Mr. Potter is a government affairs analyst at K&L Gates and focuses on federal policy. He represents corporate, trade association and non-profit clients on a wide range of issues before both houses of Congress as well as the Executive Branch. He works with the firm's clients and lobbyists to design and implement legislative strategies and proposals to develop Congressional and grassroots support for client priorities and counsels clients with regard to advocating issues before Congress. He has assisted numerous clients in securing and increasing federal funding for priorities ranging from development of energy efficient technologies to security preparedness.

For nine years, Mr. Potter has served as the pro bono government affairs advisor to the USA Science & Engineering Festival, the nation's largest effort to attract America's youth to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Under his leadership, the Festival's inaugural Washington, D.C. Expo in 2010 featured the participation of 50 federal government agencies. That year, the U.S. Senate and House unanimously passed resolutions of support for the Festival. The most recent Festival Expo in 2018 included over 80 federal agency participants.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Potter worked on the staff of Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) where he focused on health care and Social Security policy.

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.

Ms. Purpuro is a government affairs advisor in the firm's public policy and law group. She focuses on energy, sustainability, and agriculture innovation policy.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Purpuro served as senior policy advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). She has more than 10 years of experience on Capitol Hill working for Senator Spencer Abraham (R-MI) as Deputy Chief of Staff, and for Congressman Jim Saxton (R-NJ) and Congressman Bob Davis (R-MI) as Legislative Director. Ms. Purpuro has advised Members of Congress on issues including the environment, energy, tax, interior, agriculture, and appropriations.

Ms. Purpuro has experience with energy efficiency programs including the Energy Star program where she assists clients in developing comments and engaging Members of Congress on Energy Star issues. Ms. Purpuro also works on emissions reduction policy including advocating on behalf of clients for policy to support carbon utilization. Her work on behalf of agriculture clients includes supporting establishment of an Office of Urban Agriculture as well as the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARA) at USDA. In addition to her Capitol Hill experience, Ms. Purpuro served as Director of Government Relations for the American Forest and Paper Association, where she lobbied Congress on environmental and transportation issues.

John has handled senior executive assignments in the Department of the Army and been a senior member of the staff in the US House of Representatives. Among other leadership positions, he served as the chief of staff for the Committee on Public Works and Transportation (now the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) and as the acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). He was minority counsel for water for the Committee on Public Works and Transportation and, prior to that, of its Subcommittee on Water Resources.

John's strengths include tremendous experience with Army Corps of Engineers issues and the relevant congressional committees that oversee the Corps' work. He understands the workings of government, development and implementation of strategic initiatives, and management of everyday agency relations, with particular experience in regard to infrastructure issues.

A former surface warfare officer, John is a captain (retired) in the US Naval Reserve and leads the firm's representation of a national coalition of carriers and shippers formed to support modernization, operation, and maintenance of the inland waterways system.

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.

Jim has extensive experience helping businesses and trade associations achieve their strategic objectives. Prior to joining Jones Walker, Jim was president and CEO of the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA), representing the owners and operators of US-flagged vessels that supply, support, and construct the subsea infrastructure necessary for offshore energy development. Under his leadership, the trade association confronted the challenges posed by the moratorium on drilling activity imposed following the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Before his tenure at OMSA, Jim was vice president of government affairs for American Commercial Lines, Inc. (ACL), where he advanced ACL's legislative and regulatory affairs programs to improve the nation's waterways transportation infrastructure. He also worked to implement positive changes on inland waterway tax policy and the US Coast Guard's regulation of the inland barge industry.

Jim also has experience in railroads and highway infrastructure development. As resident vice president for CSX Transportation, he represented CSX in government and community forums in Kentucky. In the public sector, Jim served in senior leadership positions in Kentucky's Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky's Department of Public Protection.

Jim began his career as a commissioned Coast Guard officer. At sea, he served as a deck watch officer and department head with responsibilities for vessel operations, navigation, and maritime law enforcement. Later he was named congressional fellow to the Coast Guard and Navigation Subcommittee in the House of Representatives. Following his Coast Guard service, Jim joined the subcommittee's professional staff, advancing legislation supporting the US Coast Guard and improving the safety and efficiency of regulatory programs affecting the offshore maritime industry, fishing industry, and inland barge industry.

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.

