About David W.
David W. Koch built a legal foundation at the University of Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in economics in 1978, and then at the University of Michigan Law School, receiving his J.D. in 1981. He entered practice at a time when antitrust and regulatory issues were prominent in both private practice and government work. The combination of an economics background and a law degree has been a through-line in his career.
In 1987 he moved into government service as a Lawyer-Advisor to the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. That position placed him at the intersection of policy and enforcement during an active period for competition law. He returned to private practice after his time at the agency and carried that regulatory perspective into his later firm work.
Koch became a partner at Rudnick Wolfe Epstein & Zeidman in 1996 and moved to Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP as a partner in 1999. He joined Plave Koch PLC as a partner in 2007, where he has remained a leader in the firm's practice. Over the years he has handled matters that touch on antitrust, franchising, and regulatory compliance, moving between litigation, counseling, and transaction work as cases required.
His ties to legal education include a stint as an adjunct clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan Law School in 2013. He has also taken roles outside the academy and law firm settings, including serving on the advisory board of Stage Six Inc. beginning in 2017. Those experiences reflect an interest in both practical problem solving and broader industry developments.
Koch is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and in Virginia, and he is also admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court. He has been a member of the District of Columbia Bar since 1993 and of the Virginia State Bar since 2007. His professional affiliations include the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising and its Section of Antitrust Law, and membership in the International Bar Association.
Colleagues describe him as an attorney who brings an economic sensibility to legal questions. He approaches disputes and regulatory issues by weighing practical business implications alongside legal doctrine. At Plave Koch PLC he continues to represent clients on matters involving antitrust law, franchising issues and regulatory compliance, handling both advisory work and contested proceedings.
He currently practices at Plave Koch PLC, where his work concentrates on antitrust counseling, franchise-related disputes and regulatory matters.
