Distinguished Advisor Jim Reilly Joins Venable’s Legislative and Government Affairs Practice in Washington, DC

Venable LLP is pleased to announce that James D. Reilly has joined the firm as a senior policy advisor in the Legislative and Government Affairs Practice in the Washington, DC office. Reilly is an experienced leader and skilled strategist with a proven ability to achieve his clients’ policy goals at both the national and international levels.

Reilly leverages his relationships with federal lawmakers and regulators, and draws on his experience advocating on behalf of major organizations to manage threats, opportunities, and trends impacting today’s policy landscape. He has a track record of creating practical, bipartisan solutions to climate, infrastructure, energy, and environmental issues.

He has held in high regard for his ability to work with both sides of the aisle to pass key legislation in Congress, a skill he honed as chief of staff for Senator Tom Carper (D-DE). In that capacity, he facilitated bipartisan and other partnerships to achieve the senator’s objectives related to committee assignments on finance, environment and public works, and homeland security and government affairs. As chief of staff, he worked to ensure Delaware’s small federal delegation, including then Senator Biden, worked side by side to deliver results. Reilly co-chaired the weekly Senate chiefs of staff meeting and established bipartisan relationships throughout Washington. A Delaware native, he previously served as a legislative assistant to Senator Carper, responsible for all environmental, energy, agriculture legislation, and related appropriations matters, including climate change, renewable energy, water quality, and air pollution. He also was the staff lead overseeing passage of clean air, PURPA reform, nuclear safety, and Army Corps legislation.

Prior to joining Venable, Jim served as the vice president of a trade association that represents owners, developers, equipment and service providers, financiers, utilities, and customers involved in the wind industry. During his tenure, he maximized a $21 million budget and the influence of 1,000 member companies to convey the wind energy industry’s priorities to U.S. federal and state governments, enabling the industry’s 48% growth over a four-year period.

Reilly received his in M.A. in Environmental Management from Duke University 1998, and his B.S. in Plant Science and Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Delaware in 1989.