Former Assistant Secretary of HUD Steven Nesmith Joins Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group
September 27, 2007
Steven Nesmith - Washington
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Steven B. Nesmith has joined Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C. office as a partner in the firm's Public Policy & Regulation Group. Previously, he was a partner at Blank Rome LLC, where he chaired the firm's Government Relations, Housing/Finance and Mortgage team.
Nesmith concentrates his practice on affordable housing and housing finance issues; new market, low-income housing and historic preservation tax credits; state and local government representation; renewal communities and empowerment zones; international trade and economic development; and post-Katrina redevelopment. He has extensive experience with housing, banking, financial services and international trade issues before Congress, including working with for-profit and non-profit developers, tax syndicators and housing authorities.
"Steven brings tremendous talent and experience to the firm''s Public Policy & Regulation Group," said Rich Gold, practice group leader for Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group. "His extensive knowledge of housing and finance issues enhances the firm's ability to serve our advocacy clients in these important areas."
"Steven adds exceptional legislative, regulatory and policy experience and relationships that will complement and bolster the firm's transactional housing and community development practice and enhance our ability to serve the needs of affordable housing and community development clients" said La Fonte Nesbitt, executive partner for Holland & Knight''s Washington office, and a member of the firm's Affordable Housing and Community Development practice group.
Nesmith served as Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 2002 – 2005. He was a Sub–Cabinet member and Principal advisor to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and senior staff on legislative affairs, Congressional relations and policy matters affecting Federal, state and local governments, and public and private industry groups. As a Senior Bush Administration Official, he also served as a member of President’s Leadership Team.
Nesmith is also a former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, where his responsibilities included the Offices of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Relations. While with the Department of Commerce, he helped to pass the President's Trade Promotion Authority legislation, which gives the President authority to enter into international trade agreements. In addition, Nesmith worked with Congress to extend the Trade Adjustment Act, which provides $1.1 billion for training and cash benefits for workers dislocated by outsourcing and increased foreign imports.
About the Public Policy & Regulation Practice Group: Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Practice Group consists of more than 100 lawyers and other professionals engaged in federal, state and local government affairs, regulatory counseling, and related disciplines. With 13 teams including Government Representation, Environment, Telecommunications, Food & Drug, Transportation, Federal Practice & Appropriations, Government Markets and State and Local Procurement, State Capitals, and Strategic Communications, our attorneys and professionals manage complex client problems and opportunities involving local, state, and federal government regulatory, transactional and legislative matters.
About the Affordable Housing and Community Development Practice Group: Holland & Knight is widely recognized as one of the country's leading law firms in affordable housing and community development. Our lawyers have been involved with all significant federal, state, and local housing and community development programs over the last thirty-five years. Our clients include for profit and not-for-profit developers; mortgage bankers, underwriters, banks and other lenders; letter of credit providers, bond insurers and other credit enhancers; investors and syndicators of low income housing, historic and new markets tax credits, property management companies; state housing finance agencies, and local and Indian housing authorities. We have collectively been involved in thousands of transactions involving billions of dollars in virtually every state in the country and many of the U.S. Territories, including transactions on Indian reservations.
Contact: Susan Bass (813) 769-4326