K&L Gates Expands Public Policy and Law Practice in Texas with Austin Partner Addition

Austin – Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes Drew Tedford to the firm’s Public Policy and Law practice as a partner in the Austin office.

Tedford most recently worked as the director of the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs. In that role, he managed the flow of legislation through the chamber’s highest-volume committee. Tedford coordinated with the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker as he worked closely with members of legislature to build consensus on major policies.

Previously, Tedford was general counsel and legislative director to the office of Senator Bryan Hughes. Prior to that, he practiced at the Texas Legislative Council, providing legal and legislative counsel to all 181 members of the Texas legislature. As legislative counsel, Tedford advised members on administrative process, provided legal analysis of pending legislation, and drafted bills, amendments, and other legislative documents for consideration in the legislature.

“We are excited to have Drew join our team,” said Jack Erskine, managing partner of K&L Gates’ Austin office. “He has great technical skills having worked at the Texas Legislative Council for several years and great relationships across state government. Drew adds depth and breadth to our team, which represents a variety of clients interfacing with all branches of state government.”

With a significant team of bipartisan lawyers and policy professionals who have more than 500 years of combined government experience, members of K&L Gates’ Public Policy and Law practice work with clients through the entire policy life cycle—from legislation to regulation and dispute resolution. The group is one of the largest public policy practices of any global integrated law firm.

Michael Scanlon, a leader of K&L Gates’ global Policy & Regulatory practice area, commented: “Drew is an exciting addition to our Public Policy and Law practice. We continue to be in a growth mode and Drew’s public sector experience complements and enhances our leading public policy and law practice in Texas and in Washington, D.C.”

Tedford’s arrival follows the addition of several other new lawyers and policy professionals to the Public Policy and Law practice in the past year, including government affairs advisor John Northington Jr., former advisor to the director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement at the US Department of the Interior; partner Jamie Jackson, former senior counsel to former US House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer; partner Matt Leggett, former minority chief counsel with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; government affairs advisor Finch Fulton, former US Department of Transportation deputy assistant secretary for transportation policy; government affairs advisor Ryan Carney, former chief of staff for two members of Congress; and of counsel Len Bickwit.