Overview
(March 21, 2016, Washington, DC) — Steptoe & Johnson LLP continues to bolster its government affairs practice with senior-level experience in Congress combined with deep substantive skills, while further adding to its growing roster of bipartisan women leaders. Allison Nyholm joins the firm from Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Capitol Hill office. A lifelong Alaskan, Ms. Nyholm previously worked for the state of Alaska and also worked in-house at the American Petroleum Institute. As a director in Steptoe’s Government Affairs & Public Policy Group, Ms. Nyholm will focus her practice on energy and natural resources policy and legislation.
In Sen. Murkowski’s office, Ms. Nyholm coordinated top legislative and policy priorities with the staff of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Her recent accomplishments included securing the first permit to transport LNG via rail, as well as obtaining legislative language important to Alaska for programs under the Army Corps of Engineers, Reclamation, and rural utilities service accounts, as well as tax incentives for rail and land in to trust.
“Allison brings to Steptoe an abundance of experience on energy, natural resources and Alaska-related issues. She also joins a collection of powerful, connected and successful woman in government relations,” said Micah Green, co-chair of Steptoe’s Government Affairs & Public Policy Group. “We are proud to have some of the most senior, experienced women in Washington to help our clients navigate the complex and changing landscape of public policy.”
With Ms. Nyholm’s arrival, Steptoe’s Government Affairs & Public Policy Group continues to add women from prominent federal government positions to its roster. The group’s leadership includes:
- Susan Esserman, chair of the firm’s International Trade and Investment practice. She previously served as deputy US trade representative, the second ranking official at USTR, with the standing of ambassador, and held three additional senior posts at USTR and the Department of Commerce.
- Leslie Belcher, managing director, Government Affairs & Public Policy Group. She is a close confidante of House Speaker Ryan and his wife Janna. Ms. Belcher served as chief of staff to both Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) and Rep. Wes Watkins (D-OK), and as legislative director to Rep. Bill Brewster (D-OK).
- Elizabeth Burks, managing director, Government Affairs & Public Policy Group. She is a former chief of staff for Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).
- Lisa Zarlenga, co-chair of Steptoe’s Tax Group. Ms. Zarlenga returned to the firm in early 2015 after serving nearly four years as tax legislative counsel at the US Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy.
- Cameron Arterton, of counsel, Tax Group. Prior to joining Steptoe in 2015, Ms. Arterton spent four years in the Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy, most recently as deputy tax legislative counsel.
- Carolyn Walsh, partner, Financial Services practice and Government Affairs & Public Policy Group. She previously served at the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board and held senior leadership positions at the American Bankers Association Securities Association.
Steptoe’s government affairs practice also includes a set of women advisors, directors and associates with decades of Capitol Hill experience. These professionals include Lisa Mortier, director, previously with Rep. Sue Myrick’s (R-NC) and Richard H. Baker’s (R-LA) offices; Jessica Frend, government affairs advisor, previously with Sen. Mike DeWine’s (R-OH) office; and associates Mara Giorgio, Eva Rigamonti, Kate Jensen and Grace Kim.
Steptoe’s bipartisan team of lawyers and government affairs professionals brings decades of experience working in and with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, and understands how public policy decisions are made. The team includes former congressmen, the governor of Puerto Rico, general counsel of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, chiefs of staff in both the House and Senate, and senior staff and legislative positions.
About Steptoe
Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm widely recognized for vigorous advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, successful representation of clients before governmental agencies, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions. The firm has more than 500 lawyers and other professionals in offices in Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, Phoenix and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.