Member Spotlight: Janene Jackson Focuses on People in Policy Work

Public Policy & Regulation attorney Janene Jackson, who serves as executive partner of Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office, was profiled in the D.C. Bar's Washington Lawyer magazine. The spotlight traces her career path from an English literature major at the City College of New York though various positions in D.C. politics and government before landing at Holland & Knight.

Among her notable accomplishments prior to transitioning to Big Law was rebuilding the State Complaint Office at the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and designing and writing the agency's plan; the U.S. Department of Education had threatened sanctions because the federally mandated office had sat defunct, but thanks to Ms. Jackson's efforts, DCPS secured department approval and became compliant once again. In addition, while at the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs, she recommended the District remain open during the federal government's brief shutdown in 2013, which had never been done previously.

At Holland & Knight, she draws on this experience to help clients navigate the legislative and regulatory aspects of local government, from lobbying needs to business development interests to legal representation in administrative proceedings. Named the Washington, D.C., executive partner in 2024, she continues to bring a human-centric perspective to day-to-day tasks.

"Everything that the government does, in some way, shape or form, touches a D.C. resident," she said. "There is no way that I cannot think about human beings and their conditions, or discard that when we [are] developing policies."

READ: Member Spotlight: Janene Jackson Focuses on People in Policy Work