, he became Managing Partner of the firm's D.C. office, representing a number of high profile clients in civil, regulatory and white-collar litigation matters and throughout his legal career, he has successfully defended many high-profile athletes, entertainers and politicians.[7] In 2018, Bolden resumed serving as office managing partner of the Reed Smith, Washington, D.C. office. He is also a former Member of Reed Smith's Executive Committee.[8] In 2018, Bolden returned to the role of Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C., office of Reed Smith.

While maintaining a full-time white-collar defense and litigation practice, Bolden led the District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the District of Columbia Democratic Party, hosted a local Washington, D.C., radio show called “What Matters Most” and co-hosted[2][1] his own cable television show called “Building Bridges for Business.”[8] In 2006, Bolden ran to become an at-large member of the Council for the District of Columbia and lost.[6] Bolden serves on the Board of Trustees of Morehouse College[9] and on the Board of Visitors of the Howard School of Law as well as on the board of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Additionally, he continues to represent the interests of several nonprofits, including the United Negro College Fund, the Greater Washington Urban League, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Bolden is a frequent political and legal analyst and has made appearances on local and major national news channels—including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Fox Business Network and other media outlets—as a regular commentator, sharing his views on politics, law, society and business.[10][11][12][13] He has appeared on CNN's “Newsroom” and “Situation Room,” MSNBC's “The Rachel Maddow Show,” Fox News Channel's ‘Happening Now” and “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” Fox Business Network and Fox Business Network's “After the Bell.”

Bolden has received numerous honors and awards including Attorney of the Year Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's Rainmaker Award, was designated a White Collar Criminal Defense Super Lawyer from 2013-2017. [14]

• National Bar Association Political Action Committee – Chairman, Board of Directors (2017)
• Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies – Member, Board of Governors (2013 - present)
• Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia – Member, Board of Directors (2012 - 2015)
• The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. – Member (1998 - present)
• Morehouse College—Board of Trustees (2016—Present)
• Howard University School of Law – Member, Board of Visitors (2011 - present)
• Federal City Council – Member, Executive Board (2008 - 2013)
• Candidate for D.C. Council, At Large (2006)
• Individual Development Corporation – Board of Directors (1999 - 2013)
• D.C. Chamber of Commerce – Member, Board of Directors (1998 - 2013)
• D.C. Chamber of Commerce – Chairman (1998)
• District of Columbia Bar – Board of Governors (1999 - 2003)
• D.C. Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee – Chairman (2000-2002)
• D.C. Democratic State Committee – Chair (2002 - 2004)
• D.C. Water and Sewer Authority – Board Member (1998 - 2002)
• District Court of the District of Columbia's Committee on Grievances – Member (1998 - 2003)
• Sequoia National Bank – Director (1998 - 2004)
• Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity (Life Member)[15]

Bolden and his first wife filed for divorce in 2000.[16] Bolden and his current wife, Erika, currently reside in Washington, DC. Together they have three daughters, one son and a granddaughter.