6-10 years

Ben Harbin starting lobbying after completing a distinguished 20-year term as state representative serving the people of Columbia County in the 122nd District. During Ben's legislative tenure, he served in key leadership positions. As former Chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Ben was instrumental in helping balance Georgia's budget during the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression. In addition, Ben served as Vice Chair of the House Health Appropriations Committee, Chair of the Telecommunications subcommittee of House Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications, and Chair of the Sales Tax Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. Ben also had long-standing membership on the House Intragovernmental Coordination and House Insurance Committees. House Speaker David Ralston appointed Ben to serve as the Co-Chairman of the Georgia Technology Oversight Committee, which was tasked with reviewing the operations and structure of the Georgia Technology Authority.Ben's long-standing support for small businesses as a state representative was recognized by the National Coalition for Capital in 2011, who presented him with a Champion of Small Business Award. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce named Ben Legislator of the Year in 2009. Ben was also a three-time recipient of the Association of County Commissioners' Legislative Award.

Ben's involvement in the healthcare community as a state representative was recognized by the Georgia Council on Aging, the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians, and the Georgia Public Health Nurses. The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals named Ben Legislator of the Year in 2008.A graduate of Georgia Military College, Ben received the Graduate of Distinction Seal for his major in Business Administration. Ben is also a graduate of Mercer University where he earned a Master's of Business Administration. Ben serves on the Board of Trustees for Doctors Hospital of Augusta, Civic Affairs Foundation of ACCG Board of Directors, Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, and as Secretary/Treasurer of the Georgia Music Foundation Board of Directors.Ben resides in Evans, with his wife Hope and their two children.

Mr. Walsh is a government affairs counselor in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he served from 1989 to 2009. During his tenure in Congress, Mr. Walsh served as a deputy Republican whip from 1994-2006. He was appointed as a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee where he served from 1993-2009. During that time he became Chairman of four House Appropriations Subcommittees: District of Columbia; Legislative Branch; VA, HUD and Independent Agencies (NASA, EPA, FEMA, NSF, Selective Service); and Military Quality of Life (included jurisdiction for Military Base Construction, the Defense Health Program, and Housing Accounts) and Veterans Affairs. He also served as ranking Republican member of the Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee on Appropriations. Earlier in his career in Congress Mr. Walsh served on the House Agriculture Committee, the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families and on the House Administration Committee.

26 years representing the state of Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives. Mr. Gordon served as Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology from 2007 to 2010. Mr. Gordon was also a senior member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and served on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Rules, Transatlantic Parliamentary Dialogue, and NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

During his distinguished congressional career, Mr. Gordon developed a reputation as the undisputed bipartisan leader in innovation policy in the U.S. Congress. During his chairmanship the committee passed 151 bills and resolutions and all were bipartisan. In 2007, he championed the America COMPETES Act, signed into law by President Bush, which promotes federal investments in innovation in order to make the US more competitive. In 2010, as Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, he engineered the passage of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act. Signed by President Obama, the act renewed the federal commitment to R&D and education, adding new provisions such as support for prize competitions.

Mr. Gordon played a key role in developing and passing the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, which encouraged the federal government to promote the transfer of nanotechnology breakthroughs from laboratories to commercial products. He also promoted legislation that would implement a research program focusing on the environmental, health, and safety aspects of nanotechnology.

Throughout his political career, Mr. Gordon led the debate on a wide range of technology issues and formulated legislative initiatives on a number of other subjects, including health information technology, nuclear power, rare earth minerals, and synthetic biotechnology. Additionally, he led the effort to enact the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which increased mileage standards, improved vehicle technology, promoted alternative energy research, and improved energy efficiency in a variety of ways. Gordon was also a leading proponent of America's space program, and of improving the nation's performance in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. He is also a "Distinguished Fellow" on the Council on Competitiveness and appointed by President Obama to the Blue Ribbon Panel of the Antarctica and Southern Oceans. He is a member of the Brookings Leadership Advisory Board and is a project member for the American Academy of art and Science's New Models for U.S. Science and Technology Policy.

He is a Board Member of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress and the Middle Tennessee State University Foundation, and he is on the Board of Counselors for the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.

In 2012, Gordon received the Insignia of Officier de la Légion d'Honneur, the highest decoration that the Republic of France can confer on an individual. In 2012 Gordon also received an honorary Ph.D. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and in May of 2013 he received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater Middle Tennessee State University.

Active in Democratic politics early on, Gordon served as executive director of the Tennessee Democratic Party in 1979 and state party chairman from 1981 to 1983.

Prior to his public service, Mr. Gordon was a lawyer in private practice. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1971 to 1972.

Mary Burke Baker is a government affairs counselor in the Washington, D.C. office where she leads the tax policy practice. Ms. Baker focuses on federal tax matters affecting businesses, including domestic and multinational corporations and all types of pass-through entities, and individuals. Her practice covers tax policy, tax reform, regulatory and other guidance, tax administration, and technical tax issues, with particular emphasis on corporate and pass-through issues, accounting methods, information reporting, Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) compliance, and emerging cryptocurrency issues. Since enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in December, 2017, Ms. Baker has particularly focused on the Opportunity Zone program and is a frequent speaker on the topic throughout the United States.

