Former Indiana Gov. and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh has left McGuireWoods for Cozen O'Connor's Washington, D.C., office, bolstering the lobbying wing of the Philadelphia-based firm.

Bayh had been a partner in McGuireWoods' D.C. office since retiring from the Senate in 2011 after serving two terms. He will now serve as a senior adviser to Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies and will be of counsel to the law firm.

“I'm thrilled to welcome Senator Bayh to Cozen O'Connor. He brings to us extraordinary experience at the highest levels of government, with credibility inside the Beltway and far beyond; and truly bipartisan credentials,” Michael Heller, Cozen O'Connor's executive chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “As a major addition to our team of experienced advocates, he'll help us leverage and grow what is already a solid reputation of providing clients with the clarity and expertise necessary to effectively engage at all levels of government.”

Bayh represented Indiana in the Senate as a Democrat starting in 1999, before unexpectedly announcing that he would not seek re-election in 2010. As a legislator, he distinguished himself with bipartisan efforts on financial services reform and health care. Bayh also served two terms as governor of Indiana from 1989 to 1997. He was traveling Monday and not immediately available for an interview.

“We thank Evan for his contributions and wish him well,” McGuireWoods managing partner J. Tracy Walker IV said in an email.

Bayh also currently serves as a senior adviser to New York private equity firm Apollo Global Management and sits on the board of directors for Marathon Petroleum Corp., Fifth Third Bank, Berry Global, RCCH Healthcare, Zenith American Solutions, and RLJ Lodging Trust.

“Senator Bayh has spent decades at the intersection of business and government—and as an accomplished statesman, he knows firsthand how to strategically advise clients, ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to ambitious startups, on how to navigate today's complex legislative and regulatory landscape,” Mark Alderman, chairman of Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, said in a statement.

Bayh did make an unsuccessful effort to return to public service and recapture his old Senate seat in 2016. He replaced Democratic primary winner Baron Hill on the ticket that July before coming up short against Republican Todd Young in the November election.

Late last year, Cozen O'Connor boosted its lobbying wing with the acquisition of a group of New York City lobbyists from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. And the firm also welcomed back former associate White House counsel Jim Schultz, who has worked with the firm at multiple points during his career. While Schultz chairs the firm's government and regulatory practice group, he also works closely with Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies.