Press Release
Former Counsel to Sen. Charles Schumer Joins K&L Gates as Washington, D.C., Public Policy Partner
1 November 2016
Washington, D.C. - Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes Stacy J. Ettinger as a partner in the public policy and law practice of its Washington, D.C., office. The former counsel for Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) is the fourth new addition to the practice this year and the eighth partner, of counsel, or public policy professional addition to K&L Gates’ Washington, D.C., office in the past five months.
Ettinger spent over nine years as a senior legal and policy advisor to Sen. Schumer, most recently as his chief counsel for the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, where she led the preparation for legislative initiatives, hearings, and confirmation of presidential nominations and oversaw operational services for the Senate, including corporate governance and compliance matters involving government contractors. Additionally, she served as the chief legal advisor for the 2013 presidential inauguration.
Prior to joining the Rules committee, she worked in Schumer’s personal office and as deputy staff director for the Joint Economic Committee, managing a wide range of economic initiatives, including resolving domestic and foreign regulatory, compliance, and market access issues with corporate and industry officials. She also served as Schumer’s principal legal and policy advisor on international trade, investment, intellectual property, and regulatory issues, as well as food and product standards, motor vehicle safety, and consumer financial services. “Stacy is a fantastic addition to our policy team,” said Darrell Conner, co-leader of K&L Gates’ public policy and law practice. “Her in-depth knowledge of manufacturing, investment, trade, and consumer financial services policy will enhance our already robust offerings for clients. With her experience, she will be able to advise clients on a variety of issues and advocate for their interests before Congress and the next administration.”
Prior to her time in Congress, Ettinger was a lawyer for the Department of Commerce for a decade and a half, rising to associate chief counsel. There, she advised senior government officials on interpretation and application of domestic and foreign trade laws, regulations, and policies and represented the U.S. in bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations in federal court and before the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. She also led multiagency teams in legal disputes with senior officials of foreign governments, including negotiating the U.S.–Chile Free Trade Agreement and the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
“Stacy has tremendous experience and insights working at the most senior levels of Senate leadership,” added Bruce J. Heiman, co-leader of the firm’s policy and regulatory practice area. “With the elections next week bringing a new Administration and Congress, Stacy knows the personalities and positions of many key members and staff, and will add significant value for our clients.”
Since June, K&L Gates’ Washington, D.C., office has also welcomed Steven F. Hill as a partner in the antitrust, competition, and trade regulation practice; Vincente L. Martinez as a partner in the government enforcement practice; Olivia S. Byrne and Tala S. Gardner as partner and of counsel in the real estate practice; Linda C. Odom as partner in the FinTech practice; and former Army Secretary John McHugh and Anne LeMay as government affairs counselor and government affairs advisor in the public policy and law practice.
K&L Gates’ leading public policy and law practice has nearly 50 bipartisan lawyers and policy professionals with 500 years of combined experience in federal and state government, including four former members of Congress, the former general counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency, White House officials, other congressional committee counsels, senior executive branch officials, congressional chiefs of staff, leadership staff, senior counsel at various government agencies, senior gubernatorial aides, military officials, and others.
Ettinger spent over nine years as a senior legal and policy advisor to Sen. Schumer, most recently as his chief counsel for the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, where she led the preparation for legislative initiatives, hearings, and confirmation of presidential nominations and oversaw operational services for the Senate, including corporate governance and compliance matters involving government contractors. Additionally, she served as the chief legal advisor for the 2013 presidential inauguration.
Prior to joining the Rules committee, she worked in Schumer’s personal office and as deputy staff director for the Joint Economic Committee, managing a wide range of economic initiatives, including resolving domestic and foreign regulatory, compliance, and market access issues with corporate and industry officials. She also served as Schumer’s principal legal and policy advisor on international trade, investment, intellectual property, and regulatory issues, as well as food and product standards, motor vehicle safety, and consumer financial services. “Stacy is a fantastic addition to our policy team,” said Darrell Conner, co-leader of K&L Gates’ public policy and law practice. “Her in-depth knowledge of manufacturing, investment, trade, and consumer financial services policy will enhance our already robust offerings for clients. With her experience, she will be able to advise clients on a variety of issues and advocate for their interests before Congress and the next administration.”
Prior to her time in Congress, Ettinger was a lawyer for the Department of Commerce for a decade and a half, rising to associate chief counsel. There, she advised senior government officials on interpretation and application of domestic and foreign trade laws, regulations, and policies and represented the U.S. in bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations in federal court and before the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. She also led multiagency teams in legal disputes with senior officials of foreign governments, including negotiating the U.S.–Chile Free Trade Agreement and the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
“Stacy has tremendous experience and insights working at the most senior levels of Senate leadership,” added Bruce J. Heiman, co-leader of the firm’s policy and regulatory practice area. “With the elections next week bringing a new Administration and Congress, Stacy knows the personalities and positions of many key members and staff, and will add significant value for our clients.”
Since June, K&L Gates’ Washington, D.C., office has also welcomed Steven F. Hill as a partner in the antitrust, competition, and trade regulation practice; Vincente L. Martinez as a partner in the government enforcement practice; Olivia S. Byrne and Tala S. Gardner as partner and of counsel in the real estate practice; Linda C. Odom as partner in the FinTech practice; and former Army Secretary John McHugh and Anne LeMay as government affairs counselor and government affairs advisor in the public policy and law practice.
K&L Gates’ leading public policy and law practice has nearly 50 bipartisan lawyers and policy professionals with 500 years of combined experience in federal and state government, including four former members of Congress, the former general counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency, White House officials, other congressional committee counsels, senior executive branch officials, congressional chiefs of staff, leadership staff, senior counsel at various government agencies, senior gubernatorial aides, military officials, and others.
K&L Gates comprises approximately 2,000 lawyers globally who practice in fully integrated offices located on five continents. The firm represents leading multinational corporations, growth and middle-market companies, capital markets participants and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and individuals.
