Robert Highsmith, Counsel to Georgia Governor, to Rejoin Holland & Knight
November 22, 2004
Robert S. Highsmith- Atlanta
Highsmith brings significant experience in public policy
litigation and campaign finance, ethics, and election law
ATLANTA – Holland & Knight LLP announced today that Robert S. Highsmith Jr.,
Deputy Executive Counsel to Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, will rejoin the
firm’s Atlanta government practice as a partner practicing legislative,
administrative, and regulatory law, government relations, and litigation. He
will serve as national team leader for the firm’s State Capitals Team.
As executive counsel, Highsmith drafts and lobbies for the governor’s
legislative package each year, including sweeping ethics reform legislation, the
hallmark of the Governor’s agenda. He also advises the Governor on the full
range of executive legal matters, including the state budget process, government
procurement, and redistricting litigation.
Highsmith brings extensive experience in public policy litigation,
representing both governmental entities and private parties. As counsel for
numerous Republican candidates and office holders, he became one of the state’s
foremost experts on campaign and ethics law. In 2002, former Georgia Governor
Roy Barnes appointed him to the State Ethics Commission, a quasi-judicial body
having statewide jurisdiction over ethical issues involving public officials,
lobbyists and state vendors. The following year, he was named deputy executive
counsel for Gov. Perdue.
“Robert’s understanding of the legislative and political processes is second
to none,” said Rich Gold, Holland & Knight’s Public Policy & Regulation Practice
Group Leader. “He is well respected for his sound judgment and capacity for
creative problem solving. Robert will play an important leadership role in
ensuring the continued growth and success of our national State Capitals Team,
and we are delighted to welcome him back to the firm.”
Highsmith formerly served as assistant general counsel to the Georgia
Republican Party. During the 1999 General Assembly, he served as chief of staff
to the Republican Caucus of the Georgia House of Representatives. He also served as director of policy and research to the 1998 Republican nominee for Governor of Georgia.
Highsmith earned his bachelor’s degree in English at Yale University in 1995,
and received his J.D. from the University of Georgia in 1997.
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement about
Highsmith's departure. Click on the link below to read.
Governor Sonny Perdue Announces the Departure of Deputy Executive Counsel Robert
Highsmith
About Holland & Knight’s State Capitals Team:
The national State Capitals Team is one of the largest in the United States,
combining in-depth knowledge of state and local governments with extensive
geographic coverage that spans Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, California,
Maryland and Rhode Island. The team works to maximize clients’ business
operations by strategically managing governmental opportunities and providing
representation on a full range of procedural, regulatory and substantive issues,
including lobbying, representation before state agencies or local governments,
guidance in the procurement or grants-making process or monitoring legislative
and administrative developments.
Contact: Christina Calhoun, (404) 817-8500 ext. 34355 or
christina.calhoun@hklaw.com