Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Garland worked at McBee Strategic Consulting in Washington, D.C., where he focused on transportation and telecommunications issues.

Before joining the private sector, Mr. Garland served in the United States Senate from 2014-2016. In 2015, he worked with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, where he helped the minority education policy team secure passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Prior to his committee work for Ranking Member Patty Murray, he served in the office of Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. While with Senator Booker's office, Mr. Garland collaborated with senior legislative staff on a portfolio that included education, consumer protection, transportation, and telecommunications policies.

Mr. Hall engaged U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Committees of jurisdiction on policy and funding issues of importance to an agency of 48,000 personnel and a $15 billion budget. He has successfully shepherded two executive branch nominees through Senate confirmations and designed various outreach initiatives to educate members of Congress and their staff on various aspects of the Agency's mission. Mr. Hall has also aided in the passage of legislation critical to the Agency such as the FAA Modernization & Reform Act of 2012, Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013, and the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010.

Mr. Hall served as deputy chief of staff and associate professional staff member to U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), a senior member on the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee and former chair of the T&I Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Prior to his executive branch appointment, Mr. Hall served as deputy chief of staff and associate professional staff member to U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), a senior member on the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee and former chair of the T&I Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. In this capacity, Mr. Hall served as Rep. Johnson's principal advisor on transportation and infrastructure issues related to her various committee assignments (aviation, highway, rail, and water resources), in addition to her Dallas, Texas-based congressional district. During his tenure with Rep. Johnson, Mr. Hall aided various constituencies secure policy and funding provisions for critical infrastructure in bills such as the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act; Water Resources Development Act; and energy and environment appropriations and transportation appropriations bills.

Jeff Denham is a government affairs counselor in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. A member of the public policy and law practice group, he brings significant transportation and infrastructure policy, agriculture, natural resources, and energy experience to the firm.

He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he served four terms, from 2010 to 2018, representing California's 10th and formerly 19th districts. He was a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he was the chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials and the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. He was also a member of the Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Veterans' Affairs Committees. During his eight years in Congress, Mr. Denham helped draft dozens of bills that were subsequently signed into law, such as the 2012 Veterans Skills to Jobs Act; the 2015 Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act; the 2018 ENLIST Act; and Stafford Act revisions as a part of the 2013 Sandy Recovery Improvement Act.

From 2001 to 2009, before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, he was a member of the California State Senate, representing the 12th District of California which encompassed the counties of Monterey, San Benito, Madera, Merced, and Stanislaus. He was chairman of the Agriculture Committee and Veterans' Affairs Committee and focused on issues that included education, government waste, agriculture, and economic development.

A Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force, he served in Operation Desert Storm with the 452nd Air Force Refueling Wing and was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, and various campaign medals for combat duty. Additionally, he served in Operation Restore Hope with the 349th AMW and was awarded a second Meritorious Service Medal and various campaign medals for duty.

Mr. Denham is the Founder of Denham Plastics LLC, a full-service provider of plastic material handling solutions, in addition to owning an almond farm in California.

Mr. Valentine represents a wide variety of clients in a broad range of legislative, regulatory, administrative, litigation and government enforcement matters before the federal government. His clients include major corporations, trade associations and business coalitions. He has also represented a number of prominent individuals, including a federal judge in her personal capacity and the prime minister of a foreign government.

Daniel Ritter is a partner in the Public Policy and Law practice group. Mr. Ritter spearheads the public policy innovation and sustainability, and the philanthropic sub-practice groups.

Mr. Ritter's clients include the major Washington, D.C. trade associations for nanotechnology, clean technology and renewable energy, neurotechnology, the U.S. commercial space industry, and clean water and sanitation technologies, in addition to a wide variety of U.S. and international companies in these fields. His philanthropic/nonprofit clients include a variety of non-governmental organizations focused on sustainable development in the developing world and in the United States.

Mr. Ritter works to improve public policy decision-making by bringing to bear the innovation and entrepreneurial expertise of the emerging technology sector and the experience of the philanthropic community in addressing fundamental social needs in sustainable development

He coordinates policy advocacy campaigns, advocates policy positions with federal legislators and administrative agencies, prepares legal and strategic policy analysis, and develops legislation and testimony for Congressional hearings. Mr. Ritter also has experience with the tax rules governing policy activities by the non-profit sector.

W. Dennis Stephens is a government affairs counselor at K&L Gates. He previously served as a senior staff member for several House Republican members, including former Majority Leader Dick Armey. Dennis has more than 37 years working in Republican campaigns, policy, and political matters including more than 21 years experience as a Republican lobbyist.

Dennis works on a wide range of public policy issues including tax, technology, foreign policy, and transportation on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, associations, and small businesses.

Dennis has worked closely with many Republicans in the House and Senate including members of the Republican Study Committee. He has especially close relationships with the House Republican leadership and senior staff as well as many of the incoming freshmen.

In addition, Dennis has worked closely for more than two decades with every leading conservative activist and grassroots organization including The Heritage Foundation, Americans for Tax Reform, FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, and the Family Research Council.

Dennis is very active in the conservative movement and is a regular speaker for the Leadership Institute Capitol Hill Staff School. He is also consulted regularly by Republican elected officials to review both policy issues and electoral strategy and tactics.

Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Dennis spent three years in the second term of the Reagan Administration, including the Office of Presidential Personnel in the White House.

