Akin Gump Announces New Public Law and Policy Practice Leaders
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(Washington, D.C.) – Akin Gump announced today that G. Hunter Bates and Brian A. Pomper will assume the role of co-leaders of the firm’s industry leading public law and policy practice. They will be transitioning into their new roles as Donald R. Pongrace, the current practice head who has led the policy practice since 2012, rotates out of the position. Mr. Pongrace will continue in his role as head of the firm’s highly regarded American Indian law and policy practice.
With respect to the leadership transition, Mr. Pongrace commented, “I feel I have been able to accomplish all that I set out to do as practice leader when I started in this role in 2012, with the last element being finding the right people to take over from me as part of the ‘next generation’ of younger Akin Gump leaders. Hunter and Brian are ideally positioned to lead our practice. They each bring years of experience delivering terrific results for clients, a background in government service and previous tenures as leaders of their own respective firms. In addition, each is well regarded on both sides of the political aisle. As our public law and policy practice enters its 40th year, I know that our group will be in very good hands with Hunter and Brian at the helm.”
Akin Gump’s public law and policy practice is one of the largest and most diverse such practices of any major law firm. During Mr. Pongrace’s tenure as head of the practice, the team of nearly 80 lawyers and policy advisors grew to become Washington’s largest lobbying practice by publicly reported revenue, having risen in 2014 to the top position—which it continues to hold today. In addition to a number of individual awards bestowed upon several members of the group under Mr. Pongrace’s leadership, the policy practice remained the only top-ranked government relations practice in respected legal directory Chambers USA.
Stated Mr. Bates, “One of the things that attracted me to Akin Gump when I joined was its status as the preeminent public law and policy practice in Washington, and I am excited to help carry that tradition forward and continue to build on the tremendous platform in place here.”
Added Mr. Pomper, “In this dynamic political environment, clients in Washington and all over the world are looking for guidance from experienced professionals. I am so proud and humbled to be working alongside Hunter, Don and the other members of our policy group to ensure that we continue to provide the exemplary service to our clients they have come to expect from Akin Gump.”
About G. Hunter Bates and Brian A. Pomper
Mr. Bates has more than 20 years of law, policy and advocacy experience. He provides strategic advice to, and advocacy on behalf of, a wide range of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and nonprofit organizations. He formerly served as legal counsel and chief of staff to current Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Mr. Bates was also a principal at government affairs consulting firm Republic Consulting LLC, which he co-founded.
Mr. Bates received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1994, and his B.A. from Eastern Kentucky University, magna cum laude, in 1989.
Mr. Pomper provides public policy, political and strategic business advice to Fortune 500 and other companies, with a focus on international trade and intellectual property. He formerly served as chief international trade counsel to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and was also a founding partner of Parven Pomper Strategies, a boutique Democratic lobbying firm, which he founded with fellow Akin Gump partner Scott Parven.
Mr. Pomper received his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1995, and his B.S. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992.
Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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