Ms. Baker advocates on behalf of clients and consults with and advises Congressional, U.S. Treasury, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) staff on numerous domestic and international tax and tax policy issues, including the new Opportunity Zone program, implementation of business and individual provisions in the TCJA, and emerging cryptocurrency tax compliance concerns. She stays abreast of current tax policy developments on Capitol Hill and around the world and keeps clients informed with timely, relevant, and informative updates, including political insights and analysis regarding the significance of these developments. She helps clients identify and assess risks and opportunities in the ever-changing legislative and regulatory environment and develops and executes strategies to achieve desired legislative and administrative outcomes. She offers technical analysis and drafts comment letters in response to regulatory projects, working groups, and other tax policy initiatives. During the multi-year tax reform debate, Ms. Baker leads the Cash to Accrual Coalition and the Like-kind Exchange Coalition. She serves on the steering committee of the LIFO Coalition. She assists individual taxpayers who are participating in the IRS Offshore Voluntary Compliance Program to comply with FBAR and Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) filing requirements.

Ms. Baker serves on the Board of Directors of the Real Tax Policy Group, which features biweekly sessions with top Administration and Congressional tax officials. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Time of Grace, an international media ministry.

Tim Peckinpaugh's practice focuses on energy, environmental, and natural resource legislative and funding issues.

Mr. Peckinpaugh has represented clients for over thirty years in all aspects of energy policy, including nuclear (fission and fusion), hydroelectric, coal, oil and natural gas, electricity, as well as a variety of clean technology and energy efficiency issues. He also represents major international corporations and local communities on Department of Energy nuclear waste cleanup, nuclear security, and contracting issues. In addition, Mr. Peckinpaugh represents regional chambers of commerce and companies from the Pacific Northwest on appropriations, grant funding, energy, technology, natural resource, trade, agriculture, workforce, and economic development opportunities.

Mr. Peckinpaugh provides assistance on appropriations and legislative drafting, and counsels many of the firm's clients on campaign finance, lobbying, and governmental ethical issues. Finally, he is a previous chair of the firm's public policy group and currently manages the K&L Gates Political Action Committee, one of the largest law firm PACs in the country.

Mr. Peckinpaugh came to the firm in 1985 from Capitol Hill, where he had five year's experience as a professional staff aide to the House Science Committee, former U.S. Congressman Sid Morrison (R–WA), and the Republican Study Committee. While on the Hill, he focused on energy, natural resource, science, technology, and defense issues.

Prior to joining Jones Walker, Paul worked for Congressman Bob Livingston for more than 20 years, serving as legislative director and associate appropriations committee staffer. In this capacity, Paul was a primary advisor on all federal appropriations and related congressional authorization committees as well as federal agency and executive branch policy matters. Through this involvement, Paul has developed a vast network of contacts in the federal, congressional, and private sectors. He also has acquired extensive experience in the development and implementation of the 12 annual appropriations measures, related authorization bills, and federal agency and executive branch programmatic, jurisdictional, and policy issues.

Paul is a founding partner of the Livingston Group, which has had a strategic alliance with Jones Walker since 1999. Drawing on his knowledge and experience, he has helped a variety of clients attain policy, regulatory, and legislative goals with key members of various congressional committees, the White House, and executive branch agencies.

Paul has advocated issues, prepared appropriations and authorization bills, and developed report language for clients in a variety of industries, including financial services, national security, information technology, education, corps of engineers, transportation and infrastructure, maritime, energy, social services, and other sectors.

Since early 1999, Paul has provided ongoing volunteer services and support to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

Cliff Rothenstein has more than 30 years of congressional and federal executive experience. Prior to joining K&L Gates, he served as Director of Legislative Affairs for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In this capacity, Mr. Rothenstein worked on a daily basis with the FHWA Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). During Mr. Rothenstein's tenure at FHWA, he led the development and advocacy efforts on legislation to reauthorize the nation's surface transportation law where he played a significant role in developing and recommending to the FHWA Administrator and to other DOT executives proposed changes to the law to streamline project delivery and expand investments in highways, bridges, and multimodal transportation projects. Mr. Rothenstein also coordinated FHWA's discretionary grant programs that fund highway and bridge improvement projects and managed FHWA's relationships with Congress on highway-specific projects and issues. In addition to his tenure at FHWA, Mr. Rothenstein served as a senior advisor on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee which has jurisdiction over environment and surface transportation issues. He led the Committees efforts on the reauthorization of Superfund, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. Mr. Rothenstein also served for 20 years at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including as the Deputy Assistant Administrator and Director of the Office of Underground Storage Tanks. He has represented clients at the intersection of environmental, energy, transportation, and infrastructure policy and regulation, including advising clients on Superfund, the Clean and Safe Drinking Water Acts, the Water Resources Development Act, and the Clean Air and Resource Conservation and Recovery Acts; National Environmental Policy Act strategies for major transportation and energy infrastructure projects; funding opportunities including TIGER grant funding; and issues related to tolling of interstates.

