Former Senate Judiciary General Counsel Nick Xenakis Joins Covington

Former Senate Judiciary General Counsel Nick Xenakis Joins Covington

September 7, 2021

WASHINGTON—Former U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee General Counsel Nick Xenakis has joined Covington’s Public Policy practice in Washington.

In his role as General Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mr. Xenakis managed committee staff and directed legislative efforts on a variety of issues, including criminal justice, immigration, national security, intellectual property, and antitrust. He also advised on judicial and Cabinet nominations, oversight matters, COVID-relief packages, and the National Defense Authorization Act. Mr. Xenakis later served as Chief Counsel to Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Staff Director of the Judiciary Committee’s Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee, where he continued to advise the Senator on all nominations, legislation, and oversight matters before the committee.

“Nick is a Capitol Hill veteran who has been at the forefront of some of the most high-profile and compelling policy debates in recent years around criminal justice reform, immigration reform, national security, privacy, and intellectual property,” said Muftiah McCartin, co-chair of Covington’s Public Policy practice. “His addition brings valuable experience and bench strength that will be invaluable to our clients.”

In addition to his time on Capitol Hill, Mr. Xenakis also served in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Virginia. In that role, he represented indigent defendants charged with misdemeanor, felony, and capital offenses in federal court through all stages of litigation, including jury trials and appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

“The experience and depth within Covington’s Public Policy practice is second to none, and I’m excited to begin this new chapter of my career,” said Mr. Xenakis. “I look forward to working with this dynamic team and building a practice around a diverse set of clients.”

Mr. Xenakis earned his B.A. from Kenyon College in 2005 and his J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2010.