Steven B. Nesmith is a Partner in the firm's Public Policy & Regulation Group. Mr. Nesmith served as Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was a Sub–Cabinet member and principal advisor to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and senior staff on legislative affairs, regulatory issues and policy matters affecting Federal, state and local governments, and public and private industry groups. As a senior Administration Official, he also served as a member of the President’s Leadership Team.
Nesmith also served on the White House Inter-Agency taskforce on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, that focused on reforming how these entities operate in the secondary mortgage market and meet their affordable housing goals. Mr. Nesmith's practice concentrates on affordable housing and housing finance issues; new market, low-income housing and historic preservation tax credits including working with for-profit and non-profit developers, tax syndicators and housing authorities.
Mr. Nesmith represents state and local governments concerning economic development and federal appropriations matters. He also has extensive experience with housing/mortgage, banking, financial services and international trade issues before Congress and the Executive Branch.
Also, as the former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Agency, Mr. Nesmith focuses on international trade and economic development issues with foreign countries concerning free trade agreements and funding projects with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.