Overview

Paul Stimers is a Washington, D.C., attorney and a member of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group. Mr. Stimers focuses his policy advocacy efforts on matters related to emerging technologies such as commercial spaceflight, quantum technology and artificial intelligence (AI), and advises a wide range of companies and industry associations in pursuing legislation and representing their interests before Congress and federal agencies.

As policy counsel to several major commercial spaceflight companies and the leading industry association for commercial spaceflight, Mr. Stimers has been active in helping the industry grow quickly and safely, while continuing to support a strong role for NASA in space exploration. He has addressed a wide variety of areas of space law and policy, including licensing and permitting of launch and reentry; liability, insurance and indemnification; property rights in space; manufacturing and resource utilization in space; air and space traffic management; and debris mitigation.

In the field of information technology (IT) policy, Mr. Stimers founded and leads a coalition of quantum computing, communications and cryptography companies working to advance U.S. quantum leadership. He works with software companies and industry associations to ensure data and network security without restricting technological development. He helps manage industrywide efforts to prevent technology mandates while improving security. He also has experience assisting companies in developing privacy policies that protect consumers' personal information while enabling new products and services. Mr. Stimers was actively involved in matters relating to internet governance during the transition of Domain Name System (DNS) authority.

In addition to his work with emerging technologies, Mr. Stimers works extensively with nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of the world's poorest people. He helped to pass the Sen. Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, which created a framework for the United States to help provide millions of people with sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and the Sen. Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014, which further expanded U.S. efforts to improve access. Since 2005, he has helped direct several billion dollars toward providing water and sanitation to those who need it most. He also advises organizations supporting funding for broader U.S. poverty-focused development assistance.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Stimers was an attorney at a global law firm in its Washington, D.C., office.

Credentials

Education
  • Harvard University, J.D.
  • Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, M.P.A.
  • University of Washington, B.A., summa cum laude
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • District of Columbia
Memberships
  • Law360 Editorial Board Member, Aerospace & Defense, 2024
  • Greater Washington Board of Trade, Executive Committee
  • Potomac Quantum Innovation Center, Steering Committee
  • Hamilton Commission on the Space Industrial Workforce, Commissioner
Honors & Awards
  • 40 Under 40: K Street's New Generation of Lobbyists, Washingtonian magazine, 2011
  • Chambers USA – America's Leading Lawyers for Business guide, Up and Coming, Government: Government Relations, 2015
  • Truman Scholar, University of Washington, 1998
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News