Former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain Rejoins O’Melveny

By Lawdragon News | April 17, 2023 | Press Releases

 NEW YORK—April 17, 2023—O’Melveny announced today that, following his distinguished service as White House Chief of Staff under President Joseph R. Biden, Ron Klain has rejoined the firm as a partner in its Litigation Department and as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
 
Klain, an O’Melveny partner from 1999 to 2004, has spent nearly four decades in the top levels of government. He has held senior roles in three US presidential administrations—under Presidents Biden, Obama, and Clinton—serving as a trusted counselor and leader throughout many of the most consequential periods in recent US history. Described by President Biden as “a once-in-a-generation talent with fierce intellect and heart,” and by The Gatekeepers author Chris Whipple as among “the most highly regarded Chiefs of Staff ever,” Klain advised on the highest-profile matters of national and international significance, including overseeing the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 response and the Obama Administration’s Ebola response.
 
After stepping down as Chief of Staff on February 8, Klain now brings his unmatched advisory, legal, and leadership experience back to O’Melveny, where he will head the firm’s Strategic Counseling and Crisis Management Practice. In that role, he will advise C-suite executives and boards of directors across industries—including technology, healthcare, infrastructure, transportation, private equity, and finance—on their most pressing legal and business concerns at a time of ever-increasing geopolitical and reputational risk. Klain will also handle important pro bono matters and help recruit lawyers to the firm.
 
“Ron has furthered the proud O’Melveny tradition of answering the call of public service many times over. Now, after the latest phase of his very impressive government career, we are thrilled to welcome him home,” said O’Melveny Chair Bradley J. Butwin. “We have witnessed Ron’s remarkable achievements on the global stage, and we know that our clients will be well served by his strategic counsel and singular insights on issues relating to national and international policy, legal disputes, crisis management, and the global regulatory environment. His brilliance, dedication, and leadership will be immediate assets to the firm.”
 
“Serving as White House Chief of Staff was the greatest honor of my professional life. I am proud of all that we accomplished and grateful to the tremendously talented people I worked with each day at the White House,” said Klain. “And now I am excited to start this next chapter and return ‘home’ to O’Melveny. Throughout my years in public service, I have felt the support of the O’Melveny community, including mentors Warren Christopher, Bill Coleman, Walter Dellinger, and A.B. Culvahouse. I am delighted to rejoin many friends and former colleagues at the firm, and I look forward to collaborating with them on complex legal disputes.”
 
During his time as White House Chief of Staff, Klain helped oversee the Administration’s massive agenda, including:

  • the critical US$1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act to speed the country’s recovery from the economic and public health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which puts federal funding into America’s roads and bridges, water and internet infrastructure, and climate resilience;
  • the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to curb inflation by reducing the deficit, lowering prescription drug prices, and investing in domestic energy production while combating the climate crisis; and
  • a record number of federal judicial confirmations for a new President, with unmatched diversity in the judges’ race, gender, sexual orientation, and professional backgrounds. 

Before joining O’Melveny in 1999, Klain served as Assistant to President Bill Clinton and Chief of Staff and Counselor to Vice President Al Gore. He also served as Chief of Staff and Counselor to Attorney General Janet Reno and Associate Counsel to the President, overseeing judicial selection, a role in which he led the successful confirmation of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
 
In 2009, Klain’s deep commitment to public service led him to accept a role as a senior aide to President Barack Obama and Chief of Staff to then-Vice President Joe Biden. He rejoined Biden for the 2020 Presidential campaign and was named White House Chief of Staff by President-elect Biden in November 2020.
 
Klain’s private sector experience includes helping to launch investment firm Revolution LLC with AOL co-founder Steve Case, where Klain served as the firm’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel for over a decade. He has been an external advisor to the Skoll Global Threats Fund and chair of the advisory board for investment firm Higher Ground Labs. Klain has also served on the boards of the American Progress Action Fund, the American Constitution Society, and Third Way. In addition, he has taught as an adjunct professor at Harvard Law School and Georgetown University.
 
Klain earned his B.A. summa cum laude from Georgetown University. He earned his J.D. magna cum laudefrom Harvard Law School, where he was Editor of the Harvard Law Review. He began his legal career as a clerk to US Supreme Court Justice Byron R. White.
 
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