Kathleen Nicholas is a senior government affairs specialist in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. She assists clients on policy issues related to the energy, environment, agriculture, and technology sectors. Ms. Nicholas also manages the D.C. office's team of government affairs specialists and the Lloyd Meeds Fellowship Program.

20+ years

Distinguished Alumni Award, American University, Washington College of Law, 2014
Department of Commerce Bronze Medal (2004), Silver Medal (1997), and General Counsel (1995) awards

Board of Directors, Trade Policy Forum, 2010 to present; Vice President, 2016 to present
Member, Women in International Trade
Member, Washington International Trade Association

Prior to joining K&L Gates, Ms. Ettinger served as a senior legal and policy advisor to Senator Charles Schumer, including as Chief Counsel of the United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and as Deputy Staff Director of the Joint Economic Committee.

Prior to joining the Senator's legislative team, she served as a senior legal advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Ms. Ettinger advised agency officials on the interpretation and application of U.S. and foreign trade rules, supervised dispute settlement proceedings before the World Trade Organization, and represented the United States in international trade negotiations.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Lawless was a legislative director for a health care network for over four years. In addition, she worked as a project manager for a real estate development company and was a policy consultant. She worked as a deputy policy director for a candidate for Governor, and she was the Pennsylvania state campaign director for the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI National). Ms. Lawless was a public affairs/legislative director for the American Society for Pharmaceutical and Experimental Therapeutics and the American Society for Nutrition for 10 years.

Mark Ruge is a lawyer in the Public Policy and Law practice group at the global law firm K&L Gates, one of the largest policy groups in the United States. He focuses his practice on the federal government, representing clients on policy matters before Congress, administrative issues before the federal agencies/departments, and, occasionally, regulatory disputes in the federal courts. He is involved in a broad range of maritime issues and issues related to the Great Lakes states. Most recently, he was named "2018 Great Lakes Marine Man of the Year" and inducted into the Great Lakes Hall of Fame, the first attorney ever chosen.

A veteran of more than a decade as a staffer on Capitol Hill, Mr. Ruge serves as counsel to the American Maritime Partnership, the largest coalition in the history of the U.S. maritime industry, and represents numerous other transportation clients on federal policy issues. In addition, he represents and has represented a broad range of other companies, associations and other entities on federal legislative tax, healthcare, commerce, appropriations and other issues. He is counsel to several major business organizations throughout the Midwest.

Mr. Ruge also counsels clients on issues before the federal agencies and departments. He has successfully helped litigate cases under the Administrative Procedure Act, which mandates rational decision-making by federal agencies. Mr. Ruge has participated successfully in numerous agency administrative appeals and rulemakings.

Before joining the firm, he worked on Congressional staffs, including positions as chief of staff to Rep. Bob Davis (R-MI) and as deputy staff director (minority) of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, where he specialized in Michigan and Great Lakes issues. Mr. Ruge is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Northern Michigan University. In 2008, Mr. Ruge received an Executive Certificate in Leadership and Management from the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business.

He served as the Parish Council president at St. Luke Catholic Church in McLean (VA) for nearly 20 years; chairman of the Board of Directors of the Father McKenna Center; co-chairman and founder of the Food From the Bar legal community food drive that has raised more than 3 million meals for the Capital Area Food Bank; the national board chairman for the Ignatian Volunteer Corps; and as the Fathers' Club president at Gonzaga College High School. He received the St. Aloysius Medal from Gonzaga in 2015.

Mr. Ruge is a part owner of the Green Bay Packers.

Emanuel ("Manny") Rouvelas engages in a wide-ranging law and lobby practice representing leading companies and trade associations in transportation, telecommunications, high technology, hospitality, and manufacturing. For four decades, he has traveled globally to more than forty countries advising clients and working with U.S. administrations, Congresses, and American and foreign embassies and governments.

