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 corporate and litigation practices, we turn government-related insight into practical advice for doing business. A particular strength of our practice is its trans-Atlantic capability. 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.
Covington is recognized among the best public policy firms in the U.S. and Europe by Chambers USA and Europe.
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 grassroots 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 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.
In Europe, our team includes several former policymakers, such as a former Prime Minister; a former UK Europe and Trade Minister; a former leading member of the European Parliament; the former Permanent Representative of Belgium to the European Union; two former Deputy Directors General of the European Commission; and a renowned leading lawyer in European public affairs.
In Asia, the managing partner of our Beijing office was formerly the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative to China and General Counsel for General Motors’ China operations.
Our problem-solving team in Africa and Latin America are led by renowned regional strategists, including two former Under Secretaries of State, a former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
Covington's Global Public Policy team—consisting of over 120 former diplomats and policymakers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Asia— have had substantial government experience in sanctions and export controls matters, and regularly advise our clients on emerging sanctions policy matters and related engagements with government stakeholders.