1/18/2010
New attorneys and government relations professionals add expertise in the areas of utilities, telecommunications, energy, insurance and health care law
Eckert Seamans Cherin and Mellott, LLC, a full-service national law firm, announced today that it has significantly expanded its Government Affairs and Regulatory practice in
Virginia . The firm announced the addition of three well-respected attorneys as Members: David W. Clarke, Thomas A. Lisk and Richard L. Savage, III. Also announced was the addition of non-lawyers May H. Fox as Director of Government Relations, Nicole A. Riley as Government Relations Specialist and Lisa A. Foster as Government Relations Coordinator. All will join the firm’s
Richmond, Virginia office from LeClairRyan effective Monday, January 18, 2010.
At Eckert Seamans, the team will provide clients legal counsel and government affairs strategies regarding legislative and regulatory matters at the federal, state and municipal levels. The bi-partisan group brings a solid track record of success and experience across multiple disciplines including government and administrative law, regulated industries law, including energy, telecommunications, utilities, insurance, alcoholic beverage control and health care as well as lobbying, political and legislative strategy services.
“The addition of these talented individuals deepens our advocacy practice, as well as provides extraordinary resources for our clients in our government affairs and regulated industries practices,” said Timothy P. Ryan, CEO of Eckert Seamans. “Our new
Richmond team members have been right in the middle of major public policy issues in the state for nearly two decades. They are trusted, reliable and get results. Their decision to join Eckert Seamans enhances our continued growth across areas that matter most to our clients in these times of government and industry transformation.” He added, "I can't think of a more potent combination – no one in the
Commonwealth of
Virginia knows more about the inner workings of state government."
Said Matthew B. Kirsner, Member-in-Charge of Eckert Seamans’ Richmond, Virginia office, “David, Tom, Rich, May, Nicole and Lisa are well-respected leaders in
Virginia political and governmental circles, and we are very pleased to welcome them to our firm. Our clients will be well served by having their added leadership on our growing multi-state government affairs team. It is an excellent fit for them, for our clients, and for our firm.”
David W. Clarke successfully blends general counsel representation of a variety of business interests with a strong emphasis on government, administrative law, telecommunications, insurance and real estate. His experience includes handling matters involving the regulation of and transactions for telecommunications (wireless, local exchange and internet), energy (natural gas and competitive supply), insurance (title, health and retirement annuities), retail sales and advertising companies. Mr. Clarke has extensive experience representing client interests before the Virginia General Assembly, the State Corporation Commission and various executive department agencies. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from the
University of
Richmond and his undergraduate degree, with honors, from the
University of
Virginia .
Thomas A. Lisk focuses his practice on regulatory matters before agencies, boards and commissions of the
Commonwealth of
Virginia including the State Corporation Commission and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. In addition, he is a registered lobbyist in
Virginia , providing legislative representation of business interests and trade associations before the Virginia General Assembly since 1980. He represents clients in matters relating to beverage alcohol regulation, hospitality and travel, franchise, gaming and lottery, health care, insurance, internet regulation, professional and occupational regulation. Mr. Lisk earned his J.D. and undergraduate degrees, cum laude, from
Washington & Lee
University .
Richard L. Savage, III focuses his practice on administrative law and government relations. Prior to joining private practice, he served the
Commonwealth of
Virginia as Chief Counsel to the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General and as the Executive Director of the Virginia State Crime Commission. During his service for three Attorneys General and the General Assembly of Virginia, Mr. Savage personally oversaw and was instrumental in the passage of over 220 individual pieces of legislation on topics such as: telecommunications, taxation, banking, education, racketeering and organized crime, money laundering, healthcare, prescription drugs, economic development, consumer protection and transportation. He earned his J.D. from the Wake Forest University School of Law, his M.B.A. from the
College of
William & Mary and his undergraduate degree from
Radford
University .
May H. Fox, a non-lawyer professional, brings over 25 years of experience representing matters before the Virginia General Assembly. From 1990-1994, she served in Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder's cabinet, first as Deputy Secretary of Administration, during which time she played a leadership role in converting the state employees benefits plan to managed care; and second as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in which she oversaw the implementation of managed care for Virginia's Medicaid program. She served for four years as the founding Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Health Plans, a non-profit trade and lobbying association representing health maintenance organizations, prior to joining private practice where she continues to represent a broad range client interests. She served on Governor Warner's and Governor-Elect McDonnell’s Transition Teams. Ms. Fox earned her masters degree from
Boston
College and her undergraduate degree from
Sweet
Briar
College .
Nicole A. Riley, a non-lawyer professional, served over ten years with both Attorney General Jerry Kilgore and former Attorney General, now Governor, Bob McDonnell, where she directed the office’s legislative activities including the passage of over 140 pieces of legislation related to Internet safety, eminent domain, identity theft, domestic violence, economic development, emergency preparedness and regulatory reform. As the Attorney General’s liaison to interest groups, trade associations and corporations, she established many strong relationships in the governmental community. She earned her bachelor’s degree from
Roanoke
College .
Lisa A. Foster, a non-lawyer professional, assists clients in planning and implementing successful governmental strategies by tracking legislation, lobbying, conducting research, monitoring campaign finance and lobbyist compliance. She previously served with the Joint Republican Caucus of the Virginia General Assembly from 1993 to 2004. Ms. Foster earned her undergraduate degree from
Virginia
Commonwealth
University .
The addition of these lawyers and government relations professionals continues the tactical, measured growth trend at Eckert Seamans, which has added over 60 lawyers during the past 12 months in the firm’s Boston, MA; Charleston, WV; Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA; Washington, DC and
White Plains, NY offices.
For more information contact:
Kate Cromie
Marketing Manager
kcromie@eckertseamans.com
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