The members of King & Spalding’s Government Advocacy & Public Policy (GAPP) practice provide a full range of services to assist our clients in managing their interactions with the federal government. With government activity reaching into more areas of our clients’ business than at any time in recent memory, our government relations team works with clients to develop and implement strategies to maximize increased opportunities, minimize risks, and accomplish their strategic goals.
Our team draws upon lifetimes of Washington experience and bi-partisan relationships to advocate for our clients. For the fourth consecutive year, King & Spalding’s government relations practice was recognized in 2011 by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. According to Chambers, “Congressional investigations and lobbying are two of the strongest components of this practice.” Chambers also noted that “‘The attorneys here bring value and a broad skill set, including strong advocacy abilities, to every engagement.’” In the 2010 U.S. News & World Report's “Best Law Firms” survey, our team was ranked in Washington Tier 1. Members of the GAPP team have also been selected by "Best Lawyers in Government Affairs" for several years, and three individuals were ranked by Chambers as leading practitioners in the government relations area.
Key to our representation of clients before Congress and the Obama Administration are former Governor and U.S. Congressman Robert Ehrlich, J.C. Boggs, Ambassador Lloyd Hand, Tom Spulak, George Crawford, and Patrick Morrisey.
- Before becoming Maryland’s first Republican governor in more than 36 years, Robert Ehrlich represented Maryland’s Second District in the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition to serving as a House deputy whip for six years, he was a member of numerous committees, including the Budget, Energy and Commerce, Government Reform and Oversight, and Banking and Financial Services Committees.
- Recognized by Chambers USA as a leader in government relations law and “one of the most proficient attorneys on the scene,” J.C. Boggs is former counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and Committee on Governmental Affairs. He is past-President of the Republican National Lawyers Association and is currently serving a six-year term as U.S. representative to the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
- Ambassador Hand, former U.S. Chief of Protocol to President Lyndon Johnson, transcends partisan politics and is described by Chambers as “iconic, one of the best government relations lawyers on the scene.”
- Described by Chambers as “… a well-respected lobbying practitioner with particular expertise in international trade, as well as gift and ethics matters", 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.
- Mr. Crawford served as Chief of Staff to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, prior to joining King & Spalding in 2005.
- Mr. Morrisey has extensive political experience and has worked for a number of senior Republican officials. He served as the Deputy Staff Director and Chief Health Counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Our team’s combined bi-partisan experience in the House and Senate provides King & Spalding with a unique insight into the workings of the Majority and Minority Leadership, the Republican and Democratic Caucuses, 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; Dan Donovan served as Senior Investigative Counsel to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance; and Mr. Morrisey served as the Deputy Staff Director and Chief Health Counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. We help clients effectively respond to Congressional inquiries, while minimizing the considerable legal and public relations risks that these kinds of investigations can pose for both businesses and individuals.
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 and possess 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 the extent to which their interests are ultimately protected in the many government forums that impact their activities. King & Spalding’s Government Advocacy & Public Policy Practice team, backed by 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.
