Former U.S. Representative Dennis Cardoza to Co-Chair Foley's Federal Public Affairs Practice in Washington, D.C.

Foley announced today that former Democratic U.S. Representative Dennis Cardoza has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C., office as co-chair of its Federal Public Affairs Practice. He will lead the practice along with the firm’s public affairs director and former Republican U.S. Congressman Scott Klug. Theodore Bornstein, a partner in Foley’s Washington office and a former chief of staff to a U.S. Senator, will serve as counselor to the federal public affairs practice, providing the federal team with experienced legal and legislative-drafting advice.

Cardoza was the U.S. Representative for California’s 18th Congressional District for five terms from 2003 through 2012. In Congress, he served as member of the Democratic leadership team and was a member of the House Committees on Agriculture, International Relations, Resources, Rules and Science. Cardoza was the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, and played a prominent role in the formation of the Farm Bill in 2008. He was also a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of fiscally conservative Democrats, and during the 109th Congress, he served as co-chair of the coalition. Cardoza also served as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and its Subcommittees on Asia and the Pacific, and the Middle East and South Asia.

“We are delighted to have Dennis join our firm,” said Foley Chairman and CEO Jay Rothman. “Dennis demonstrated strong leadership on many important pieces of legislation during his time in Congress, and our clients will benefit greatly from his experienced counsel. He was known in Congress for his practical, business-oriented approach, which fits very well with Foley’s approach to addressing legal issues. I am confident our clients will find Dennis, Scott and the combined public affairs and legal team to be creative and powerful advocates for their positions in Washington.”

“Dennis brings an exceptional business and political background that will help us further build our public affairs practice in Washington, and expand our state public affairs practices, particularly in California,” said David T. Ralston, Jr., chair of Foley’s Government and Public Policy Practice Group. “With Dennis and Scott — a bipartisan team of former congressmen — at the helm of Foley’s Federal Public Affairs Practice, together with Ted and our Washington and California attorneys, Foley will offer our business clients the comprehensive strategic and legal counsel needed on the myriad of complex public policy and regulatory issues that they face. Additionally, by carefully integrating our public affairs and legal teams we can, when legal matters require public affairs support, seamlessly transition from legal representation into the public affairs role.”

Prior to his time in Congress, Cardoza served as city council member in Merced and Atwater, Calif. He was also a member of the California State Assembly from 1996 to 2002, where he was chairman of the Rules Committee and assisted in establishing the Moderate Democratic Caucus. Cardoza attended California State University, Stanislaus before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Maryland, College Park.

“I am thrilled at the opportunity to work with a distinguished firm with global offices that align perfectly with the needs of my clients,” said Rep. Cardoza. “I look forward to advising the firm’s global clients on a range of significant legislative and regulatory issues.”

Cardoza joined Foley from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, where he advised clients on legislative, regulatory and public affairs matters.