15-20 years

Maritime
Assisting a major cruise shipping company obtain legislation permitting the company to operate U.S.-flag ships in coastwise service, creating thousands of American jobs and generating millions of dollars in economic activity.
Helping a major tanker operator obtain legislation permitting long-term participation in the Maritime Security Program for its U.S.-flag tankers.
Representing the largest U.S. maritime coalition in history in successfully defending the maritime cabotage laws.
Assisting a major cruise line obtain legal authority, through legislation and regulation, that permits increased flexibility in hiring of certain crew on board its U.S.-flag vessels.
Advising a major container shipping company and a major tank vessel operator regarding their U.S.-flag operations and related Department of Defense sealift capabilities.
Represented maritime clients in successfully persuading Congress to appropriate funding for the Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee program.
Assisted in the development and enactment of a multi-year, multi-million dollar program for dual use military-commercial sealift capability with the U.S. Transportation Command.
Worked closely with maritime regulatory agency to obtain necessary approvals for the transfers of Maritime Security Program agreements to major container shipping company.
Advising a major ship classification society on various public policy matters.

Energy
Advising a U.S. offshore energy company on legislative and regulatory matters related to production of oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf of the U.S.
Counseling maritime companies and associations on impacts of increased crude oil and natural gas production in the U.S.
Assisted coalition in obtaining legislation permitting the export of Alaska North Slope crude oil.
Transportation
Assisted a major Class I railroad in obtaining approximately $4 million that was earmarked for the development and deployment of positive train control systems designed to improve safety and security, as well as productivity, for rail operations.
Counseling to major rail supplier regarding legislative and regulatory efforts to increase the use of technologies such as communications-based train control systems and electronically-controlled pneumatic braking systems.
Serving as primary outside government relations advisor to trailer manufacturing trade organization.

Fisheries
Helping a West Coast fisherman's association defeat legislative efforts to grant harvesting quota shares to fish processors and to obtain language regarding ongoing efforts to rationalize the fishery.
Representing a major conservation organization on efforts to improve fisheries management and conservation provisions, including specifically the implementation of catch share programs.
Assisting conservation interests in defeating legislative initiatives in appropriations and authorizing bills that could result in overfishing or overcapitalizing in U.S. fisheries.
Providing policy and political advice to fishermen and conservation organizations regarding fisheries management and conservation measures, including specifically measures contained in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Mr. Conner served as a staff assistant for the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the U.S. House of Representatives under its ranking member, Congressman Bob Davis (R-MI)

Mr. Conner's practice focuses on federal government relations, with a substantive focus on transportation (with a specialty in maritime), energy and resource management. He represents clients on a range of matters, including:

Matters relating to domestic and international shipping;
Programs relating to military sealift, including the Maritime Security Program;
Management of federal fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act;
Regulation of motor vehicles, including light and medium-duty trailers;
Policies relating to domestic energy, including specifically transportation of energy;Programs related to transportation infrastructure;
Issues involving port development and maritime security;
Development of international trade agreements and implementing legislation;
and Securing federal appropriations and federal program funding.

Mr. Conner has extensive legislative experience in general public policy analysis and planning, strategic counseling, and coalition management and coordination. He also assists clients in incorporating public policy into their strategic planning, integrating public relations into their legal and advocacy activities, and legislative drafting.

His principal representations include fishermen and other fishery stakeholders, cargo and passenger vessel operators, a ship classification society, transportation product manufacturers and service providers, energy companies, and a leading coalition of U.S. maritime interests.

He has worked with the Department of Transportation (including the office of the Secretary, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the Maritime Administration), the Department of Commerce (specifically, the office of the Secretary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Marine Fisheries Service), the Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Coast Guard), and the Department of Defense.

Mr. Conner is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the International Propeller Club of the United States and is a past president of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the International Propeller Club.

Mr. Conner served as a staff assistant for the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the U.S. House of Representatives under its ranking member, Congressman Bob Davis (R-MI).

Paul W. Rainwater most recently held the title as Governor Jindal's Chief of Staff. He resigned in February of 2014 to pursue a career in the private sector and shortly thereafter joined Cornerstone Government Affairs.

Prior to his latest position, Paul held the title of Commissioner of Administration. Before that, he served as Governor Jindal's deputy chief of staff. Prior to that, he served as executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA). Previously, Paul served as legislative director and chief of operations for U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. From June 2006 to January 2007, he served as director of hazard mitigation and intergovernmental affairs at the LRA, where he managed program policies, served as team leader and coordinated with state and federal agencies to set mitigation priorities. From July 2000 to June 2006, Paul served as the chief administrative officer for the City of Lake Charles.

Paul also formerly served as manager of governmental affairs for Conoco, Inc., Gulf Coast Business Unit in Baton Rouge from 1998 to July 2000; as manager of public affairs for ARCO Chemical in Lake Charles from 1995 to May 1998; and as administrative aide to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury in Lake Charles from 1988 to 1996.

In addition to his public service duties, Paul also serves as a colonel with the Louisiana Army National Guard in the Joint Director of Military Support for Disaster Response Unit. He previously served as a lieutenant colonel in the Congressional Liaison Office of the Louisiana Army National Guard and as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserves' 336th Finance Command. For his military service, Paul has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

Paul earned a bachelor's degree in government from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, a master's degree in international relations from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island, and is certified as a local government manager by Louisiana State University.

20+ years