April 14, 2009
Akerman Senterfitt today announced that it has nearly tripled the size of its Government Affairs and Public Policy practice in Washington, D.C. since the beginning of the year. Akerman’s rapid growth has been occasioned principally by various economic stimulus projects and other initiatives of the Obama administration. Notable among the new hires are former U.S. House Representative Jon C. Porter (R-Nevada); Colorado State Representative, Anne McGihon (D-Denver); and the former external affairs chief of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Scott Brenner.
Akerman’s Policy practice is national in scope, comprised of experienced attorneys and government affairs professionals based in Tallahassee, Denver, New York, and Los Angeles, as well as Washington, D.C. The group has vast experience with a broad array of issues, with particular focus on transportation and infrastructure, education, healthcare, the environment, banking and gaming.
“Right now, there is so much happening in Washington, that our expansion is absolutely essential in order to respond to our clients’ needs, as well as new business opportunities,” said Richard L. Spees, managing shareholder of the firm’s D.C. office. “The Administration is potentially creating dramatic regulatory change in quite a number of areas. It is very clear our country is undergoing a transformation, thus the increased need for strong, representative voices on The Hill as well as a clear understanding of the rules of compliance,” Spees added.
The new additions to the practice bring a wide array of experience in local, state and national policy matters from both a public and private perspective, accentuating an already strong group of professionals. Several additions further the firm’s strong experience with government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of the Interior, and the Federal Aviation Administration, among others.
The Government Affairs and Public Policy practice also recently added several senior public affairs consultants from a specialized government relations firm in D.C., including, Jeanne Morin, Tom Donnelly Jr., and Tom Netting. This group brings to Akerman current and extensive experience in legislative advocacy, regulatory affairs and strategic planning, more specifically in higher education, small business, healthcare, non-profits, tribal and local governments and energy and the environment.
“As a firm, we have been making investments in several key practice areas to remain aligned with our clients' needs,” said Andrew Smulian, Chairman of Akerman. “These key additions to our Policy team are well-known and respected leaders. They each bring talent and experience that enable us to continue to provide world-class counsel, representation and perspective on critical issues facing our clients. With all that is changing during these turbulent times, it is vital that we are strategically resourced to provide the trusted advice and opinion our clients have come to expect from Akerman over years of close partnerships,” Smulian added.
In early March the firm added Rep. Jon C. Porter as the new Director of Public Policy. He brings over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Most recently, he was a three-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, one of the largest and fastest growing Districts in the nation. He is joined by Colorado Rep. Anne McGihon, who resigned her seat in the General Assembly earlier this month. Rep. McGihon represented the Denver and Arapahoe communities and presided over significant health care reform for the State of Colorado. Both Rep. Porter and Rep. McGihon will assist clients nationally from Akerman’s Washington, D.C. office in addition to their continued work in their respective home states.
Scott Brenner, who was brought on in February, has experience working with Capitol Hill as well as a wide array of Federal agencies, ranging from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Brenner is working with clients on broad scale public policy programs out of the firm’s D.C. office.
Akerman’s Government Affairs and Public Policy Group is a bi-partisan team of 40 experienced attorneys and government affairs professionals located in Washington, D.C., Florida, Colorado, Los Angeles and New York. Akerman assists Fortune 500 companies and governmental entities with a wide range of services, including federal and state appropriations, legislation and policy drafting, issue monitoring and research, regulatory analysis and strategic planning. The firm is particularly recognized for its experience in industries such as banking, education, gaming, healthcare, tax, water, energy, environmental, telecommunications, insurance, infrastructure and transportation.
About Akerman Senterfitt
Akerman is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The National Law Journal NLJ 250 (2008) in number of lawyers and is one of the largest firms in Florida. With more than 500 lawyers and governmental affairs professionals, the firm serves clients in major business centers throughout the United States, including Miami, New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. For additional information, please visit the firm's Web site at www.akerman.com.
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Contact:
Pat Tucker
RF|Binder Partners, Inc.
(212) 994-7561
patrick.Tucker@rfbinder.com
Walter Fowler
RF|Binder Partners, Inc.
(212) 994-7512
walter.fowler@rfbinder.com
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