Covington & Burling LLP operates as a limited liability partnership worldwide, with the practice in England and Wales conducted by an affiliated
limited liability multinational partnership, Covington & Burling LLP, which is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware in the United States
and authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 77071..
Covington helps clients worldwide achieve critical business objectives by combining legal, political, and policy expertise to provide strategic advice and advocacy.
With more than 120 former government officials, diplomats and regulators, backed by global regulatory, corporate and litigation practices, we turn government-related insight into practical advice for doing business. Among our deep bench of lawyers, Covington's Global Problem Solving team includes many former government officials who previously served in some of the most high-ranking positions in the world. We have significant experience in dealing with the types of complex problems that involve both legal and governmental institutions.
A particular strength of our practice is its Transatlantic capability. Covington is recognized among the best public policy firms in the U.S. and Europe by Chambers USA and Europe. Our EU Public Policy team works closely with colleagues in our Washington, DC office to ensure that industry’s voice is heard in the European Union’s legislative process.
We understand:
how governments around the world make decisions, including the formal and informal considerations they take into account;
how policy solutions emerge from a process involving governmental committees, leadership, intra- and inter- party relationships, and the ways in which various governmental entities influence each other; and
the role that grassroots campaigns and grass-tops, the media, NGOs, and advocacy groups play in advancing policy objectives.
However complex your problem, and wherever in the world it arises, Covington has the legal knowledge, the policy experience, the political insight, and the relationships to find solutions.
In addition, many on our team have extensive experience with the press, including writing op-ed articles for leading publications (e.g., The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Financial Times) on a wide variety of issues.
U.S. Congressional and Federal Agency Advocacy
In the United States, Covington’s Public Policy practice is led by Brian Smith and Michele Pearce, and draws on deep experience in Congress and executive branch agencies.
With a former member of Congress as well as senior staff members to legislators and on numerous committees, we have strong ties to Capitol Hill.
From the executive branch, our team includes former senior officials from the White House and across departments and agencies, including the Departments of Treasury, State, Defense, Justice, Commerce, Labor, and Homeland Security.
Global Public Policy
Building a successful global business involves navigating the intersection of law and public policy for every country and every region in which you operate. Covington's Global Public Policy team bring substantial government experience to bear in assisting clients with national, regional, and cross-jurisdictional public policy matters across all of the firm’s core industries and sectors. We have deep experience in sensitive policy areas such as sanctions and export controls, and regularly advise our clients on emerging sanctions policy matters and related engagements with government stakeholders.
Our team in Europe is headed by Sebastian Vos, and includes three former European Commissioners, who provide clients with significant insight into the workings of this crucial EU institution: Cecilia Malmström (former Commissioner for trade and home affairs), Andris Piebalgs (former Commissioner for Energy and Development) and Elżbieta Bieńkowska (former Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs). With the largest public policy practice at a law firm in Europe, our clients can also draw on the experience of former policymaker Senior Advisors such as a former Prime Minister; a former leading member of the European Parliament; the former Permanent Representative of Belgium to the European Union; and two former Deputy Directors General of the European Commission.
In the UK, our team is led by Thomas Reilly, who draws on over 20 years of diplomatic and commercial roles to assist clients in matters facing the British government, and includes former Europe and Trade Minister, and former Chair of the Conservative Party, Lord Francis Maude.
In Asia, Timothy Stratford, was formerly the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative to China and General Counsel for General Motors’ China operations, and Sean Stein served as the U.S. Consul General in Shanghai. Christopher Adams draws on over two decades’ experience in U.S.-China policymaking, including 15 in the U.S. Government, to assist clients on China-facing matters.
Our public policy team in Africa is led by Mosa Mkhize, who has held various roles both in government and the private sector, and in Latin America by Kimberly Breier, who was Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
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