Press Releases
Former Lt. Gov. Wicker, Team to Join Nelson Mullins' Government Relations Practice
RALEIGH (Oct. 30, 2009) - Former North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Dennis Wicker will join the Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough Government Relations Practice on Monday as a partner and will be based in the Raleigh office. Joining him at Nelson Mullins are his current team members Joe Lanier, Wendy Kelly, Peter Hans, and their assistant, Ginger Nelles.
"We are honored that Dennis has chosen to join our Firm," said Noah Huffstetler, managing partner in the Raleigh office. "He has a distinguished record in North Carolina state government and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in representing clients to our Firm. He will be a great asset and nice complement to our office and the Government Relations Team."
Wicker served two four-year terms from 1993-2001 as North Carolina's Lieutenant Governor. During his term of office he became the first statewide elected official to chair the State Board of Community Colleges, which sets policy for the state's 58-campus system. He was also a member of the State Board of Education and the State Board of Economic Development. He was a member of the N.C. House of Representatives for 12 years prior to becoming Lieutenant Governor, and during the last two terms he was elected House Majority Leader by his peers.
"I'm delighted to be joining the seasoned veterans in Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough's Government Relations group," Lt. Gov. Wicker said.
Also joining him are:
Joe Lanier, who formerly served as legal counsel to then-U.S. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). He also served as legislative director and legislative counsel for former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC). During the course of his legal career, he has represented a wide range of private, municipal, association, and nonprofit clients.
Peter Hans, who was managing director of Government Relations for his former law firm. He has worked on Capitol Hill as senior policy advisor to former U.S. Sen. Lauch Faircloth and then-U.S. Rep. (now U.S. Sen.) Richard Burr. He was a consultant to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole in her successful 2002 campaign. He currently serves as vice chairman of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.
Wendy Kelly, who was director of Government Relations at her previous firm. She is a former state government affairs manager with Toyota, where she gained experience at the national level managing contract lobbyists, state affairs issues, and its eastern regional office.
The addition of the four in Raleigh follows a trend of growth for Nelson Mullins this year, particularly in the Government Relations arena.
"We have experienced tremendous expansion in our firmwide Government Relations group this year, and our capacity to serve our clients at the state and federal levels continues to grow," said Ed Poliakoff, who heads the Government Relations Practice. "With the addition of nine experienced government relations professionals in our Washington and Boston offices, including Bob Crowe and his team from the former Wolf Block firm and former Congressman Ron Klink (D-PA), plus the addition of former U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins, and now the addition of former Lt. Governor Wicker and his team, we have significantly strengthened our firmwide governmental relations and international law services."
Nelson Mullins, the 22nd largest law firm in North Carolina, opened its Raleigh office in 2003. It now has 21 attorneys, including lawyer-lobbyists Chip Killian, Zeb Alley, and George Teague. Alley and Teague rank in the top 10 most influential lobbyists in the N.C. General Assembly, according to the nonprofit N.C. Center for Public Policy Research. The office is located at 4140 Parklake Ave. Lt. Gov. Wicker can be reached at 919.877.3800.
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About Nelson Mullins:
Nelson Mullins, established in 1897, has more than 400 attorneys and government relations professionals practicing from offices in Atlanta, Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Tallahassee, Washington, and Winston-Salem. Nelson Mullins offers the strength and resources of a national firm with diverse professionals in a broad range of issues, including government relations practices in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Washington, DC, and Massachusetts. With a firm Southeastern base, Nelson Mullins has grown into a national firm with a strong reputation in meeting the complex government relations, litigation, corporate, securities, finance, employment, regulatory and other needs for clients ranging from private individuals to large businesses, including many publicly held companies. Nelson Mullins is South Carolina's largest law firm and ranks among the largest 135 law firms in the nation. For more information on the Firm, go to www.nelsonmullins.com, or call 803.255.9794.
Download a high-resolution photo of Mr. Wicker
Download a high-resolution photo of Mr. Lanier
Download a high-resolution photo of Mr. Hans
Download a high-resolution photo of Ms. Kelly
