According to their website, four Covington & Burling LLP partners have been named to The Ethisphere Institute’s 2009 “Attorneys Who Matter” list, which recognizes leading legal professionals in private practice and at government agencies and major companies who have excelled in and made a significant contribution in the corporate compliance field. In addition, the firm is pleased to note that two of its former partners, Attorney General Eric Holder and Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith, were singled out respectively for excellence among government lawyers and general counsels.

New York partner Alan Vinegrad was placed in the “Top Gun” category for receiving high scores in the majority of the nine criteria used, and for serving as a leader in the outside counsel legal community in assisting corporations in effectively handling corporate compliance issues. Under compliance specialties, Erin Egan was recognized in the Data Privacy/Security category, Ted Garrett was recognized in the Environmental category, and Thomas Johnson was honored in the FCPA category. Egan, Garrett, and Johnson are based in the firm’s Washington office.

In anticipation of the FEC Policies and Procedures hearing slated for January 14, 2009, Charlie Spies from McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP's Political Law practice is offering initial comment and will be available for further comment during and following the hearing.  Mr. Spies offers a unique perspective on election law issues due to his experience working at the Federal Election Commission (as Counsel to Chairman Darryl R. Wold in 1999 and 2000)  as well as serving as Election Law Counsel for the Republican National Committee during the successful Bush-Cheney re-election campaign in 2004 and then General Counsel for the Republican Governors Association working on 38 Governors races in 2005 and 2006.

"Too often with the FEC, the enforcement process has been the punishment, even for Respondents that were ultimately vindicated.  The Commission is to be commended for holding this hearing and taking comment regarding some of the agency's long-standing enforcement procedures," said Charlie Spies.  "The Commission should pay special attention to the comments of practitioners who represent clients participating in campaigns and exercising their constitutionally protected free speech, while at the same time attempting to comply with the cumbersome federal election law statutes and regulations."

Mr. Spies will be attending the hearing at 10:00 AM on Wednesday the 14th and will be available for comment throughout the day at (202) 496-7878.

Matt Towery has returned to the international law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) as a member of the firm’s government affairs practice.  Towery, a former state lawmaker, brings nearly three decades of experience in business, law, and government to the firm and will help identify opportunities to connect business interests with public policy initiatives at the federal, state and local levels.  Towery will continue in his role as CEO of InsiderAdvantage/Poll Position, one of the nation’s leading polling and market research companies

“We are especially pleased to welcome Matt back,” said Eric Tanenblatt, head of MLA’s national government affairs practice. “His broad experience as a state legislator, political strategist, pollster and media analyst combined with his legal training will be a real asset to our clients.  His familiarity with our firm and its client base will enable him to hit the ground running.”

“I’ve been fortunate to have many opportunities to impact policy debates, from both inside and outside political circles,” said Towery.  “MLA has such a strong and well-respected team in government affairs.  Returning gives me a nationwide platform to expand my work by assisting the firm’s clients with public policy issues at the intersection of business and government.”

Towery has built a career in and around government and politics.  He served as a state legislator in Georgia from 1993 to 1997, He has authored two books and currently writes a nationally syndicated column for Creators Syndicate.  Matt has also been a political analyst for WSB-TV in Atlanta, the local ABC affiliate.

Towery joins the national team of MLA’s Government affairs practice which includes a number of widely respected attorneys and professionals including Gordon Giffin, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada; former Congressman Buddy Darden, former U.S. Senator and Governor Zell Miller, former Mayor of Indianapolis Steve Goldsmith, Eric Tanenblatt, former Chief of Staff to Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and senior advisor to the late U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell; former senior Clinton White House officials Marcia Hale and Keith Mason, Joe Dowley, former chief counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee, Cindy Gillespie,  senior counselor to Governor Mitt Romney; Steve Labovitz, former Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Atlanta and Sharon Gay, former deputy chief of staff and executive counsel to the Mayor of Atlanta.