Press Release
K&L Gates Welcomes Returning Public Policy and Law Of Counsel in Washington, D.C., and Portland Offices
Washington, D.C. - Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes Scott C. Nelson as an of counsel in the public policy and law practice. An associate with K&L Gates from 2005-2009, Nelson rejoins the firm after tenures in Oregon state government and with his own law and lobbying practice.
He provides legal and government affairs counsel to a variety of clients on a range of health care, tax, trade, and environmental issues, as well as on political law and government ethics matters.
Prior to founding his private practice in 2014, Nelson served as economic policy advisor for former Oregon governor John Kitzhaber, where he led various aspects of policy development for tax, trade, energy, innovation, and budget issues with multiple state agencies. He also served as deputy chief of staff for former U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) in addition to other positions in the Congress and executive branch.
“We’re excited to welcome Scott back to the firm,” said Darrell L. Conner, government affairs counselor and co-leader of K&L Gates’ public policy and law practice in Washington, D.C. “His experience will strengthen our business ties and congressional relationships in the Pacific Northwest and add to our capabilities in heath care, trade, infrastructure, and energy, all growth areas for the practice.”
Brendan Gutierrez McDonnell, administrative partner of K&L Gates’ Portland office, commented: “I’m delighted that Scott is rejoining the firm. His well-rounded practice and deep network of connections will bring immediate value to our clients. Scott is a talented lawyer and adds significant capability to our office in the public policy and law space.”
Nelson’s arrival follows several other recent hires in the firm’s public policy practice, including Amanda Makki, former aide to Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK); former Secretary of the Army and U.S. Congressman John McHugh (R-NY) and his long-time advisor Anne LeMay, and Stacy Ettinger, who served as counsel to the Senate Rules Committee and the office of Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
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 is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across 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.
