David Pressman

Ambassador David Pressman is an international human rights and national security litigator who represents clients in existential disputes with governments and strongmen. He has been described as “one of the world’s leading human rights advocates” (CNN), a “brilliant orator” (Le Monde), and a “high-profile diplomat” (The Guardian). 

In private practice, Ambassador Pressman represents individuals and institutions in high-stakes crises around the world.  His clients have included hostages held overseas, victims of terrorism seeking justice through U.S. courts, and clients embroiled in consequential Congressional investigations.  He has been honored as a distinguished alumnus of New York University School of Law and previously co-chaired the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Law Committee.

As United States Ambassador to Hungary, Pressman led U.S. diplomatic engagement with one of America’s most challenging allies during Russia’s full-scale war against neighboring Ukraine.  Ambassador Pressman led the United States’ successful efforts to lift Hungary’s veto on multiple sanctions packages targeting Russia, the creation of an international oil price cap regime, the adoption of a global minimum tax, the opening of European Union accession talks with Ukraine, and the historic expansion of NATO to include Sweden and Finland.  

As the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Security Council, Pressman served as the senior U.S. negotiator on international disputes around the world, including issues involving Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine; the crisis in Myanmar; peacekeeping in Darfur; and leading negotiations with China on a landmark package of multilateral sanctions in response to nuclear activities on the Korean Peninsula.

Prior to his service as U.S. Ambassador, Pressman served on the senior leadership team at the Department of Homeland Security.  As Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Pressman led the Department’s Office of Policy Development responsible for formulating and advancing policy and regulations on complex legal and security issues.

At the White House, Pressman served as the Director for War Crimes and Atrocities on the National Security Council. Pressman’s work led to the first Presidential directive banning human rights abusers from entering the United States; the first Presidential directive creating a standing body responsible for the early prevention of mass atrocities; the first White House body devoted to finding and bringing priority international war criminals to justice; and mobilized U.S. efforts leading to the successful adoption of the first United Nations resolution in history recognizing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights as human rights.

Ambassador Pressman has built and led mission-driven institutions committed to advancing public dialogue and rigorously focused on impact.  He launched and led the Clooney Foundation for Justice, transforming it from a concept into a results-driven global institution. Earlier in his career, he co-founded the human-rights organization Not On Our Watch with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and others. 

Ambassador Pressman has published widely in outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Time, and he has been profiled in The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times Magazine, and Politico.  He served as the Pritzker Fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and as a Senior National Security and International Affairs Fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Ambassador Pressman began his government service as an aide to Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright.  He received his B.A. from Brown University and graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif from New York University School of Law.