Jones Walker's Government Relations Practice Grows

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- William H. Hines, Managing Partner of the law firm Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre L.L.P. today announced that James J. Butera and Ryan D. Israel have joined the firm.

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In making the announcement, Mr. Hines stated, "We continue to grow our government relations and legislative advocacy practice both at the state and federal levels. Our clients rely on us for effective government advocacy services, and the addition of Jim and Ryan to our team in Washington is very exciting. They bring with them a long-standing and respected government affairs practice."

James J. Butera is a noted legislative and administrative agency advocate. He has represented various clients on legislative and regulatory matters since 1972.

Mr. Butera entered law school at Georgetown University Law Center after serving as Captain in the United States Marine Corps where he served two combat tours in Vietnam. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, a Navy Commendation and two Presidential Unit Citations. He has published law review articles on a variety of topics, and was a contributing author to Jaws of Victory, an analysis of presidential politics published by Little, Brown & Co.

After graduating with his juris doctor degree, he began his law and government relations career on the staff of  the American Bankers Association. From 1974 to 1989, he handled federal government matters for the National Council of Savings Institutions, a major Washington-based national trade association.  During his tenure at that association, Mr. Butera directed its government affairs program and served as the organization's Executive Vice President. Mr. Butera served on a federally-appointed financial institutions Advisory Council in 1987 and 1988. In 1988, he was among the industry experts selected to prepare The American Agenda, under the direction of former Presidents Carter and Ford, to identify the major banking issues facing the incoming Administration.

He received his bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia.

Ryan D. Israel has extensive experience in the representation of financial institutions, trade groups, and government contractors.  He has also advised start-up and small business clients on business formation and general corporate matters. 

Mr. Israel graduated from the Pepperdine University School of Law in 2002 where he was a Fellow and Founding Student Board Member of Pepperdine's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Law and a Member of the Moot Court Board. Prior to law school, Mr. Israel was the Legislative Assistant for Rep. Donald A. Manzullo, handling financial services, health care, transportation and energy issues.

He graduated with honors from the George Washington University's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences in 1995, and was a Michael J. Curry intern in the administration of former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar.

John J. Jaskot, head of the firm's government relations practice added, "With these and other recent government relations hires and our various strategic alliances with respected government affairs consultants, we believe we have one of the strongest government relations groups serving our clients across the Gulf south and elsewhere."

Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre L.L.P. (www.joneswalker.com), with more than 300 attorneys and government relations professionals, provides a comprehensive range of legal services to a national and international corporate client base in highly regulated industries through offices in Alabama, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.

SOURCE Jones Walker