Ex-U.S. Senator to Hang His Hat in D.C. and L.A.

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Utah Sen. Robert F. Bennett has joined Arent Fox LLP as a senior policy adviser in the government relations practice, so it makes sense that he’ll be spending much of his time in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.

But Bennett, who lost his long-held Senate seat in November’s election, will also have an office in downtown Los Angeles. He plans to use it as a base to advise Asian and Californian clients on government regulations and other business challenges.

“I’m hoping I can help bring to Arent Fox clients that will help reverse the flow of money, instead of all of it going from the United States to China,” he said.

Health care, energy and financial services firms in Los Angeles are eager to meet with the former senator, who is an expert in all three areas, said Robert C. O’Brien, managing partner of the firm’s downtown office.

It won’t be Bennett’s first time in the city. He lived here from 1974 to 1986, working as a public relations director for Howard Hughes’ holding company, Summa Corp., and later running several businesses.

“I was a native Californian,” Bennett said. “I understand the definition of native Californian is someone who has his driver’s license renewed.”

L.A. Opening

For two decades, Atlanta-based labor and employment law firm Fisher & Phillips LLP has been servicing its clients in Los Angeles from an office in Irvine. On Tuesday, the firm will finally open an office in downtown Los Angeles, its 24th location.

“We want to be able to better enhance our services to local L.A.-area clients, and expand the client base,” said Tamara Devitt, who will be the office’s managing partner and form the nucleus of the office with two other Irvine attorneys.

The firm represents management in labor and employment matters. L.A. clients include companies of various size in the hospitality, automotive, manufacturing and retail industries.

James J. McDonald Jr., managing partner of the Irvine office, said the firm has been handling different types of cases during the downturn.

“Wrongful termination litigation is up, wage-and-hour litigation is up, but the things that keep us busy in a strong economy – trade secrets, union campaigns, unfair competition – we haven’t done as much of,” McDonald said.

Staff reporter Alfred Lee can be reached at [email protected] or at (323) 549-5225, ext. 221.

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