Press Release

NEW ORLEANS— Former White House official Daniel Restrepo has joined Jones Walker LLP's Washington, DC office as special counsel in the firm's Business & Commercial Transactions Practice Group and as a member of the Government Relations team.

"We are excited to welcome Dan to the Jones Walker team," said William H. Hines, the firm's managing partner. "His leadership and experience in navigating multinational issues will be invaluable to our clients operating in today's global marketplace."

For nearly six years and through two presidential campaigns, Dan acted as the principal advisor to President Obama on issues related to Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, serving as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council from March 2009 to July 2012 and as an advisor to Obama for America in 2008 and 2012.

He also served as a principal Spanish-language media surrogate for the 2008 and 2012 Obama presidential campaigns. He managed the development and implementation of U.S. national and homeland security, economic, energy, and trade policy related to the Western Hemisphere and was responsible for managing the President's participation in thirty bilateral meetings, two Summits of the Americas, two North American Leaders' Summits, three trips to Mexico, and a trip to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador.  

At Jones Walker, Dan joins former U.S. Representative Rick Lazio, another recent addition who now serves as head of the firm's New York office, as the firm increasingly focuses on issues of national and international scope.

"Jones Walker has an impressive track record in managing a full range of international business matters for its clients, including transactions, litigation, and government relations, so I look forward to contributing in all of these areas at the firm," said Restrepo. "It is an ideal fit."     

Earlier in his career, Dan was as an associate at the law firm of Williams & Connolly, LLP in Washington, DC where he engaged in all aspects of high-stakes, civil and criminal investigations and litigation. He also worked as an attorney for the Florida Democratic Party during the 2000 election recount and served as the Research Director for the Florida Democratic Coordinated Campaign during the 2000 general election.  With more than 20 years of experience in Washington, DC, Dan has worked on behalf of a wide-range of clients including multinational media and technology companies, independent energy producers, private equity funds, major consumer products companies, major infrastructure companies, and global law firms, among others.
 
In addition, Dan created and directed The Americas Project—focused on Latin America and on the role of Hispanics in the United States, their future and the implications for public policy—at the Center for American Progress.  Joining the Center shortly after it was established, Dan helped stand up its government and external relations department and served as Deputy Counsel, drafting and reviewing contracts, conducting compliance review of publications, and assessing conformity of activities to governing tax and election laws.   

About Jones Walker
Jones Walker LLP, with more than 380 attorneys, provides a comprehensive range of legal services to a national and international corporate client base through offices in Alabama, Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Ohio and Texas.

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