David Marchese

David F. Marchese is an Associate in the Houston office of McKool Smith. He has broad experience across national security, international law, veterans’ rights, and civil rights litigation. David served as an Honors Legal Intern with the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the General Counsel, where he researched treaty obligations, the law of war, and humanitarian assistance policy. He also externed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, National Security Unit, contributing to matters involving domestic terrorism, export controls, and classified information. In addition, he worked with the Veterans Law & Disability Benefits Clinic, preparing legal memoranda and estate plans, and clerked with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where he supported litigation in voting, education, immigration, and employment law.

David earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in May 2025. While at Harvard, he served as Senior Editor of the Harvard National Security Journal and as Articles Selection Editor for the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. He was active in several student organizations, including the Christian Fellowship, First Class, and La Alianza. David graduated magna cum laude from Baylor University with a B.A. in History and distinction in the Honors College.