One of America’s top lawyers, Jeff is a longtime friend of President Obama’s and played a major role in his campaign for the White House. More recently, he assisted with the Biden-Harris campaign during the historic 2020 election.
From 2009 to 2013, Bleich served as the U.S. Ambassador to Australia. Bleich’s term in Australia was marked by the U.S. “rebalance” to the Asia-Pacific, with Australia being the focal point for that shift. Other key achievements included overseeing record growth in trade between the U.S. and Australia, bringing the Defense Trade Cooperation Treaty into force, establishing new alliance agreements for satellites and cyber, executing a new space cooperation agreement that supported the Mars Curiosity rover landing, leading joint U.S.-Australia efforts in Afghanistan, and promoting regional efforts to reduce domestic violence. For his federal service, Ambassador Bleich received numerous awards.
As an attorney, Jeff specialises in disruptive technologies, cybersecurity and international disputes. He continues his close involvement with Australia through Flinders University’s Jeff Bleich Centre for the US Alliance in digital technology, security and governance and is a regular media guest.
He has been honored as California Lawyer Attorney of the Year, and regularly listed among the Daily Journal’s 100 most influential attorneys in California. He currently serves as the Chief Legal Office at Cruise, leading the legal and compliance teams. He previously served as a special master in the U.S. District Court, and as a partner at both Munger, Tolles & Olson and Dentons. He has over three decades experience in resolving complex domestic and international disputes.
Jeff Bleich graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College, a Master of Public Policy degree with highest honors from Harvard University, a Juris Doctor degree with highest honors from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law, and honorary doctorate degrees from San Francisco State University, Flinders University in Adelaide, and Griffith University in Brisbane.
The City of San Francisco has named January 8, Jeff Bleich Day in San Francisco.
Jeff now lives in California with wife Rebecca, and their children, Jake and Matthew and Abby.