Former Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor has joined a law firm in Washington, D.C., and will counsel clients on issues at the intersection of law, policy and business.
The firm, Venable LLP, announced Monday that Pryor will join its government affairs practice and will focus on areas that he had worked on in the U.S. Senate, including communications, aviation, consumer protection and agriculture.
Pryor said he will live in Arkansas and open an office in downtown Little Rock. He will split his time between Arkansas and Washington.
"I'm excited to work with this outstanding firm on the issues where I can make a difference," Pryor said in a news release. "Best of all, this opportunity allows me to live in the state I love, and stay involved in the Arkansas legal and business communities."
Pryor, who served as Arkansas' attorney general before being elected to the U.S. Senate, also will help in the firm's division on state attorney general and investigation practices.
"We welcome Senator Mark Pryor to the firm," Venable Chairman James Shea said in the news release. "Senator Pryor's twenty years of public service will provide unique insights and counsel to our clients on critical issues. We could not be more pleased that he has chosen to join Venable."
Venable also recently added former U.S. Rep. James Gerlach, R-Pa., to the firm's legislative practice. Pryor and Gerlach join former U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich.; former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind.; former Transportation Secretary James Burnley IV; and former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administrator David Strickland, as well as several veteran Capitol Hill legislative staff members and policy advisers from both sides of the aisle.
"We are proud of our bipartisan team. Senator Pryor's experience on several influential Senate committees will be an important resource for our clients," said Robert Smith, co-chairman of the firm's legislative practices division.
Pryor -- who married his wife, Joi, on Valentine's Day -- previously was a partner at Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP and had his own law office before going into politics.
"I look forward to this next phase of my career and being a part of Venable. I chose Venable because of its strengths in providing both legislative and legal solutions for clients," Pryor said in the news release. "They are a natural fit for me, given their client base and my experience."
State Desk on 03/03/2015