Top McConnell aide joins Chamber legal reform group

John Abegg, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) outgoing chief counsel, has been named the executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), an arm of the Chamber of Commerce.

Abegg, whose first day will be May 13, replaces Harold Kim, who was promoted to chief operating officer at ILR.

McConnell’s new chief counsel has not been announced.

ILR is a branch of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that seeks to promote civil justice through legislative, political, judicial and educational activities at the state, national and international levels.{mosads}

“John has been one of the Hill’s most effective and well respected lawyers for almost 20 years,” ILR’s President Lisa A. Rickard said in a press release. “John’s vast knowledge of legal reform will ensure that ILR is equipped to take on new challenges as leading advocates for the business community.” 

Abegg oversaw the confirmation process of six Supreme Court justices, and McConnell called him his “right-hand man for every step of this process” after Justice Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed last year.

Before working for McConnell, Abegg was legal adviser to the Federal Election Commission, clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and worked in private practice.

Rickard has been ILR’s president since 2003.