Craig Lesser to Lead Firm's New International Public Affairs Practice
December 18, 2006
ATLANTA, GA. – McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, an international law firm providing a wide range of legal and public policy solutions for business and other clients, announces Craig Lesser, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development will be spearheading the firm’s new International Public Affairs practice.
“Craig joins the firm with a wealth of experience in the areas of government affairs and economic development and he clearly understands the competitive nature of the global society we live in today,” said Gordon Giffin, Chairman of the Public Policy and International practice at McKenna Long & Aldridge. “Craig will be integral in broadening our global focus and his contribution will allow us to provide an unprecedented level of service to our clients.”
Commissioner Lesser was appointed to GDEcD by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2004. Since that time, Lesser has lead efforts to recruit new businesses to Georgia from around the nation and internationally, including the KIA Motors Company assembly plant in LaGrange, Georgia. In this role he was integral in the establishment of the Georgia Tourism Foundation, a public-private partnership fostering tourism throughout the state. His responsibilities also included oversight of the state’s small business and entrepreneur programs, efforts to grow existing business as well as marketing Georgia as an ideal destination for filmmakers, the music industry and multi-media companies.
Prior to his gubernatorial appointment, Lesser’s previous positions included VP of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Georgia Power Co.; President & CEO of Mirant New York; and Senior VP of External Affairs for Mirant Americas. Prior to joining the department, he was a partner in a boutique public affairs consulting firm.
Present and previous affiliations include Board of Directors Chair for the Georgia Centers of Innovation, the Georgia Tourism Foundation and Governor Perdue’s Growing Georgia Cluster group of state agency heads. Commissioner Lesser also serves on the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the OneGeorgia Authority, the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority and the Tech High Foundation, as well as on Emory University’s Board of Visitors.
Mr. Lesser received his B.A. from the State University of New York College at Oneonta and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business, Leadership Georgia and the Regional Leadership Institute.
“I am delighted to be joining one of the nation’s finest government affairs practices,” said Craig Lesser. “I believe that given the strong credentials of professionals within the firm, McKenna Long & Aldridge is positioned to become an international powerhouse.”
Lesser is the latest addition to the firm’s Government Affairs group which includes former U.S. Senator Zell Miller; former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Gordon Giffin; Keith Mason who served in the Clinton White House and as chief of staff to Governor Zell Miller; Eric Tanenblatt who served as chief of staff to Governor Sonny Perdue and senior advisor to the late U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell; former Congressman Buddy Darden; and the local government affairs team including Steve Labovitz, Sharon Gay, and Hakim Hilliard.
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
McKenna Long & Aldridge is an international law firm of more than 400 lawyers and public policy advisors with offices in Albany, Atlanta, Brussels, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The firm provides business solutions in the areas of corporate law, government contracts, intellectual property and technology, complex litigation, public policy and regulatory affairs, international law, real estate, environmental, energy and finance. To learn more about the firm and its services, log on to www.mckennalong.com.