He is a founding member of both the public policy and maritime law practices of K&L Gates, each consistently ranked nationally as among the best, most effective and highly regarded in the United States. Mr. Rouvelas is personally ranked as one of the country's top lawyers in both maritime law and in government affairs by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Legal 500. In addition, in its 30th year anniversary edition, Legal Times newspaper recognized him as "one of the greatest Washington lawyers of the past 30 years," a "legal visionary," who helped turn Washington, D.C.'s legal and lobbying community into an international powerhouse. From 2005 - 2018 he has been named a "Top Lobbyist" by The Hill newspaper based on surveys of members of Congress and staff. In 2019 Chambers USA ranked him in the top band of three lawyers nationally in Government Relations and in the top band of five lawyers in Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Regulatory.

Prior to joining K&L Gates, he was counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce and chief counsel to its Merchant Marine and Foreign Commerce Subcommittees where he had lead staff responsibility for the enactment of thirty-two public laws. Included was major legislation relating to vessel construction and operation, oil spill prevention, vessel traffic systems, recreational boat safety, Coast Guard, and Maritime Administration programs.

Mr. Rouvelas has served as an advisor to two U.S. presidential transitions, a bipartisan Congressional caucus, an executive branch reorganization, several senators and congressmen, and many political campaigns In 2016 he served on the Bipartisan Policy Center's working group, "Selecting a Vice President: Balancing Politics and Prudence." An honors graduate of the University of Washington, Harvard Law School, and participant in the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and the Program on Corporate Governance for Directors at Stanford Business School, Mr. Rouvelas has long been committed to the importance of strong ethical governance in both the public and private sectors. He has taught, lectured, and counseled clients on governance issues. He has twenty years of experience serving on the boards of directors of three U.S. publicly traded companies and thirty years of service on the boards of directors of nonprofit charitable organizations, including the American Architectural Foundation, Greater Washington Board of Trade, National Hellenic Society, Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, and Washington Monthly magazine. He is a lifetime trustee, former vice-chair of the board, and visiting professor at the American College of Greece in Athens.

His numerous professional, industry, and public service awards include the American Hellenic Institute's Heritage and National Public Service Award, United Seamen's Service Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award, and the Association of Government Relations Professionals (AGRP) Career Achievement Award.

Mr. Kirk enjoyed a distinguished career as a Congressional staff member, including positions as an advisor to Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and as a senior staff member of the House Ways and Means Committee including serving as Staff Director of the Committee's Oversight panel then chaired by Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY). He serves on the steering committee of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Political Action Committee (PAC).

Ms. Garvie was honored by the D.C. Women's Bar Association as a "Star of the Bar" for her professional achievement and service to the Washington community.

Before joining the firm, she was chief counsel to the Subcommittees on Aviation; Surface Transportation; and Business, Trade, and Tourism of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the U.S. Senate, as well as counsel to the full committee. During her tenure with the committee from 1981 to 1987, she advised the senators on virtually all legislation affecting the regulation of the railroad, airline and trucking industries, as well as legislation providing for the sale of Conrail and the Alaska Railroad, and the transfer of Dulles and National Airports in Washington, D.C.

From 1978 to 1980 Ms. Garvie worked as an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the Interstate Commerce Commission. In 1980, she was detailed from the commission to the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Transportation Committee to help develop and draft the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 and other transportation legislation. She also served as counsel to former U.S. Congressman Robert B. Duncan of Oregon from 1976 to 1978.

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.

11-15 years

David Adelman joined Cornerstone Government Affairs in 2010, bringing over 10 years of substantial experience in grassroots advocacy, developing and implementing strategic legislative campaigns, drafting and analyzing legislative language and reports and establishing, administering and advising political action committees.

Before joining Cornerstone, David worked for a law firm in West Des Moines where his practice focused on government relations, legislative law, PAC compliance and strategic advising, and election law. David continues to secure millions of dollars for clients through appropriation language, enables clients to secure major policy changes in a variety of issue areas and helps defeat language that would have been detrimental to clients' interests.

Prior to his role at the law firm, David worked with the Department of Justice, in the Iowa Attorney's General Office and clerked in the State Senate.

David worked in Washington, D.C. at the Democratic National Committee where he helped to design the voter protection program in 2004 and returned to Des Moines where he assisted in the establishment of the legal protection network for the Iowa Democratic Party. David served two terms on the Iowa Democratic State Central Committee; the Board of Directors for the Democratic Party.

Raised in Des Moines, David earned a B.S. in Marketing and Business Legal Studies from Miami University, and a certificate in International Business studying in London, England. He received his law degree with a Legislative Practice Certificate from Drake University Law School.

David and his wife, Liz, reside in Des Moines where they are active in the community and have three sons, Michael, Benjamin and Sam.

20+ years

In 2017, Governor-elect Phil Murphy selected Eric to serve on the Human Services Committee for his transition team. During that same year, he was nominated by Kentucky State Senator Jimmy Higdon and commissioned by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin to become a Kentucky Colonel.

