Top D.C. Political Strategist Joins Alston & Bird

WASHINGTON – May 21, 2008 – Alston & Bird LLP announced today that Robert C. Jones has joined the firm as the leader of its Legislative and Public Policy Practice. Most recently he was head of Transportation, Infrastructure and Federal Funding at Patton Boggs LLP, one of the firm’s largest practice groups.

Mr. Jones will be based in Alston & Bird’s Washington, D.C. office, where the firm’s Legislative and Public Policy Practice includes former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Bob Dole and Tom Daschle, and former senior officials from the White House, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Justice, State, Treasury, the Office of the Trade Representative, the National Security Agency, a panoply of regulatory agencies and Congress.

“Bob has played a significant role shaping legislation in a variety of industries,” said Senator Bob Dole, Special Counsel with Alston & Bird. “His political instincts and policy acumen are top-notch. I am confident that he is the right person to lead this practice. We look forward to working closely with him.

“I am extremely pleased that Bob has chosen to join Alston & Bird,” said former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, who provides public policy advice to clients at Alston & Bird. “His breadth of experience and reputation for professionalism will strengthen our already stellar team. “

As head of Alston & Bird’s Legislative and Public Policy practice, Mr. Jones will lead attorneys and public policy advisors who specialize in e-commerce and Internet; energy and environment; financial services; food, drug and device; global business strategy; homeland security; healthcare; intellectual property; international trade; privacy and data security; tax; and telecommunications.

“Bob knows Washington,” said Dennis O. Garris, partner-in-charge of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. “He has made his career in the legislative and public policy arenas. For more than 18 years he has counseled clients in a variety of industries, including transportation and telecommunications. We are delighted he has chosen to join Alston & Bird.”

Prior to joining Patton Boggs in 1990, Mr. Jones served as counsel to the Senate Appropriations Committee under Chairman John C. Stennis (D-Miss.) and as appropriations counsel to Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), chair of the Senate VA, HUD Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee and chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He received a J.D. from Mississippi and a B.A. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

“It’s been an honor working with my friend and mentor Tom Boggs for almost two decades on some of our nation’s most important policy issues,” said Jones. “Now, I look forward to working with the highly respected team at Alston & Bird and alongside two of the most knowledgeable and influential people in this town – Senate leaders Bob Dole and Tom Daschle.”

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