After completing his legal clerkship in 1980, Broas went on to become an associate at the New York City law firm of Conboy, Hewitt, O'Brien & Boardman. In 1983, Broas became an associate in the New York offices of Whitman & Ransom, a prominent law firm specializing in general commercial law, tax law, litigation, real estate, and employment law. After two years with Whitman & Ransom, Broas became a partner at the Anderson, Hibey & Blair law firm in Washington, DC., where he practiced white collar criminal defense law for nearly ten years.
Winston & Strawn
In 1995, Broas accepted an offer to join the Washington, DC office of Winston & Strawn as a partner. As a member of the large Chicago-based law firm, he represented clients throughout all stages of the legal process, including criminal defense and civil litigation and trials, appeals and arbitrations. Broas regularly represented individual officers and corporation entities in industries such as banking, securities, pharmaceutical, health care, transportation, and energy. Clients represented by Broas during his time at Winston & Strawn included Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Ingersoll-Rand, Ltd.; Papa John's International, Inc.; Philip Morris; Legg Mason; Alstom Holdings; and UBS Securities, LLC. Broas also represented Neil Volz, chief of staff to Rep. Bob Ney, in connection with the Jack Abramoff scandal of 2005-2006. Between 2007 and 2012, Broas raised $1,020,150 by bundling for the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama.
Holland & Hart
In March 2017, Broas joined Holland & Hart LLP in its Washington, D.C. office as member of the firm's international team. There he represented clients from a wide range of industries globally, including major utility companies, pharmaceutical companies, defense contractors, technology firms, construction companies, and financial institutions. Broas stopped practicing law at Holland & Hart in August 2018.
In October 2018, Broas joined Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP in its Washington office. He serves as a member of the firm’s Investigations, Financial Regulations & White Collar practice group.
Awards
Every year between 2010 and 2014, Broas earned a place in the "Best Lawyers in America" publication. During his time at Winston & Strawn in Washington, DC, Broas was recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in 2007, 2011, 2012, and 2013.
In 2012, Broas was named to the Board of Trustees of Partners in Health, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving global health in communities across the globe. He formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Council for Court Excellence, where he helped improve the quality of justice administration in the courts of the District Columbia.
Nomination to be ambassador
On April 26, 2012, President Obama first nominated Broas to be ambassador to the Netherlands. His nomination was withdrawn in June 2012, but he was renominated to the post on July 18, 2013. That nomination lapsed at the end of 2013, and he was renominated by Obama as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands on 6 January 2014. His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a voice vote on 13 March 2014. Broas presented his credentials to King Willem-Alexander on March 19, 2014, after which he has officially taken up his duties as ambassador. Broas announced on 15 January 2016 that he would step down as ambassador to spend more time with his family.
Personal life
Broas is married to Julie Broas, a Washington, D.C. lawyer.
