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Dentons Continues Washington, DC Expansion with Three Former US Government Officials

By: Dentons |  10 Shares     79 Reads

Former Acting Secretary of Labor Joins Former Departments of Energy and Commerce Officials to Enhance Firm's Regulatory Practices

Washington, DC - February 28, 2014 - Dentons announced today several prominent additions to its regulatory practices in Washington, DC. The new colleagues include Seth D. Harris, former acting secretary of labor, Jeff Lane, formerly the assistant secretary for congressional and intergovernmental affairs at the US Department of Energy (DOE), and Eugene Degnan, who joins from the Office of Enforcement and Compliance at the US Department of Commerce. They will leverage their deep US and international experience at the intersection of business, law, policy and strategy on behalf of Dentons' clients around the world.

"Our clients continue to face ever-evolving, complex regulatory and policy changes, and I am delighted that Seth, Jeff and Gene have joined our global team," said Mike McNamara, Dentons' US managing partner. "Their addition continues our focus on deepening our regulatory practices and expanding to meet our clients' priorities."

Seth D. Harris, in his role as acting secretary and deputy secretary for the Department of Labor (DOL), served as a member of President Obama's cabinet and the DOL's institutional leader. In this highly visible position, he oversaw the Department's $85 billion budget, acted as the principal spokesperson for the DOL with the media and executive and legislative branches of government, served as principal policy officer and strategist and advised President Obama and senior White House staff on a wide range of economic, labor, employment and skills development policies.

For nearly a decade, Harris served as a professor of law at New York Law School and director of its Labor and Employment Law programs. He also served as a visiting professor of law at Seton Hall Law School. Harris is the author of several books on labor and employment law. He earned his JD, cum laude, from New York University School of Law and his BS from Cornell University.

Jeff Lane, as assistant secretary for congressional and intergovernmental affairs for the DOE, oversaw communication with members of Congress and key committees of jurisdiction. He worked closely on energy issues with senior level officials from the White House Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Management and Budget to develop and communicate the DOE's policy, programmatic and budgetary goals. Last year, he helped lead the nomination process for Secretary Ernie Moniz, who was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. Prior to joining the DOE, Lane was chief of staff to Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and Kenneth Salazar.

Lane was counsel at Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice in the firm's government relations group from 2002 - 2006. He earned his JD from Duke University School of Law and his BA, magna cum laude, from Rhodes College.

Eugene Degnan focuses his practice on international trade law, with a particular emphasis on global trade policy and litigation, anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty law, export controls and sanctions, and customs law. At the Department of Commerce, he oversaw some of the largest anti-dumping duty investigations into the People's Republic of China, as well as administrative reviews, sunset reviews, new shipper reviews, changed circumstance reviews, and court remands. Degnan has significant experience across many sectors, including steel, heavy and lightweight manufacturing equipment, agriculture, specialized consumer products and commodities.

Degnan has won numerous awards for his work at the Department of Commerce, including the Bronze Medal Award and the Charles F. Meissner award. He earned his JD from The George Washington University School of Law and his BA from the University of Maryland.

About Dentons

Dentons is a global firm driven to provide a competitive edge in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It was formed in March 2013 by the combination of international law firm Salans LLP, Canadian law firm Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP (FMC) and international law firm SNR Denton. Dentons is built on the solid foundations of these three highly valued law firms. Each built an outstanding reputation and valued clientele by responding to the local, regional and national needs of a broad spectrum of clients of all sizes—individuals; entrepreneurs; small businesses and startups; local, regional and national governments and government agencies; and mid-sized and larger private and public corporations, including international and global entities.

Dentons' clients now benefit from approximately 2,600 lawyers and professionals in more than 75 locations spanning 50-plus countries across Africa, Asia Pacific, Canada, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Russia and the CIS, the UK and the US who are committed to challenge the status quo and offer creative, dynamic business and legal solutions.

Contacts:

Seth Harris
Counsel, Washington, DC
D +1 202 408 6438

Jeffrey Lane
Counsel, Washington, DC
D +1 202 408 9162

Eugene Degnan
Counsel, Washington, DC
D +1 202 408 6827

Media

Lisa Sachdev
Senior Public Relations Manager, United States
D +1 312 876 2476

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