The members of King & Spalding's Government Advocacy & Public Policy Team provide a full range of services to assist our clients in managing their interactions with the federal government. We are in an era of unprecedented government activity, reaching into more areas of our clients’ businesses than at any time in recent memory. Our team works with clients to develop and implement strategies to maximize these increased opportunities, minimize any risks, and accomplish their strategic goals. According to Chambers USA, our team is a “strong choice” for public policy and lobbying, as “‘The attorneys here bring value and a broad skill set, including strong advocacy abilities, to every engagement.’”

Our team draws upon lifetimes of Washington experience and long-standing relationships to advocate for our clients. Key to our representation of clients in the Democratically-controlled Congress and the Obama Administration are Ambassador Lloyd Hand, George Crawford, and Tom Spulak. Ambassador Hand, former U.S. Chief of Protocol to President Lyndon Johnson, has transcended partisan politics to become one of the most respected senior statesmen in Washington. Mr. Crawford and Mr. Spulak are two of the most experienced and well-respected former Democratic leadership staff in town. Mr. Crawford served as Chief of Staff to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, prior to joining King & Spalding in 2005. Mr. Spulak served as General Counsel of the House under former Democratic Speaker Tom Foley, and as Staff Director and General Counsel of the House Rules Committee. Their positions in the House give them a unique insight into the workings of the House Leadership, the Democratic Caucus, and the operations of the Floor and Committees.

Congressional Investigations

In addition to direct advocacy before Congress and Executive agencies, the Government Advocacy & Public Policy Practice Team’s unparalleled experience in the area of Congressional investigations sets King & Spalding apart from other firms. Ted Hester has represented clients before Congressional Committees for over twenty years, Eleanor Hill served as Staff Director of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and then as Staff Director of the Joint Congressional Inquiry on the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and Dan Donovan served as Senior Investigative Counsel to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. We assist clients in effectively responding to Congressional inquiries while minimizing the considerable legal and public relations risks that these kinds of investigations can pose for both businesses and individuals.

International

Our team also has extensive expertise in diplomatic matters. Terry Snell, a former senior U.S. diplomat with more than 30 years' experience, most recently was political advisor to the United States European Command (EUCOM), advising its commander on the political dimensions of EUCOM's strategies and initiatives in the 91 countries where it operates.

Ethics and Election Law

To complement our clients' government relations activities, we provide counseling and representation on congressional ethics and election law issues, both at the state and federal level. In addition, members of our group have served in positions on Capitol Hill that give them the benefit of having direct experience with the highly technical area of congressional procedure, which can be an invaluable component of our clients’ legislative strategies.

In the area of government affairs, clients must assess to what extent their interests are ultimately protected in the many government forums that impact their activities. The Government Advocacy & Public Policy Practice Team, which calls on the experience and expertise of the more than 800 other lawyers and specialists throughout the firm, offers practical political experience and strategic advice to ensure that our clients maximize the effectiveness of their governmental interactions in Washington.