Jerris Leonard, Kate Leonard and Russ Wapensky will be the principals of The Leonard Group, which will concentrate on legislative and lobbying activities effective June 1. The Leonard Group will office at the Foundry Building in Georgetown.

“Teaming with The Leonard Group in their new venture will continue to provide our clients with strong support on Capitol Hill, and we look forward to identifying future opportunities to work with them,” said Richard A. Weiss, managing partner of Foley & Lardner's Washington, D.C. office.

“I have enjoyed my association with Foley & Lardner and am excited that we will continue to team with its Public Affairs Group on current and future clients,” said Jerris Leonard.   “I look forward to tackling the challenges we will continue to face for our clients in Congress and the occasion to work closely with my daughter Kate, Russ Wapensky and our respected colleagues at Foley & Lardner. Our clients have realized many successes over the years due to the collaboration of this great team, and we look forward to continuing this track record together.”

Jerris Leonard brings his clients over 50 years of experience in legislative and lobbying activities drawing from his background as the former Majority Leader of the Wisconsin State Senate and former Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights under President Nixon. In addition, he has been actively involved in trial practice for over 50 years specializing in general civil and criminal law.

Kate Leonard assists clients with their government relations interests by bringing more than fifteen years of lobbying experience to the resolution of legislative concerns augmented by her political skills and strategies she honed as a staffer for former Senator Bob Kasten of Wisconsin. She has represented clients before Congress, state agencies and legislatures, and the Departments of Justice, Treasury, Defense, Homeland Security, HHS and continues to maintain strong ties with an extensive list of Congressional Members and staff as well as those specifically on budget, appropriations, commerce, judiciary, defense, labor, transportation, treasury, science and technology issues.

Russ Wapensky represents the music recording industry, particularly on issues concerning illegal file sharing. In that capacity, he maintains extensive contacts with the House and Senate Judiciary, Foreign Relations and Commerce Committees. In addition, he works extensively with the Treasury Department, Bureau Of Engraving and Printing and both Congressional Banking Committees on currency issues and anti-counterfeiting measures. Prior to joining the Leonard Group, he served in executive level positions for ten years at the Department of State.

About Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP has nearly 1,000 attorneys in 19 offices.  Its practice includes corporate governance, securities enforcement, litigation, merger and acquisitions, intellectual property and IP litigation, labor and employment, and tax with particular emphasis in the automotive, e-business and information technology, energy, financial services, food, golf and resort services, insurance, health care, life sciences, nanotechnology, and sports industries.  The firm's Web site can be found at www.foley.com.

The Foley & Lardner Public Affairs Group provides services covering the full spectrum of public affairs – combining comprehensive counsel with proficiency in government relations, political law, and strategic communications, coupled with the practice of law, when needed. The Foley & Lardner Public Affairs Group brings diverse experience and deep knowledge, as well as responsive and creative business solutions.