Former Top U.S. Diplomat for Latin America Joins Covington

Former Top U.S. Diplomat for Latin America Joins Covington

February 5, 2020

WASHINGTON—Kimberly Breier, the U.S. Department of State’s former top diplomat for Latin America, has joined Covington as a senior advisor.

Ms. Breier most recently served as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, the United States’ top diplomat for the Western Hemisphere. She led the State Department’s policy formation, oversaw U.S. embassies and consulates across 30 countries, and led diplomatic engagements with major initiatives in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.

“With over two decades of government, private sector, and think tank experience on Latin American issues, Kim is well placed to provide strategic advice to U.S. and other multinational clients with investments and operations in Latin America,” said Al Larson, co-chair of Covington’s Global Problem Solving group. “Her knowledge of the region and its political and business environment is a valuable resource for clients.”

Prior to serving as an Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Breier served on the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning team for the Western Hemisphere where she drafted regional strategies. From 2005-2006, she worked at the White House in the Western Hemisphere Affairs Office of the National Security Council serving as Director for Mexico and Canada, Director for Brazil and the Southern Cone, and interim Director for the Andean region. She also served more than a decade in the U.S. intelligence community in analytic and management roles.

Outside of government, Ms. Breier founded and served as the director of the U.S.-Mexico Futures Initiative and was the deputy director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She also spent five years as vice president of Peschard-Sverdrup International, leading risk assessment projects for countries in Latin America.

“Latin America continues to present enormous opportunity to businesses around the world, but it requires a keen understanding of the commercial, legal and political structures to succeed,” said Sergio Urias, co-chair of Covington’s Latin America practice. “Kim is a unique resource within a law firm and will partner with our lawyers who focus on issues in the region to deliver significant value and benefit to clients focused on Latin America.”

“Covington offers a unique platform that partners the industry’s top legal minds with a deep bench of former top diplomats and a bipartisan roster of policy strategists committed to solving multinational corporations’ most challenging business issues,” said Ms. Breier. “I’m excited to join this talented team as they work towards the common goal of finding practical solutions to the most complex business issues of the day.”

Ms. Breier earned her M.A. in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University in 1997 and her B.A. from Middlebury College in 1994.