“Greenberg Traurig’s reputation, deep experience in Washington, D.C., and the long-standing relationships I have had with many members of the firm made the firm particularly attractive,” Smith W. “Smitty” Davis said.
WASHINGTON (PRWEB) January 09, 2020
Smith W. “Smitty” Davis, a former counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and its Crime Subcommittee, has joined the Washington, D.C. office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP as a shareholder in the Government Law & Policy Practice. Davis joins from Akin Gump where, over the course of his career, he served in several management positions including practice manager of the firm’s Public Law and Policy Group and a member of its firmwide management and compensation committees.
“Greenberg Traurig’s reputation, deep experience in Washington, D.C., and the long-standing relationships I have had with many members of the firm made the firm particularly attractive,” Davis said. “Equally important to me are the firm’s collaborative culture and global footprint and its strategic expansion of an already dynamic Government Law & Policy Practice.”
“Smitty is somewhat of an icon in Washington, D.C. He brings not only experience but wisdom and a high degree of respect from peers and clients alike. We are excited to welcome him to the firm,” said Richard A. Rosenbaum, Greenberg Traurig Executive Chairman.
“It is a pleasure to add Smitty to our team. He will continue the strategic growth of our Government Law and Policy Group and add depth to our strong bipartisan practice. Smitty will immediately enhance our ability to serve clients on Capitol Hill, in the Executive branch, and in the major state Capitals across the country,” said Robert C. Jones and Robert Mangas, co-chairs of the firm’s Washington, D.C. Federal Government Law & Policy Practice, in a joint statement. Jones, who was Counsel to the Senate Appropriations Committee from 1986 to 1988, joined the firm in June 2019. Mangas also serves as the co-managing shareholder of the Washington, D.C. office.
Among other things, Davis helps clients with matters involving legal reform across a broad range of sectors and issues related to natural gas pipelines. He has been most active in four areas of legal reform: false claims, asbestos tort reform, litigation funding and antitrust. His work with respect to pipelines has centered on multiemployer pension policy and environmental issues.
“Smitty’s decades of experience dealing with some of the most sophisticated policy issues facing industries resonates with the mission of our Washington, D. C. office and is additive given his capability of helping clients navigate the Administration's inner workings for developing policy,” said Ernest L. Greer, Greenberg Traurig Co-President. “In the past year, more than 15 new attorneys and lobbyists chose Greenberg Traurig’s Washington, D.C. office as their new home. This is a collaborative office that attracts those who comprehend the value of their impact on clients, the community, the firm, and beyond.”
Throughout his career, Davis has served as public policy counsel before a variety of congressional committees, including the Judiciary Committees, House Energy and Commerce Committees, House Education and the Workforce Committee, and House Financial Services and Senate Banking Committees.
Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig, Davis represented the world’s premier voice, video and data communications companies before the House and Senate Judiciary committees in matters involving telecommunications issues. He has advised consumer lending companies in bankruptcy reform legislation and helped companies and a major trade association regarding the False Claims Act, corporate speech, and other legal policy issues. He has also provided advice to foreign and domestic investment firms and commercial banks, consumer lending companies, and private equity firms on issues including mergers and acquisitions and bank holding company and securities law reform. He also assisted clients in matters involving the House Education and House Workforce committees, addressing pension reform issues related to multi-employer pension plans.
Davis received his J.D. and B.A. from Yale University, magna cum laude. He previously completed a clerkship with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, where he is admitted to practice.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Government Law & Policy Practice: Greenberg Traurig’s Government Law & Policy Practice combines the capabilities of its Federal Practice in Washington D.C. with its state and local practices across the country. The firm’s national team of governmental affairs professionals and attorneys spans major political and commercial capitals throughout the United States, including: Albany, Austin, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York City, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Tallahassee, and Washington, D.C. Most recently, Greenberg Traurig’s Government Law & Policy team was “Top Listed” for Government Relations in Best Lawyers in America’s 2018 edition. The team was also named “Law Firm of the Year” for Government Relations by the U.S. News-Best Lawyers 2014 edition of “Best Law Firms.” The practice also received the most first-tier Government Relations rankings in the U.S.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2100 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com, Twitter: @GT_Law.