Washington Wrap is a weekly look at industry news and Big Law moves shaping the legal business in Washington, D.C. Send news tips and lateral moves to Ryan Lovelace at [email protected].

Former acting U.S. Attorney General Matt Whitaker found a new home this week, nearly six months after the end of his brief but tumultuous turn as the country’s top lawyer.

Clout Public Affairs, a unit of consulting firm Axiom Strategies, said Whitaker will serve as a managing director, working on client public affairs, business development and “strategic vision” while advising clients on “the complexities of Washington and state capitals across the nation.”

Axiom, based in Kansas City, Missouri, is led by alumni from Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign. David Polyansky, Clout’s president and Cruz’s former chief of staff, said in a statement he was looking forward to introducing Whitaker to clients, and touted Whitaker’s past as a small business owner and college football player.

“Matt Whitaker brings a diverse set of experience, relationships, and skills that will continue to distinguish Clout in the public affairs space,” Polyansky said. “Matt will play a critical role in carrying forward Clout’s vision of excellence and senior advisory services.”

Whitaker led the U.S. Justice Department from November 2018 to Feb. 14, 2019, and left the department in March. When then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions was forced out of office by President Donald Trump, Whitaker was chief of staff to Sessions and took the reins until William Barr was confirmed as AG earlier this year.

His appointment was beset by legal challenges, including one that was withdrawn and one that the Supreme Court declined to consider.

Since leaving the Justice Department, Whitaker has also joined Graves Garrett, a Kansas City-based law firm, as of counsel. He was formerly the managing partner of a Des Moines, Iowa, boutique firm that then bore his name—Whitaker Hagenow & Gustoff— from 2009 until he joined DOJ in 2017.

Whitaker was previously appointed U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa by President George W. Bush, and served from 2004 to 2009.

While climbing up the ladder in the legal world, Whitaker simultaneously pursued a career in politics. He lost a Republican primary campaign for the U.S. Senate from Iowa to Joni Ernst in 2014, and was director of the Foundation for Accountability & Civic Trust (FACT) from 2014 to 2017. FACT is a nonprofit watchdog with a penchant for targeting Democratic public officials.

In joining Axiom, Whitaker is getting back into the political realm just ahead of the 2020 elections.

In a statement shared by Axiom, he said the company’s “commitment to excellence and unwavering focus on results has elevated them as one of the best firms in the business.”

Axiom Strategies was founded in 2006 by Jeff Roe, Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign manager. Roe formed the consulting shop on leaving the office of U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, brother to Todd Graves, who leads the law firm Whitaker just joined. Axiom now boasts 90 full-time employees spread across its offices nationwide.

Clout formed in 2012 as Axiom’s public affairs and government relations division, and lists eight employees on its website not including Whitaker. While Axiom and Clout do not appear eager to identify clients on any of their sites, Axiom’s website touts their work to flip public opinion on a 2016 Missouri ballot amendment to the state’s constitution that sought to increase taxes on cigarettes.

Law Firm Moves, News & Notes

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz said this week it formed a strategic alliance with Lance B. Leggitt, namely Leggitt Strategies.

Leggitt was previously deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Trump, a chief of staff to former Health and Human Services Department Secretary Tom Price, and an adviser in President George W. Bush’s White House as well.

Jones Walker said this week it added James Kearns as special counsel in its maritime practice group in Washington, D.C.

He previously spent 26 years at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, including 20 years as a partner.

K&L Gates said this week it added Doug Hall as a government affairs analyst in its D.C. office.

He joined from the U.S. Air Force, where he spent more than 26 years.

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein opened an office in Washington, D.C.

The firm will handle a bevy of legal services in D.C. as well as expand its consultancy work.

Carlton Fields said this week it added Scott Abeles as senior counsel in D.C.

He was previously a partner at Gerard Fox and an attorney at Proskauer Rose.

Eric Ransom entered private practice for the first time as senior counsel at Crowell & Moring.

He spent more than a decade with the U.S. Government Accountability Office and last year with the U.S. Senate.