Power Circuit: One of Our 40 Lobbyists Under 40 Jumps Firms

Julie Minerva moves to Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips has hired Julie Minerva as a managing director in its federal government affairs and public policy group. Minerva joined from Holland & Knight, where she was a senior policy advisor. Earlier this year, she was included on The Washingtonian’s list of 40 star lobbyists under the age of 40.

Former Representative Tom Loeffler, a Republican from Texas, has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld as a partner in the public law and policy practice. Most recently, he was cochairman of the global business advisory company GrayLoeffler. He will practice in the firm’s Washington and San Antonio offices.

Capitol Counsel hired Aaron Cohen, former chief of staff to then–Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada, for its health practice. Most recently, Cohen was vice president of government and political affairs at Kimbell & Associates.

In law-firm moves, Ralph Tyler, most recently chief counsel of the Food and Drug Administration and former insurance commissioner of the State of Maryland, has joined Venable as a partner based out of the Baltimore and Washington offices. Tyler practices in the firm’s litigation and regulatory groups.

Shannon Donnelly has joined Baker & McKenzie as an of counsel in the firm’s global immigration and mobility practice. She previously practiced at Dickstein Shapiro.

Five lawyers have been promoted to partner in the Washington office of Latham & Watkins. They are:

Lori Alvino McGill, a litigator in the firm’s Supreme Court and appellate practice. She served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Jason Licht, a corporate attorney specializing in capital markets transactions.

Brian Murray, who focuses on communications and media issues.

David Penna, whose practice centers on project finance and development.

Eric Volkman, a litigator who handles white-collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation.

Marisa M. Kashino

Senior Editor

Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 as a staff writer, and became a senior editor in 2014. She oversees the magazine’s real estate and home design coverage, and writes long-form feature stories. She was a 2020 Livingston Award finalist for her two-part investigation into a possible wrongful conviction stemming from a murder in rural Virginia.