Akin‘s exceptionally deep bench is comprised of both lawyers and nonlawyer advisors with extensive experience in the political sphere. Availing themselves of a long reach across congressional committees, the executive branch, and federal agencies, the team is recognized for its tax, trade, healthcare, energy, financial services, and environment expertise. The firm’s distinct congressional investigations arm is also renowned for being a major player in the most sensitive and high-profile proceedings. Tax, health, transportation, tech and financial services specialist Hunter Bates jointly chairs the public law and policy group with premier international trade lobbyist Brian Pomper. Raphael Prober and Karen Christian bring federal executive and congressional experience to their leadership of the congressional investigations team. Arshi Siddiqui draws on policy and political knowhow from her tenure as senior policy advisor to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ed Pagano has served in the Obama administration as Senate Liaison and Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, and Clete Willems has been a lead negotiator with China during the Trump administration. Tom Moyer advises financial services, education, and defense sector clients in government investigations. Christopher Treanor, who is well-versed in Inflation Reduction Act and natural gas matters, was promoted to partner in January 2024. Reggie Babin, who served as chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and is highly sought after as an AI lobbyist, joined the firm as senior counsel in January 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘The people I work with at Akin Gump are all very responsive, have a wealth of knowledge, are creative and ask great questions. As a non profit, we have secured funding increases year after year with their help.’
‘Ed Pagano is one of my main contacts and I cannot say enough wonderful things about him. He is amazing at finding relevant information, making helpful connections and assisting with strategies and outreach preparations. He is super responsive and I really value that.’
‘Tremendous expertise and a deep bench of talent.’
‘Clete Willems is as good as they get.’

Work highlights

Represented the former director of the CDC during the Trump administration in multiple investigations, including inquiries by the House SSCC, the Senate HSGAC and the GAO.

Lawyers

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Hunter Bates

Akin

Hunter Bates is co-leader of Akin’s lobbying & public policy practice and on the firm’s Management Committee, bringing more than 20 years of law, policy and advocacy experience to his client work. Hunter combines his extensive knowledge of policy and process with his close connections to key players to provide strategic advice and advocacy on behalf of a wide range of clients, including Fortune 100 companies, trade associations, coalitions and nonprofit organizations. Hunter brings to his client engagements a deep understanding of the intricacies of the legislative process and extensive experience working with members of the Senate and House on wide-ranging issues such as tax, trade, appropriations, healthcare, labor and sports law. Repeatedly named among the country’s “Top Lobbyists” by The Hill, Hunter’s ability to mobilize support and drive meaningful policy outcomes is a testament to his unwavering commitment to achieving tangible results for his clients. To learn more about Hunter, please visit his profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/hunter-bates.html

Brian Pomper

Akin

Brian Pomper serves as co-leader of the firm’s lobbying & public policy practice and recently completed a 7-year term on the firm’s management committee. He offers public policy, political and strategic business advice to Fortune 500 and other domestic and multinational companies. He represents clients before Congress, the White House and federal agencies on a diverse set of public policy matters, including market access, investment, international trade disputes, intellectual property, international tax and customs issues. To learn more about Brian, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/brian-a-pomper.html

Arshi Siddiqui

Akin

Arshi Siddiqui is a leading Democratic strategist and lobbyist with a national practice focused on synthesizing public policy and politics into successful federal strategies. She is consistently sought out for her ability to form bipartisan coalitions, navigate intractable public policy challenges and help companies build their brands in Washington. Her practice focuses on a wide range of issues, and some recent client milestones include -- Securing a delay in implementation of an overly broad and burdensome 1099-K tax reporting requirement that would have forced millions of Americans to pay more taxes than they owed for selling items via online platforms; Working with an innovative start-up to secure regulatory guidance by the Environmental Protection Agency that integrated a path for newer technologies to destroy PFAS “forever chemicals,” ensuring that local communities will have viable options to burning or landfilling toxic chemicals. To learn more about Arshi, please visit her full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/arshi-siddiqui.html

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Hunter Bates, Brian Pomper, Raphael Prober, Karen Christian

Other key lawyers

Arshi Siddiqui, Ed Pagano, Clete Willems, Tom Moyer, Christopher Treanor, Reggie Babin, Joseph DiPiero

Testimonials

Work highlights

Lawyers

Practice head

Other key lawyers

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