McDermott Will & Emery picks up former Dem congressman

Recently retired Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) has joined the Washington office of McDermott Will & Emery, an international law and lobby firm.

He will serve as a senior legislative advisor in its government strategies group, the firm said in an announcement on Wednesday, though the former lawmaker faces a “cooling off” period before he can directly lobby his former colleagues.

As a former senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and several subcommittees, Moran will specialize in helping the firm’s lobbying clients in the areas of defense, federal contracting, trade and technology. He will also help out with foreign government work, the firm said.

Moran served from 1991 until retiring this year. During his tenure, he also co-founded a group of pro-business congressional Democrats called the New Democratic Coalition.

{mosads}“As one of the most prominent and well-respected former members of Congress, Jim’s great reputation and deep knowledge will boost our capabilities and give our clients powerful new insights into the Executive Branch agencies, Congress, and the government contracting community,” said Steve Ryan, partner and head of McDermott’s Government Strategies practice group, in a statement.

Although the firm primarily specializes in legal work, it earned $2.68 million in lobbying fees in 2014, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. In 2013, it took in almost $5.7 million in advocacy revenue. Though Moran is ineligible to lobby during his first year outside of Congress, his addition could boost the firm’s government affairs roster.

Congressional disclosure records show that Moran had been negotiating about employment with the firm before his departure, in addition to Homeland Fuels LLC and an organization known as the Assembly of Friends of Azerbaijan.