Former Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chief Counsel Joins K&L Gates as Washington, D.C., Partner

Washington, D.C. - Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes Matt Leggett, former minority chief counsel with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office. He joins the firm’s Public Policy and Law practice, which also recently added former U.S. Congressman Mike Doyle in Pittsburgh and former chief majority counsel and deputy staff director for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee Mike Evans in Washington, D.C.

As minority chief counsel with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and, before that, as majority chief counsel with the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Leggett was responsible for overseeing committee staff in the creation of legislation, policy negotiations, preparing for hearings, coordinating media strategies, and participating in the regulatory process. He provided legal counsel, advice, and legislative solutions to the Ranking Member and Chairman of the respective committees, Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, members of the committees, and other Senate offices, and directed committee hearings and Senate consideration of more than 65 presidential nominations in the energy, environment, natural resources, and transportation space. Leggett also ensured compliance with Senate, committee, and Republican conference rules. Additionally, he devised rules-based strategies to pass legislation, process nominees, defend committee jurisdiction, and advocate before the Senate Parliamentarian. Prior to that, Leggett also worked for Sen. Barrasso as policy counsel with the Senate Republican Policy Committee.

Because of Leggett’s recent roles, much of his Hill tenure was focused on natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and exports, and other energy infrastructure matters. As a result of his oversight and his management of all nominations for the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and his review of environmental impact statements throughout his career, Leggett has deep knowledge of the inner workings of these agencies and the individuals who run them.

David Wochner, a leader of K&L Gates’ global Policy & Regulatory practice area, commented: “Matt is deeply experienced in key energy and environmental matters that fit squarely within our Public Policy and Law practice and the firm’s energy and infrastructure clients, especially with regard to regulation by FERC, the EPA, and DOE. His prominent role as counsel for two Senate committees significantly deepens our energy policy bench in an area that is absolutely critical now and for years to come given federal and state government activity related to the advancement of energy and climate initiatives.”

With a significant team of bipartisan lawyers and policy professionals who have more than 500 years of combined government experience, members of K&L Gates’ Public Policy and Law practice work with clients through the entire policy life cycle—from legislation to regulation and dispute resolution. The group, celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer, has grown to one of the largest public policy practices of any global integrated law firm.

“Matt is a respected strategic advisor on energy, environment, and agriculture policy matters,” said J. Barclay Collins, managing partner of K&L Gates’ Washington, D.C., office. “He has political and legal acumen that spans 17 years of senior-level legislative, regulatory, and communications experience as chief counsel of two Senate committees, policy counsel to Senate leadership, and legislative aide to a House committee and high-ranking members of the Senate and House.”

Leggett is among nearly 155 partners and of counsel K&L Gates has welcomed across its global platform since the beginning of 2020, with the firm’s Washington, D.C., office also having added partners Marty Pugh (Power), Mike Evans (Public Policy and Law), Guillermo Christensen (Cybersecurity and National Security), and Cheryl Isaac (Asset Management and Investment Funds) during the last year.