WASHINGTON D.C. – LAWFUEL – Best for law news – Kilpatrick Stockton today announced the addition of Armand DeKeyser as the Government Relations Group Executive Director in the firm’s Washington D.C. office. Mr. DeKeyser, for the past eight years, has served as Chief of Staff to United States Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL). Kilpatrick Stockton also announced John Loving, Director of Government Relations of the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association, has joined the firm as Senior Government Relations Advisor.
“With over 35 years of leadership in government and business, Armand DeKeyser is an outstanding addition to our federal legislative and government affairs capability,” said Steve Sacher, Kilpatrick Stockton Supervising Partner for the firm’s Government Relations Group. “Armand’s experience, credibility and widely-acknowledged political savvy will be invaluable as he works closely with firm clients and attorneys on an array of issues before Congress and federal regulatory agencies.”
As Chief of Staff to United States Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Mr. DeKeyser oversaw Senator Sessions’ transition to the U.S. Senate, first hiring and then managing Sessions’ 38-person staff in Washington and four offices in Alabama. Prior to his Senate position, he served as Chief, Administrative Division, in the office of Alabama Attorney General when Jeff Sessions occupied that position. Earlier, Mr. DeKeyser was the Law Enforcement Coordinator and Victim Witness Coordinator in that office, acting as liaison to approximately 120 law enforcement agencies for the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Southern District of Alabama. He also held the position of Executive Assistant to Mobile Mayor Arthur Outlaw, supervising several operating departments.
Mr. DeKeyser also has significant experience in the business community. He has served as a corporate officer in a wholesale seafood business and as vice-president for administration with a commercial roofing contractor.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Auburn University and retired after 28 years in the U.S. Army Reserves as Lieutenant Colonel. LTC DeKeyser served in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
Mr. Loving brings nine years of public policy and lobbying experience to Kilpatrick Stockton. As Director of Government Relations for the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association (SGMA), he was the chief liaison between the Association and Congressional leaders. Mr. Loving successfully spearheaded a number of high-profile initiatives, including: securing federal funding for numerous health and wellness programs; securing funding for industry-based programs in the transportation appropriations bill; and lobbying for industry tax breaks and tariff reductions.
Prior to working with SGMA, Mr. Loving worked as a Legislative Aide in the office of Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) where he handled banking, health care, small business, trade, and finance issues. Earlier, Mr. Loving worked in the offices of Representative Jim Gibbons (R-NV) and Representative Dick Armey (R-TX).
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia University.
About The Government Relations Group
Kilpatrick Stockton’s government relations group represents clients before Congress and the regulatory agencies on a broad range of issues, including healthcare, energy, tax , labor and employee benefits, trade, pharmaceuticals/biotech, and intellectual property matters. The group is built around a core of accomplished professionals who combine traditional lawyer skills of analysis, oral advocacy and concise writing with political experience and day-to-day familiarity with legislative and executive branch processes and principals.
About Kilpatrick Stockton
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP is a full-service international law firm with more than 470 attorneys in nine offices across the globe: Atlanta and Augusta, GA.; New York City, NY; Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, NC.; Washington, D.C.; London, England; and Stockholm, Sweden. Kilpatrick Stockton’s delivery of innovative business solutions provides results-oriented counsel for corporations, from the challenging demands of financial transactions and securities to the disciplines of intellectual property management. Collaboration among Kilpatrick Stockton’s corporate, litigation and intellectual property attorneys provides knowledgeable and proactive guidance for companies at every stage of the business life cycle. For more, go to www.kilpatrickstockton.com
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