In 2004, Eric was nominated by New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey to serve on the South Jersey Port Corporation's Board of Directors, which is responsible for the development of port facilities in South New Jersey. Eric was reappointed in 2008 by Governor Corzine and again in 2017 by Governor Chris Christie.

In 2018, Eric was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Burbank International Film Festival.

Eric is also a founding member of the Board of Directors for the NYC Fashion Manufactures Alliance of Design Educators and Save the Garment Center in New York City; a position he's held since 2008.

In 2007, Eric was selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders, a bi-partisan not-for-profit international exchange organization, as a delegate to Vietnam for a two-week political exchange program. Eric joined six other young political leaders from the U.S. to study Vietnam's political system, engage in dialogue on international issues, and forge professional relationships. He's also participated in international trade missions, including trips to the Netherlands, China and the United Arab Emirates.

Eric was appointed in 2007 by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine to serve as a member of the Economic Growth Council to assist with statewide economic development policies.

Eric is a former Committee Chairman for the Mercer County College Board of Trustees Advisory Committee and a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Arts & Business Partnership of Southern New Jersey. He's served on the boards of the Mercer County Workforce Investment Board, the Mercer County Economic Development Committee and Junior Achievement. Eric was appointed by Assembly Majority Leader Paul DiGaetano in 2002 to the New Jersey Council of Local Mandates and served as Vice Chairman until 2004.

Mr. Aliferis is a government affairs advisor in the firm's Washington, D.C., office. He focuses on federal funding issues as well as policy matters involving energy, transportation, the environment and telecommunications.

Prior to joining K&L Gates, Mr. Aliferis served as director of government affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, where he analyzed and monitored energy, environmental, and tax issues affecting the automobile industry. In this capacity, he was directly responsible for developing strategic options, legislative proposals, and media correspondence. Mr. Aliferis drafted congressional testimony for both the House and Senate committees, and served in an advisory role to member companies on relevant legislation. He also acted as a liaison with congressional offices to explain and advance industry positions, and coordinated activities with the House and Senate Auto Caucus.

Mr. Aliferis has an extensive legislative background, serving for nine years under Congressman Fred Upton, former Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce committee. As the legislative director and principal policy advisor in the office, Mr. Aliferis was responsible for the development and oversight of Congressman Upton's legislative agenda in the House of Representatives. He handled telecommunications and media issues under consideration by the House Energy and Commerce committee including the 1992 Cable Act and the 1996 Telecommunications Act. He drafted legislation and amendments on environmental, transportation and budget issues, and coordinated message development with the congressman's chief of staff and district director. Mr. Aliferis also organized outreach efforts to business and community groups.

Mr. Aliferis also served as a congressional intern to Congressman Robert Davis and an assistant to the director of public affairs for the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Colonel Steve McCain retired from the Department of Defense (DOD) after twenty-six years of service and now provides national security policy and appropriations counsel to defense, energy, aerospace, and homeland security industries, academia, and other nonprofit organizations regarding federal business development, budget and acquisition, as well as congressional actions.

Prior to joining the firm, Colonel McCain was the director of legislative affairs, U.S. Pacific Command, and principal advisor to the combatant commander for all congressional liaison. He advocated directly with Congress and professional committee staff for programs, budgets, and policies, and executed legislative strategy which improved global defense force capability. Colonel McCain provided critical support for senior military leadership testimony before Congress regarding the Asia-Pacific region.

In the early stages of Operation Enduring Freedom, he served as commander of an Air Expeditionary Wing where he led support and combat operations of Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and coalition forces in Afghanistan. He also commanded a combat search and rescue operations group, where he was responsible for flying, training, maintenance, and deployment of personnel and aircraft to combat operations worldwide.

In his capacity as the principal deputy legislative assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he coordinated legislative efforts with senior military leaders which helped galvanize congressional support for billions of dollars in healthcare reform, operational readiness, and weapon modernization programs. Prior to his tour with the Joint Staff, he was the director of legislative affairs in the Washington, D.C., office of the U.S. Special Operations Command, where he built congressional advocacy for special operations missions and for significant funding increases in key classified programs.

His experience also includes service as a Branch Chief of Aircraft Systems at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia, where he managed aircraft and helicopter modification programs. In this capacity, he resolved acquisition, contracting, and logistics challenges with the defense industry.

