BRUSSELS — Carl Bildt, the former Prime Minister of Sweden, has joined Covington as a Senior Policy Advisor in the firm’s global Public Policy and Government Affairs practice. Most recently, Mr. Bildt served as Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs between 2006 and 2014.
As Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr. Bildt led the government that negotiated and signed Sweden’s accession to the European Union, liberalised the Swedish economy, and modernised its welfare system. He also played a key role as a mediator in the Balkan conflict for the European Union and the United Nations. Mr. Bildt currently serves as chair of the Global Commission on Internet Governance and co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
“We recognize that our clients face an increasingly complex policy landscape in Europe, and we have focused on building capabilities to help them meet those challenges,” said Timothy Hester, the firm’s chair. “Carl joins a growing team in Brussels, recently strengthened by Erika Mann, a former Member of the European Parliament and Kevin Coates, a former Head of Unit at DG Competition. I am confident that Carl’s insight, distinctive voice, and ability to engage on a broad array of issues will be appreciated by our clients in Europe and internationally.”
Sebastian Vos, chair of Covington’s European Public Policy and Government Affairs practice, commented, “We are pleased to welcome Carl to the firm, particularly during this time of political challenges and regulatory change in the European Union. In this context, Carl’s experience and track record of problem solving at the highest levels of business, government, and the multilateral system will go a long way in assisting the firm’s clients around the world.”
Mr. Bildt added, “Covington presents an opportunity not only to guide and counsel in an advisory capacity, but also to be part of a dynamic global practice that has benefited from significant growth in demand over the past decade. I have known quite a few of the advisors on Covington’s team for many years and look forward to working with them again.”
The largest public policy and government affairs practice of any law firm in the EU, Covington’s European team includes a range of former policymakers:
- Ambassador Jean De Ruyt, one of the most experienced diplomats in Europe, who was most recently the Permanent Representative of Belgium to the European Union;
- Ambassador Karel Kovanda, the former Deputy Director General of External Relations (now the European External Action Service) at the European Commission;
- Erika Mann, former Member of the European Parliament;
- Kevin Coates, former Head of Unit at Directorate-General Competition;
- Paul Adamson, a pioneer and leader in European public affairs;
- Stuart E. Eizenstat, former U.S. Ambassador to the EU.
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