Firm Launches New Government Relations and Policy Practice Group

Randel K. Johnson, former senior vice president for Labor, Immigration, and Employee Benefits at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is joining Seyfarth Shaw LLP as a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment department and will help build the firm’s new Government Relations and Policy practice group in Washington, D.C. Joining Seyfarth with Johnson is Walter Mullon, former manager of operations for Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Mullon will serve as Senior Manager, Policy & Government Affairs in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

For the last 20 years, Johnson has served as senior vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he was primarily responsible for labor, immigration, and employee benefits issues pending before Congress and the federal agencies. In this role, Johnson determined the Chamber’s position and set strategy on a wide variety of issues, including union-driven initiatives such as card check legislation, ergonomics, and blacklisting regulations; pension funding reform and health care; civil rights and wage and hour; and comprehensive immigration reform, including visa and border policy. Having spent 10 years on Capitol Hill, Johnson regularly testified before Congress, and also served six years as an attorney with the Department of Labor.

“Many of us at Seyfarth have worked closely with Randy throughout his prestigious career, and his experience on Capitol Hill and longtime insights into labor policy are virtually unmatched in the industry,” said Laura Maechtlen, chair of Seyfarth’s Labor & Employment department. “He is a fierce advocate for employer issues, but one who has always shown a willingness to build bipartisan coalitions to advance legislation. We are proud to officially welcome him to the firm and we look forward to pairing his policy expertise with our top labor and employment platform.”

“We are thrilled to bring Randy to the firm to help lead our new Government Relations and Policy practice group,” said Pete Miller, chair and managing partner of Seyfarth. “With a unique window into the most pressing business issues facing corporate America today, Randy is well positioned to guide our clients through the breakneck pace of change in Washington.”

Before joining the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Johnson was labor counsel and coordinator for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce where he was responsible for employment policy and legal issues before the committee. His work centered on legislative activity under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Congressional Accountability Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Johnson received his J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and earned a Master of Laws in Labor Relations from the Georgetown University Law Center. He earned a graduate certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government for Senior Managers in Government and is a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. He received his undergraduate degree from Denison University.

“I am grateful for my many years at the Chamber and I look forward to using the expertise I developed there to start a new practice at Seyfarth Shaw, a firm that I have long respected for its sophisticated legal expertise in employment,” said Johnson. “Employment issues, particularly in the area of immigration, are at a critical juncture in Washington today and I look forward to representing our clients as they face new challenges arising from government legislation on the horizon.”

“Randy is a well-respected figure on the Hill, and we are excited to have him spearhead our new and developing Government Relations and Policy practice group. His keen insight into labor policy and reputation throughout the Beltway can quickly provide our clients with guidance they can’t find anywhere else,” said Robert Bodansky, managing partner of Seyfarth’s Washington, D.C. office.

In his role as manager of operations for Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Walter Mullon helped to coordinate the development of the Chamber’s labor and employment policy agenda, working on issues such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, human trafficking, the new economy, joint employer, various immigration reform matters, and retirement policy initiatives related to defined contribution plans.

Seyfarth Shaw’s New Government Relations and Policy Practice Group

Beginning with the firm’s efforts to help draft the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, Seyfarth attorneys have always been central to the labor and employment policy issues that affect every aspect of employment. Continuing this tradition over the years, the firm has expanded its leadership position in public policy and built expertise across many areas of emerging risk for clients in legislative and regulatory affairs, such as labor arbitrations, pension administration, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, immigration, FLSA, EEO, and many others.

With the addition of Johnson and Mullon, Seyfarth has formalized this practice, and announced the launch of a new Government Relations and Policy practice group. The goal of the new practice group will be to coordinate Seyfarth Shaw’s substantial resources to provide legal expertise to clients regarding the actions of Congress and federal, state, and local administrative agencies. Comprised of Seyfarth attorneys with government relations and policy experience, the team will develop solutions for clients and provide ongoing education and advocacy on policy issues. Specifically, the practice group will be formed to:

• Understand, communicate and educate the impact of the policy developments important to employers
• Track and influence key legislation, regulations and court rulings that impact employers
• Build coalitions with organizations and individuals who are focused on employer issues, to identify and respond to policy trends
• Provide analysis and input on legislation and other regulatory developments
• Provide testimony before Congress and government agencies
• Author written submissions on key policy issues including amicus briefs, legislative comments to agencies and others
• Publish studies and reports on important issues to clients