Colonel McCain has over 2500 hours in various aircraft as a navigator, including 150 in combat. His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Member, Governor's Commission on Intellectual Disability
Board Member, Special Education Parents Advisory Committee
American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL)
New England Council
House Chiefs of Staff Association (organization of former U.S. House chiefs of staff)
Republicans Associated for Mutual Support (organization of current and former Republican chiefs of staff, agency heads and staff directors)
302(b)s (organization of former Professional Appropriations Committee staff)

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Carnevale was chief of staff to a Northwest Member of Congress who served on the House Appropriations Committee. She managed all aspects of the office and was the Congressman's top advisor for all political and policy matters. Prior to becoming chief of staff, Ms. Carnevale served as legislative director and legislative assistant in the same Congressional office. In this capacity, she was responsible for a wide range of issues, including appropriations, natural resources, energy, housing, health care, labor, education, banking, budget and taxes. Ms. Carnevale also has prior experience at a Washington, DC-based think tank, and worked in the George H.W. Bush Administration at both the White House and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Ms. Carnevale is an elected member of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee and serves on the State Party's Executive Committee. She was an elected Trump delegate to the 2016 Republican Convention and served on the Platform Committee at the Convention. Ms. Carnevale was also selected one of 11 electors for Donald Trump for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Ms. Carnevale was appointed in 2017 by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to serve on the Governor's Commission on Intellectual Disability.

Michael Scanlon is a member of the Public Policy and Law group in the Washington, D.C. office of the global law firm K&L Gates. Mr. Scanlon engages in a wide-ranging federal practice that concentrates on the maritime, postal, and financial services industries, administrative procedure and litigation.

Mr. Scanlon advises and represents both large and small clients on a broad range of commercial and administrative law issues. His litigation experience includes numerous federal court and agency proceedings at both the trial and appellate levels.

Mr. Scanlon also advises and helps lobby on behalf of a wide range of companies and industry associations pursuing legislation, seeking regulatory implementation of newly-enacted laws, and representing their interests before Congress and federal agencies.

Before joining K&L Gates, Mr. Scanlon clerked for Chief U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin of the Northern District of New York. He received a master's degree in public administration along with his law degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Prior to studying law, Mr. Scanlon was the director of research and communications with a national financial services trade association based in Washington, D.C.

Postal
Mr. Scanlon is also a member of the postal law practice. He represents mailing, shipping, and ecommerce clients, mail service providers, mail technology companies, and industry trade associations on a wide-range of postal matters, including: strategic business counselling, contractual, and compliance advice, defending and resolving investigations and enforcement actions by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and litigation before the Postal Regulatory Commission and federal courts.

Mr. Scanlon has extensive experience representing clients in rate and classification proceedings, rulemakings, and complaint proceedings. He represents clients in USPS revenue deficiency claims and investigations alleging violations of the False Claims Act in connection with USPS Move Update and other complex mailing eligibility requirements.

Mr. Scanlon has experience with both domestic and international mail policy and rate issues and in negotiating contract pricing arrangements with the USPS. Mr. Scanlon has extensive experience working with industry associations and providing strategic advice on regulatory and legislative postal policy matters.

Maritime
Mr. Scanlon's practice involves domestic and international maritime matters. He represents U.S. and foreign shipping companies, including container shipping companies, tanker operators, cruise lines and bulk carriers, marine terminal operators, and marine service providers before the U.S. Maritime Administration, the Federal Maritime Commission, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Congress and federal courts.

Mr. Scanlon has significant experience in areas of vessel documentation, citizenship, operation and crewing, operating support (VISA, Maritime Security Program), and national defense shipping. His maritime representations include extensive work on the coastwise laws and their enforcement.

Mr. Scanlon has significant fisheries litigation experience representing seafood harvesters, processors, trade associations, and environmental groups in federal court.

Since opening the firm's Washington, DC office in 1990 and being admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1991, Chris has built a strong team of government relations professionals who represent clients in the maritime, energy, and defense industries; numerous institutions of higher learning; and several state and local government entities. He provides his clients with a broad range of government relations assistance, including providing advice on a wide variety of legislative and regulatory matters facing the maritime industry and other business interests.

Chris has developed strong relationships with the key committees on Capitol Hill with general jurisdiction over transportation and maritime issues, including the Senate Commerce Committee, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as tax writing committees with jurisdiction over maritime tax and trade matters, including the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.

