Gephardt Joins DLA Piper

DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary has netted former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO), who retired from Congress in January.

“Following my retirement …, I was approached by many law firms to discuss how I could use my background to broaden and deepen their practices,” Gephardt said in a press release. “At the end of the day, I felt DLA Piper's Government Affairs platform was ideally suited to the strengths and experience I have to offer at this point in my career.”

In an interview with Influence, LFPB's sister publication based in Washington, DC, Gephardt says he had been in “preliminary discussions” with the firm since last summer.

Jeffrey Liss, co-managing partner of DLA Piper, says Gephardt's friendship with John Zentay, who chairs the firm's legislative practice, was instrumental in landing the 14-term congressman.

Gephardt, who starts work at the firm this week, is barred from lobbying for 1 year. Says Gephardt: “I'm going to be giving strategic advice.”

But Liss, says that “once he's able to, he'll lobby if that's something that might be useful.”

Gephardt joins DLA Piper's Government Affairs practice group, where Liss says, he will focus on labor and financial issues. Government Affairs group leader Thomas F. O'Neil III, former senior vice president and general counsel of the MCI Group and a former federal prosecutor and legislative assistant to a congressman, says: “Successful advocacy before legislative and executive branch decision-makers as well as independent federal agencies demands vast experience and insight.”

Gephardt will also “add unique perspective and experience” to the firm's International Trade practice, which advises U.S. and foreign companies on the application of U.S. trade laws to their business, according to the press release.

Gephardt will also split his time between DLA Piper and Goldman Sachs, where he serves as an adviser.

DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary has netted former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO), who retired from Congress in January.

“Following my retirement …, I was approached by many law firms to discuss how I could use my background to broaden and deepen their practices,” Gephardt said in a press release. “At the end of the day, I felt DLA Piper's Government Affairs platform was ideally suited to the strengths and experience I have to offer at this point in my career.”

In an interview with Influence, LFPB's sister publication based in Washington, DC, Gephardt says he had been in “preliminary discussions” with the firm since last summer.

Jeffrey Liss, co-managing partner of DLA Piper, says Gephardt's friendship with John Zentay, who chairs the firm's legislative practice, was instrumental in landing the 14-term congressman.

Gephardt, who starts work at the firm this week, is barred from lobbying for 1 year. Says Gephardt: “I'm going to be giving strategic advice.”

But Liss, says that “once he's able to, he'll lobby if that's something that might be useful.”

Gephardt joins DLA Piper's Government Affairs practice group, where Liss says, he will focus on labor and financial issues. Government Affairs group leader Thomas F. O'Neil III, former senior vice president and general counsel of the MCI Group and a former federal prosecutor and legislative assistant to a congressman, says: “Successful advocacy before legislative and executive branch decision-makers as well as independent federal agencies demands vast experience and insight.”

Gephardt will also “add unique perspective and experience” to the firm's International Trade practice, which advises U.S. and foreign companies on the application of U.S. trade laws to their business, according to the press release.

Gephardt will also split his time between DLA Piper and Goldman Sachs, where he serves as an adviser.