Barnes & Thornburg Adds Government Services Duo in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Barnes & Thornburg announced today that Maggi Lazarus and John (Jack) T. O'Rourke have joined the firm's Washington, D.C., office as of counsel in the Government Services and Finance Department. They join from a Washington, D.C.-based boutique law firm focused on legislative and regulatory advocacy that O'Rourke founded in 1991.

Lazarus, vice chair of Barnes & Thornburg's Federal Relations practice group, has over 20 years of experience advocating for clients on Capitol Hill, providing legal, legislative, and regulatory guidance on various business-related issues, including tax, banking, telecommunications, gaming, and intellectual property matters. Lazarus has built and managed single-issue coalitions that organize the efforts of companies, trade associations and interest groups to coordinate messaging and achieve specific legislative goals. Lazarus also has a background in corporate litigation.

O'Rourke has over three decades of experience offering counsel and representation to corporations, associations and issue-based coalitions. His practice encompasses a wide range of matters, including taxation, financial services and banking, international trade and investment, telecommunications, patent and trademark, and international business operations.

"Maggi and Jack's strategic, business-focused guidance is informed by decades of unique experience influencing lawmakers and advocating on behalf of clients before the federal government," said Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg's Washington, D.C., office. "In today's dynamic political environment, their extensive professional relationships with - and knowledge of - key decision-makers will undoubtedly advance our services in the D.C. market and beyond."

"We are excited to welcome Maggi and Jack to the firm," added Richard J. Hall, chair of the firm's Government Services and Finance Department. "The private sector is increasingly confronted with regulatory uncertainty and policy frameworks that can significantly impact businesses. Now, more than ever, it's critical for organizations to lean on seasoned advisers like Maggi and Jack as they navigate these current and forthcoming challenges."

Lazarus earned her J.D., cum laude, from Tulane University Law School and her B.A. from the University of Virginia. O'Rourke earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and his A.B. from Georgetown University.

With more than 800 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Texas, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us at www.btlaw.com.