Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP is an Washington DC-based law and lobbying firm.

In March 2007, it was announced that Kenneth B. Mehlman was rejoining Akin Gump as a partner. The Wall Street Journal said Mehlman would be providing "political intelligence" to Akin Gump's corporate clients. The firm said Mehlman will "focus on developing solutions for clients facing challenges in the legislative, regulatory, constituency, corporate and public relations arenas at the state, federal and international levels." 

Personnel
According to its website the company employs 950 staff with the largest offices in Washington D.C and New York. According to the National Law Journal, it is the 18th largest U.S. law firm.


 * R. Bruce McLean, Chairman
 * Kenneth B. Mehlman, partner
 * Vernon E. Jordan Jr., former chairman of the Clinton Presidential Transition Team;
 * Bill Paxon, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Senior Executive Partners

 * Robert S. Strauss, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, chairman of the Democratic National Committee and special trade representative under President Carter;
 * Alan D. Feld
 * James C. Langdon Jr.
 * Joel Jankowsky
 * Mark C. Medish, Former Partner; specializes on property rights in Russia/former Soviet Union

Political contributions
James C. Langdon Jr., Senior Executive Partner at Akin Gump, is a Bush Pioneer having raised at least $100,000 for Bush in the 2004 presidential election. Bill Paxon, Senior Advisor, is another Bush Pioneer.

The Akin Gump firm gave $335,765 to federal candidates in the 2006 election through its political action committee - 47% to Democrats, 51% to Republicans, and 2% to other parties.

Clients

 * The U.S. Embassy of the government of Colombia: According to its 2001 FARA return the "registrant contacted congressional and executive branch officials to discuss U.S. policy towards Colombia." . It was paid "$86,129.04 for the six month period ending June 24,2001," the return states.
 * Government of British Columbia: According to its 2001 FARA return the "registrant communicated with U.S. Government officials regarding trade in softwood lumber." It was paid "          $350,607.26 for the six month period ending June 24,2001."
 * Republic of Georgia: According to its 2001 FARA return the "registrant provided advisory services in preparation for Georgia's framework negotiations with the Paris Club group of creditors". . No payment was reported.
 * Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: According to its 2001 FARA return the "registrant provided legal advice and strategic counsel with respect to the foreign principal's proposed accession to WTO". It was paid "$6,770.50 for the six month period ending June 24,2001."
 * CNOOC Ltd (Chinese National Oil Corpooration)
 * "President Bush's top independent intelligence adviser met last winter with investment bankers in China to help secure his law firm's role in lobbying for a state-run Chinese energy firm and its bid for the U.S. oil company Unocal Corp., according to his law firm, Akin Gump.
 * The involvement of James C. Langdon Jr., chairman of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and a major Bush fundraiser, underscores the tangled Washington connections beneath CNOOC Ltd.'s bid...
 * Langdon's involvement, given his dual role as Bush intelligence adviser and energy lawyer at the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, may prove politically problematic, some security experts said. Members of the intelligence board, known as PFIAB, are granted the highest security clearance and develop top-secret advisories and reports for the president, most of which are not even available to members of Congress."

Contact Details
Robert S. Strauss Building 1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20036-1564 Phone: 202.887.4000 Fax: 202.887.4288 Web: http://www.akingump.com

SourceWatch Resources

 * Bill Paxon
 * Kenneth B. Mehlman
 * Lobbying firms
 * Robert S. Strauss