28 May 2011
Florida-based law firm Becker & Poliakoff has opened an office in Washington D.C. to help clients working with the U.S. government.
The office is led by Omar Franco, former chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, and by Clarence L. Williams, former chief of staff to then-U.S. Congressman Kendrick B. Meek of Florida.
The two will be part of the firm’s government law and lobbying practice, which now includes two dozen professionals doing local, state and federal work.
“As government work becomes more interrelated, it is important for lobbyists to be able to represent clients at all levels of government,” Practice Group Chairman Bernie Friedman said in a statement.
Franco had been working with his own firm, Franco Government Lobbying, since 2010. His clients included Florida Gulf Coast University, Secure Wrap Inc., Medical HealthCare Plans, and the Florida municipalities of Hialeah, Miami Lakes and North Bay Village.
As chief of staff for Diaz-Balart for four years, Franco ran the congressman’s Washington and Florida district operations. He focused on federal appropriations, health care, higher education and Florida issues. He also served on the National Hispanic Working Group for the Bush/Cheney 2004 re-election campaign and is an active member of the Republicans Associated for Mutual Support.
Williams served eight years as legislative director and chief of staff for Meek , a Democrat. He directly managed Meek's 22-person staff and advised on the portfolio related to Meek’s memberships on the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Budget.
Williams holds a “Top Secret” security clearance and has ample experience with the Defense Department. He also worked for law firms Moffit Hart Herron and later, Akerman Senterfitt and Eidson as a legislative aide in their government relations practices.
Becker & Poliakoff, started in 1973, now has more than 125 lawyers in 13 Florida offices, New York City, New Jersey, Nassau in the Bahamas and Prague in the Czech Republic. Its new Washington office can be reached at 815 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington D.C. 20006 or 202-731-3401.
The law firm is a sponsor of WorldCity's CEO Club event series.
For more information, visit www.becker-poliakoff.com.