Over the years, Chris has been deeply involved in numerous legislative matters affecting the maritime industry, including the Maritime Security Acts of 1996 and 2003, numerous Coast Guard Authorization Acts, the landmark tonnage tax legislation, the repeal of Subpart F shipping income provisions, the Jones Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Water Resources Development Acts of 2007, 2014, 2016 and 2018 and legislation to implement numerous Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). In addition to his work on Capitol Hill, Chris has developed close ties with the principal federal agencies involved with the promotion and/or regulation of the US maritime industry: the Department of Transportation, the Maritime Administration (MarAd), the United States Coast Guard, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the US Department of Agriculture, the United States Trade Representative, and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Chris is the past president of the Propeller Club of Washington and currently serves as a member of the executive committee and the board of directors of the Coast Guard Foundation. He also served for many years as vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Maritime Congress, a research and educational organization dedicated to informing the public, the media, and legislators in Washington on the issues and policies affecting the US flag merchant marine and maritime industry. Additionally, he sits on the advisory board of the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia.

In 2010, and again in 2017, he received the prestigious President's Award from the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) for his efforts to secure funding in Congress for legal representation of underserved communities in Louisiana.

Based in Washington, D.C., Karishma Shah Page is a member of K&L Gates' Public Policy and Law Practice. Ms. Page concentrates her practice on federal legislative and regulatory policy, focusing on tax, financial services, health care, retirement, and employee benefits issues. Ms. Page has extensive experience working on a variety of legislation, such as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and the Affordable Care Act. She also works on related rulemaking and regulatory activity.
Ms. Page develops and implements a variety of advocacy strategies to advance client objectives, both from a Congressional and administrative perspective. In particular, she leads complex, multi-faceted policy campaigns incorporating lobbying, coalitions and third-party advocates, grassroots/grasstops strategies, and traditional and new media. Additionally, she has experience building, managing, and working with coalitions.

Ms. Page counsels clients with respect to the key legislative and regulatory developments that impact their operations. Ms. Page's clients include Fortune 500 companies, trade and member associations, and tax-exempt entities. Ms. Page also advises clients on the intersection between social responsibility initiatives and the policy debate.

Ms. Page works closely on issues involving the House Ways and Means Committee, Senate Finance Committee, House Financial Services Committee, Senate Banking Committee, House Education and the Workforce Committee, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Senate Aging Committee, as well as the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, and financial regulators.

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.

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).

Nationally ranked as a top government relations lawyer by both Chambers USA and The Legal 500.

Legislative Counsel with respect to enabling and appropriations legislation creating a $30 million public-private partnership with the Department of Energy for a shared-services platform in the solar sector. Transaction counsel was also provided with respect to the contract negotiations and IP terms for the P3 agreement.

Government contracts counsel for a consortium of traditional and non-traditional defense contractors respecting a $100 million sole source 10 U.S.C. §2371, Section 845 Other Transaction Authority (OTA), contract vehicle issued by the Department of Defense ("DoD").
Site selection counsel for a nano-technology company looking to stand-up its first commercial manufacturing facility that focused on investments by local, state, and federal stakeholders. The engagement resulted in identifying three suitable jurisdictions, an ensuing "bake-off" of incentive packages (e.g., direct funding, tax incentives, work force development funds, land grants), a down selection process, and final negotiation of award.

Business development counsel on behalf of an ad hoc consortium of domestic semi-conductor companies seeking to reform the DoD/NSA Trusted Foundry Program in anticipation of unlocking hundreds-of-millions of dollars of government procurement opportunities for the consortium members.

Legislative counsel on behalf of several clients looking to access various measures within the Energy Tax Code (e.g., PTC, ITC, MLP) to which they were not entitled because they did not meet the technical requirements of the Energy Tax Code. Successful stand-alone legislation and amendment adoption have been resultant outcomes.

Counselor and advisor with respect to several campaigns regarding election disputes (e.g., Presidential contest recounts) and ballot access (e.g., ballot eligibility). Advising congressional candidates on statutory disclosures/reporting as well as seeking exemptions before relevant congressional committees and agencies.

Advisor and counselor to clients testifying/appearing before various congressional committees, including committees with jurisdiction over tax, appropriations, science & technology and financial services.

Legislative and regulatory counsel for an international fiber-optic cable company where various federal agencies were placing the company's assets in harms-way due to policy/regulatory decision making. Congressional and inter-industry negotiations successfully addressed the issue within congressional legislation.

Counsel to a client company's directors and officers during a wind down and asset disposition of a major federal contracting award, where D&O exposure and government "claw-back" became a significant impediment to the transaction. Liability and adverse public exposure on behalf of the D&O was successfully averted.

Before joining the firm, Mr. Leibham was a prosecutor on behalf of the State of California and was also in private practice where he counseled small business clients on a wide range of matters (e.g., HR, tax/audit reporting, real/personal property, general corporate, among other matters). Mr. Leibham worked as a senior aide to Rep. Gary Ackerman (NY) and Rep. Neil Abercrombie (HI) in the U.S. House of Representatives and was also a Western Regional Director for the Democratic National Committee in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s.