Covington Nabs Ex-Senate Judiciary GC For Policy Team
September 7, 2021, Law360
Nick Xenakis’s Covington arrival was covered by Law360, stating that the firm hired the former chief counsel for Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to bolster its public policy team in Washington, D.C.
Nick stated that despite growing up in an Army family that moved around Texas and Georgia, he knew the military wasn't in his future. But he said he was equally sure that he wanted to do something that would make a difference in the world. "My family has a very strong military tradition," Nick said. "I wanted to find somewhere else to make a difference."
At first, he thought he wanted to work in politics, particularly after witnessing former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland — a disabled veteran of the Vietnam War — subjected to attacks on his patriotism. But after graduating magna cum laude from Kenyon College in Ohio, he decided to tackle law school.
Regarding his experience of working for Senattor Feinstein, Nick stated that “it was an incredible opportunity and my first real big experience in Congress, being able to see how laws make a difference in people's lives."
But as much as he has valued his experience working for Feinstein — "a legend," he said — Xenakis has been thinking about going into private practice "for a long time."
"When I was working on the Judiciary Committee, it was the best," he said. "I got to do so much, and the work was fascinating. I have tremendous respect for my judiciary colleagues — it's the best place to work on the Hill." Nick added, "And I was looking for an opportunity to have that experience in the private sector.
Nick noted that the people he worked with on the Judiciary Committee are of the highest caliber — many often either run for or win the presidency — and he wanted to work with people in the private sector who had that same drive, skill and dedication. He found them at Covington, he said.
It was while working on the Hill that Nick saw people taking their problems and business to Covington, where attorneys were engaging and grappling with "incredibly difficult issues." He said it was a great opportunity to deal with nationally important issues.
"This will be a continuation of the work I was doing before and the next chapter of this adventure," Nick said. "I'm excited to get to work."
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