Surya A. Iyer

Experience

Mr. Iyer represents employees throughout the federal government who are facing disciplinary and adverse actions. Mr. Iyer also works with public employees facing inquiries and investigations from various executive and congressional functions. His practice includes defending public employees in civil litigation in federal district court.

In addition to his work successfully defending individual employees, Mr. Iyer also provides representational services for federal agencies. In this capacity, he guides federal agencies in navigating complex personnel issues, provides input on various issues impacting personnel management, and defends agencies against EEO complaints and in administrative appeals.



Mr. Iyer obtained EEO Investigator certification pursuant to the EEOC’s training requirements and is qualified to conduct investigations for federal agencies and prepare reports of investigation regarding allegations of discrimination, harassment/hostile work environment, and retaliation for federal agency review. With that certification, Mr. Iyer is also qualified to draft Final Agency Decisions for EEO complaints, review investigations for legal sufficiency, and analyze EEO complaints to define claims.

Mr. Iyer also authors a regular column for the firm’s FEDagent newsletter summarizing recent federal court opinions on issues affecting the federal law enforcement, for a non-legal audience.

Mr. Iyer joined Shaw Bransford & Roth in June 2024. Mr. Iyer brings years of litigation experience to the firm, both as a prosecutor and as a judicial law clerk. His past experience ranges from conducting criminal investigations, grand jury presentations, briefing and arguing dispositive motions, trying cases, and drafting judicial opinions. Before joining the firm, Mr. Iyer served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Steven M. Wellner at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia where he advised and drafted decisions on the criminal and domestic relations dockets. Mr. Iyer began his career as an Assistant District Attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where he investigated and prosecuted a variety of criminal offenses including serious sexually motivated offenses, violent weapons offenses, and investigations concerning human trafficking.

Mr. Iyer graduated with honors from the George Washington University Law School. While in law school, Mr. Iyer participated in D.C. Law Students in Court, now known as Rising for Justice, where he represented indigent clients accused of misdemeanor offenses in D.C. Superior Court, as well as individuals facing removal bond proceedings. Additionally, Mr. Iyer interned in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and assisted with civil defensive litigation under Federal employment discrimination laws and the Federal Tort Claims Act. Mr. Iyer also interned with the Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement, where he participated in asset management investigations and assisted Commission attorneys in preparing for administrative hearings and dispositive briefings. Also while in law school, Mr. Iyer served as an intern in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, in the Human Trafficking Unit, and as a legal intern for the Honorable Paul L. Friedman in the District Court for the District of Columbia.

Mr. Iyer earned B.A.s in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Publications

• Supreme Court: Administrative Exhaustion Issues May Require Jury Trial
• Fourth Circuit Extends Bivens to Eighth Amendment Excessive Force Claim
  

Bar & Court Admissions

• New York
• District of Columbia
  

Education

• B.A., University of Michigan
• J.D., George Washington University Law School, with honors