Theodore V. Wells Jr. is a prominent American trial lawyer and partner at the New York-based law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, known for defending high-profile clients in complex litigation cases. Born in Washington, D.C., Wells has become one of the most prominent African American attorneys in the United States, with expertise in white-collar criminal defense, corporate litigation, and civil rights matters. He gained national prominence as lead defense counsel in the 2007 trial of I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, in the CIA leak case involving Valerie Plame. Although Libby was convicted, Wells successfully argued for a presidential pardon, which was granted by President Donald Trump in 2018. Other notable representations include defending former Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons, junk bond king Michael Milken during his appeals, and Eli Lilly in a major antitrust case. Wells has also been involved in pro bono work related to civil rights and education equity, and has received recognition as a leading litigator by publications such as The National Law Journal and Chambers USA. Throughout his career, he has maintained a low public profile outside of his legal work, focusing on mentorship for young lawyers, particularly minorities, and has received numerous awards including the Thurgood Marshall Award from the Association of Corporate Counsel. As of recent years, Wells continues to practice law in New York, contributing to discussions on legal ethics and diversity in the profession.