Sonnenschein Adds Two Former Senate Staffers to Firm's Public Law & Policy Strategies Group

January 16, 2008

(WASHINGTON, January 16, 2008) -- Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal announced today that Mary Pat Lawrence and Mary Beth Stanton, both former Senate staffers, have joined the national law firm's Public Law & Policy Strategies Group as managing directors in the Washington, D.C. office.

Stanton and Lawrence are the newest members of Sonnenschein's expanding bipartisan Public Law & Policy Strategies Group, which comprises a range of practice areas that intersect business and politics including Advocacy, Advisory Services, Information Capital and Political Intelligence, Global Services, Strategic Communications & Public Affairs, and Compliance.

"Mary Pat and Mary Beth are talented policy professionals whose legislative backgrounds enhance our advocacy team," notes Mike McNamara, national chair of Sonnenschein's Public Law & Policy Strategies Group. "Clients will benefit from their ability to navigate the intricacies of Congress and Washington."

Lawrence joins Sonnenschein from Van Scoyoc Associates (VSA), where she was an associate vice president and counsel responsible for assisting clients in identifying funding sources, developing projects and advocating requests to the U.S. Congress and federal agencies.  Stanton joins from the office of Sen. Herb Kohl, where she was a legislative assistant responsible for advising the senator on education and health care policy, including Medicare, Medicaid, Food and Drug Administration issues and prescription drugs. 

"Sonnenschein has an outstanding reputation for providing quality service," says Stanton. "I look forward to working alongside such a terrific group of policy professionals."

Stanton's previous experience includes working with leadership and professional staff on the Senate Committee on Finance and Committee on Health, Labor, Education and Pensions to advocate for sound public policies on behalf of the senator and his constituencies, as well as  various positions working with Congress including serving as a policy advisor for the Senate Special Committee on Aging, a legislative assistant for Rep. Anthony D. Weiner, and a legislative correspondent for Sen. Kohl.

Lawrence's previous experience includes working for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where she served as a counsel under Sen. Richard Shelby.  Lawrence also served as a legislative counsel in the office of Sen. Jeff Sessions, where she dealt with legislation considered by the Judiciary Committee.

"Sonnenschein's Public Law & Policy Strategies Group is one of the few groups that offers both legal and political services to a broad list of clients across industries," says Lawrence. "I am proud to be apart of this dynamic firm."

Lawrence received a J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law and a B.A. degree in English literature from the University of Alabama. Stanton earned an M.A. degree in history and public policy from George Washington University and a B.A. degree in history and political science from Marquette University.

Sonnenschein serves the legal needs of many of the world's most admired businesses, nonprofits and notable individuals.  With offices across the United States and a global reach throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, we are well positioned to help our clients prosper and grow.  For more information, visit www.sonnenschein.com.

Media Contact:

Dorri Thyden
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
(202) 408-6430
dthyden@sonnenschein.com