Balch & Bingham on Monday announced that Brian Rell is joining the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, where he will lead Balch’s Federal Public Policy & Government Relations practice beginning November 1.
Rell joins Balch after serving as Congressman Robert Aderholt’s (AL-04) chief of staff for 11 years.
While in Aderholt’s office, Rell spearheaded critical legislation and funding initiatives through the appropriations subcommittees on defense; agriculture; rural development; Food and Drug Administration (FDA); commerce; justice; and science, including NASA. A veteran of D.C., he has successfully managed numerous legislative coalitions while in the nation’s capitol, drawing upon experience from successful state and federal political campaigns.
“Brian has worked alongside me since managing my first congressional campaign and I have valued his counsel since,” Aderholt said in a statement. “While I am sad to see him go, I am happy that he has found a place at a first rate firm like Balch.”
Prior to his work on Capitol Hill, Rell managed state government affairs for McKenna, Long & Aldridge on behalf of Fortune 500 clients with issues before multiple state legislatures. He also served as a director at Metromedia Fiber Networks, where he managed government relations for an S&P 100 company in their development of facilities-based fiber optic networks in the top 25 municipalities in the country.
Balch & Bingham’s Federal Public Policy & Government Relations practice provides traditional lobbying advocacy, advice and counsel on matters before Congress, the executive branch and various federal agencies, boards and commissions. The team includes attorneys and veteran government relations professionals with decades of experience, both outside and within government.
Balch managing partner Stan Blanton expressed confidence that Rell will help grow the firm’s already exemplary practice.
“We are proud of our long and distinguished history of representing our clients’ interests in matters of federal policy and are pleased that Brian has agreed to help us continue that legacy,” Blanton said.
“Our clients will benefit from Brian’s insightful, strategic counsel and experience working with a wide range of stakeholders and policy makers drawn from his 26-years of public service. I look forward to his leadership as he helps cultivate the future growth of the practice with the support of our attorneys and staff,” he concluded.
A Washington, D.C. native, Rell graduated from the University of Mississippi and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism.
“I am truly grateful to have worked with Robert (Aderholt) for these many years and the legislative accomplishments we have been able to achieve,” Rell stated. “I am excited to join Balch & Bingham given their footprint in Washington and state capitals. I am attracted to their collaborative culture and commitment to client service.”
Balch & Bingham is headquartered in Birmingham and employs over 200 attorneys across nine total offices.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
