King & Spalding Teams with Former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - July 14, 2016) - King & Spalding is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic alliance with former Mayor of the District of Columbia Anthony A. Williams, enhancing the firm's ability to provide government affairs counsel to public and private sector clients across the country.

As a former two-term mayor of Washington, D.C. and current chief executive officer and executive director of the Federal City Council of Washington, D.C., a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the improvement of the District, Mayor Williams has extensive experience and relationships in government and the public sector. His private sector experience includes serving as executive director of the Government Practice at the Corporate Executive Board, CEO of Primum Public Realty Trust and as director of the state and municipal finance and management practice at a law firm.

"Tony is a rare figure in Washington who is a trusted advisor to those in the business sector, and to those in government, on both sides of the aisle," said Wick Sollers, managing partner of King & Spalding's Washington office. "We are delighted to add Tony to the roster of knowledgeable D.C. insiders whom our clients can tap for insight and counsel. This year alone the D.C. office has added a former leading SEC enforcement lawyer, former NHTSA chief counsel and former FDA chief counsel."

As Chief Financial Officer of the D.C. government from 1995 to 1998, Anthony Williams is widely credited with navigating the District out of a financial crisis of such magnitude that in 1995, Congress had established a financial control board over the District to oversee and manage its finances. As Mayor from 1999 to 2007, he improved services and the performance of the District's government agencies, while lowering taxes and investing in infrastructure.

"Tony steered the District through one of its most challenging periods and helped set it on a course of recovery," said Tom Spulak, chair of the firm's government advocacy and public policy practice. "His understanding of the issues in the District make him a terrific resource for our clients. He is a great addition to our office which was ranked first in National Law Journal's Influence 50, an annual survey of the leading lobbying practices in the United States."

"King & Spalding has assembled an impressive team of former government officials and lawyers with industry expertise who understand how to advocate for their clients whether negotiating behind the scenes or zealously defending them before a judge, jury or government agency," said Mayor Williams. "I am excited by this opportunity and look forward to working more closely with a firm I have long admired."

Mayor Williams is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, former President of the National League of Cities and formerly served as Lecturer and faculty member in Public Management at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. In addition, he is a continuing contributor and advisor to the Urban Age, a joint effort of the London School of Economics and Deutsche Bank to advise the world's largest cities on issues such as sustainability, inclusion, infrastructure, planning and governance.

In addition to his work on company boards, Mayor Williams devotes his attention to education and the environment, serving on the board of Fight for Children and American Rivers. He holds numerous honorary degrees and awards, including Governing Magazine's Public Official of the Year in 1997.

A veteran of the US Air Force, Mayor Williams is a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and continues to participate in civic organizations such as 100 Black Men and the Washington Urban League. In addition, he received his B.A. from Yale University, M.P.P. from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and J.D. from Harvard Law School.

About King & Spalding

Celebrating more than 130 years of service, King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with 900 lawyers in 18 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality, and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com.