Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that William (Bill) Ball, former Deputy Staff Director of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, has joined the firm as a Public Affairs Director in its Government Solutions Practice Group. Ball will work from Foley’s Washington, D.C. office.
Ball comes to Foley with a decade of experience on Capitol Hill, where he worked with House and Senate committees on energy, natural resources, water and infrastructure issues. In his most recent role as Deputy Staff Director of the Natural Resources Committee, Ball was responsible for supporting the committee’s policy agenda, and building and implementing that agenda across its five subcommittees. He handled the committee’s day-to-day operations, worked to build coalitions of Congress members and stakeholders on a host of natural resource issues, and served as the committee’s lead staff negotiator on important legislation. Among them were the Water Resources Development Act (P.L. 115-270), the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (P.L. 114-322), the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act (P.L. 116-9), and numerous appropriations packages.
“We are delighted to have Bill join our Foley Government Solutions team,” said David Ralston, chair of the firm’s Government Solutions Practice Group. “Bill is well-recognized in the natural resources community for his deep knowledge and experience on federal water and oceans, energy and mineral resources and public lands policy matters. He will be working closely with former California Congressman Dennis Cardoza to support Foley public affairs clients in those areas, particularly in California and other Western states. We believe Bill’s years of service in the Senate and on the House Committee on Natural Resources will be of great benefit to our clients.”
Prior to his time with the House of Representatives, Ball served on the legislative team for Sen. Susan M. Collins from Maine. In that position, he advised the senator and her senior staff on legislative issues pertaining to commercial fisheries, trade, aquaculture, tourism, oceans and coastal management. He also advanced the senator’s priorities on the Senate Commerce Committee and the Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee.
“The depth of Foley’s platform and opportunity for growth in the water and renewable energy space made this move very appealing to me,” Ball said. “But my decision really came down to the people and the type of work they are doing. After meeting with many people from various offices, it was clear that Foley’s culture and approach are different and more collaborative than at other firms. Everyone here wants to help everyone succeed. Ultimately, joining Foley was an easy decision for me.”