Legal News

Former Congressman Bart Gordon joins K&L Gates

By Karen Hudson

K&L Gates today announced that former Congressman Bart Gordon has joined the firm?s Washington office as a partner in the public policy and law practice.

Gordon, a Democrat, represented Tennessee?s 6th Congressional District for 26 years and served as chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology from 2007 to 2011. Gordon was also a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and served on the Financial Services, Budget and Rules committees.

?Bart?s committee service in the House was extraordinary by any measure and will add considerably to our policy practice?s capabilities in the technology-dense 21st century and especially in the energy sector,? Peter Kalis, K&L Gates? chairman and global managing partner, said in a written statement.

Gordon?s practice will focus on advising clients on innovation- and technology-related issues, including clean technology, nanotechnology, renewable energy, energy efficiency and nuclear energy.

During his career in Congress, Gordon promoted technology-related bills, including the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science Act, also known as the America Competes Act, which was signed into law in 2007. The act promoted federal investments in innovation and created the Advanced Research Projects Agency?Energy (ARPA-E) to promote advances in energy technology and expanded federal science research. Gordon sponsored the America Competes Reauthorization Act in 2010.

Gordon has conducted joint hearings with the Science and Technology Committee of the U.K. Parliament and has testified before the Italian Parliament.

In a written statement, David Case, administrative partner of K&L Gates? Washington office, said, ?Adding Chairman Gordon to an already accomplished public policy and law team ? which also includes former Congressman Jim Walsh and former Senator Slade Gorton among its roster ? will allow us to provide our clients with unparalleled policy and political advice and assistance. His longstanding work with European legislators further integrates K&L Gates? global government solutions platform.?

Full post as published by The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times on March 29, 2011 (boomark / email).