Gardere Welcomes Government Affairs Attorney Royce Poinsett to the Firm's Austin Office

    AUSTIN, TX, December 11, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP is pleased to announce that Senior Attorney Royce Poinsett has joined the Firm's Government Affairs Practice in Austin.

"We are thrilled that Royce has decided to join our government affairs practice," says Kimberly A. Yelkin, executive partner of Gardere's Austin office. "With his excellent government affairs credentials, Royce will play a major role representing our clients in the upcoming legislative session and will further enhance our practice."

Joining Gardere from Baker Botts LLP, Mr. Poinsett is an experienced government affairs attorney and registered lobbyist at the Texas Capitol. His long-term clients include many prominent corporations and industry associations. Through building relationships and being a constant presence in the Austin policy arena, Mr. Poinsett stays up-to-date on political developments and effectively manages legislative efforts. He also provides crisis management counsel to businesses facing sudden legal or political threats in Texas, including public affairs controversies, investigations and legislative attacks.

"I am excited to be joining Gardere's team at the Texas Capitol because it is already one of the very best and most effective teams in Austin," says Mr. Poinsett. "Together, we will offer our clients access to and influence in the Texas public policy process unmatched by few other firms."

Mr. Poinsett began his government affairs practice after serving as an advisor to Gov. Rick Perry and then House Speaker Tom Craddick through 11 regular and special legislative sessions. He also previously served elected officials from both sides of the political aisle, including former President George W. Bush during his term as governor of Texas, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley during his term as Baltimore city councilman.

Mr. Poinsett has received significant recognition for both his legal and government affairs work. In 2013, Capitol Inside recognized Mr. Poinsett on its "Top 40 Hired Guns" list, and the publication named him a "Rising Lobby Star to Watch" in 2009. He also was recognized as a "Texas Rising Star" by Super Lawyers in Texas Monthly in 2010 and 2012. Additionally, Mr. Poinsett was named one of the "Top 20 Politically-Minded Austinites to Know" by the Austin Business Journal in 2013, and he was an Austin Under 40 "Austinite of the Year" Finalist in 2011.

Active in the community, Mr. Poinsett currently serves as president of the board of directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Central Texas. He is a 1998 graduate of The University of Texas School of Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from The Johns Hopkins University in 1994 and a Master of Science degree from The London School of Economics and Political Science in 1995.

Gardere's government affairs attorneys are consistently recognized among the best and most experienced legal and lobbying teams in the region. During the 83rd Texas legislative session, the group was named the top law firm in Texas in Texas Lawyer's 2013 Lobbying Scorecard based on the number of clients and reported revenue. In addition, the group was recognized by Capitol Inside in its 10th Annual Texas Lobby Power Rankings as the second most powerful legal lobbying team.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, an Am Law 200 firm founded in 1909 and one of the Southwest's largest full-service law firms, has offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Mexico City. Gardere provides legal services to private and public companies and individuals in the areas of bankruptcy and business reorganization, corporate, energy, environmental, financial services, government affairs, hospitality, insurance, intellectual property, international, labor and employment, litigation, private equity, real estate and tax.

For more information, contact Dorothy L. Seals at 214.999.4019 or [email protected], or Jennifer Dilworth at 214.999-4718 or [email protected].

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