McKenna Long & Aldridge Bolsters Government Affairs Practice in Key Growth Area

Sept. 3, 2010 - PRLog -- NEW YORK — McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) is proud to announce the newest addition to MLA’s New York Government Affairs team.  As a Senior Strategic Advisor, Mike Klein brings a wealth of leadership experience to our New York office; including a keen understanding of public policy development on the local, state, and federal level.

Over the past five years, Klein has developed a strong reputation of advancing major energy, parks, transportation, infrastructure, and telecom projects in the New York region.  

Klein is no stranger to New York politics; he served as Chief of Recreation in NYC Parks, as Deputy Director for the New York-New Jersey office of President Bill Clinton's Office of National Drug Control Policy, as the NYC Regional Representative to former New York State Governor Mario Cuomo, as an aide to U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, as legislative director to City Councilman Stanley Michels of Northern Manhattan, and as Deputy County Executive to the County Executive of Nassau County Tom Suozzi.

In addition to Klein’s extensive background in the public and private sectors, he is also the President and Founder of Urban Strategies LLC, where he managed a range of development efforts in New York City.  Most notably, he designed and served as Campaign Manager for the Parks 2001 campaign, a citywide advocacy effort to dramatically improve parks, recreation, open space and environmental conditions in every community.

“Mike’s diverse background will be a great compliment to our New York Government Affairs team as we continue to grow our brand in this key strategic area, said Eric Tanenblatt, head of MLA’s National Government Affairs practice.  “His extensive knowledge and skill set  will provide a tremendous value for our clients seeking strategic advice as they navigate the politics and policy driving federal, state and local government.”  

Across the country, MLA houses a number of highly respected attorneys and public policy professionals including Gordon Giffin, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada; Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont; Dave Pollak, Co-Chair of the New York State Democratic Party and State Director of the Obama for President campaign; William “Bill” Plunkett, founding partner of the Plunkett & Jaffe Group; Kathleen O’Connor, an assistant to the Counsel to Governor George Pataki and Deputy Legal Counsel to the Governor of Connecticut; Amy Solomon, former Chief of Staff to the Senate Democratic Conference and advisor to the New York Attorney General; and Kelly Lamendola, Assistant Attorney General in the Charities and Health Care Bureaus of the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

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McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP is an international law firm with 475 attorneys and public policy advisors.