SACRAMENTO, Calif.-LAWFUEL – Law Jobs, Law News Network –McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, an international law firm providing a wide range of legal and public policy solutions for business and other clients, announces the expansion of its government and regulatory affairs practice in California by opening an office in the state capital.
The firm also announces that Richard Costigan III, Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Affairs Secretary for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is the latest to join the growing California arm of the firm’s Government Affairs practice. Costigan, who will serve as a Managing Director on December 4, 2006, brings 10 years of experience in the California public policy arena. Costigan will join Managing Director Jeffrey Miller, one of the state’s foremost legislative and regulatory strategists. Miller is the former Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs for ACC Capital Holdings Corporation, the parent company of Ameriquest, Argent, Ameriquest Mortgage Services and Long Beach Acceptance Corporation. In the Sacramento office as well is Katherine Bell, a Senior Advisor specializing in legislative, regulatory and procurement matters.
“Bringing additional government affairs resources and talent to our California practice is an important part of our strategy to expand our expertise and better serve the needs of our clients at every level of government,” said Jeff Haidet, Chairman, McKenna Long & Aldridge. “A Sacramento team with such enormous depth and talent will complement our existing offices in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, and our growing team of public affairs strategists across the country.”
As Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Affairs Secretary for Governor Schwarzenegger, Costigan serves as the Governor’s chief advisor on public policy issues, including legislation and matters involving the legislature. He operates as the chief negotiator with the California legislature, as a public policy advisor responsible for the development of the Governor’s legislative agenda and strategy, has extensive interaction with Agency Secretaries and Department Directors on legislative and policy issues, and advises the Governor on all pending legislative issues, in addition to handling the confirmation process for the Governor’s appointees. Costigan has served the Governor since he first took office in 2003.
Costigan previously served as Vice-President of Government Relations and Chief Lobbyist for the California Chamber of Commerce. In this role, he was the Chamber’s chief advocate on all public policy issues impacting the organization and its 14,000 members. Additionally, Costigan previously served as Chief of Staff of all Assembly Republican Caucus operations, Director of Policy, as Principal Consultant for the California Assembly Appropriations and Budget Committees, and as a Senior Consultant for the Assembly Budget Committee on Environment & Natural Resources. Prior to joining the Legislature, Costigan was engaged in the practice of law in Georgia.
“I look forward to the opportunity to join McKenna Long and Aldridge,” said Richard Costigan III. “McKenna Long and Aldridge is at the forefront of law firms at providing its clients comprehensive public policy strategy, a strong and solid legal foundation, and the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit that will place this firm among a group that will have a positive and dramatic impact on public policy, not only in California, but globally.”
“Richard will be a tremendous asset to our growing team in California,” said Eric Tanenblatt, Senior Managing Director and leader of the firm’s government affairs practice. “The combined capability provided by his political and government experience, and that of the rest of our team, deepens our firm’s practice in providing superior government and corporate relations.”
Costigan is the latest addition to the firm’s national Government Affairs group that includes former U.S. Senator Zell Miller; former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Gordon Giffin; Randy Evans, who represents the current and former speakers of the U.S. House; Keith Mason and Marcia Hale who both served in the Clinton White House; Eric Tanenblatt who served as Chief of Staff to Governor Sonny Perdue and senior advisor to the late U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell; former Congressman Buddy Darden; Doug Farry who served as senior policy advisor to the U.S. House Majority Leader and the New York government affairs team led by William F. Plunkett, Jr, and recently joined by Richard Gordon, advisor to U.S. Senator Evan Bayh and former Governor Mario Cuomo.
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
McKenna Long & Aldridge is a full-service law firm of 400 lawyers and public policy advisors with offices in Albany, Atlanta, Brussels, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The firm provides business solutions in the areas of corporate law, government contracts, intellectual property and technology, complex litigation, public policy and regulatory affairs, international law, real estate, environmental, energy and finance. To learn more about the firm and its services, log on to www.mckennalong.com.
