Sebastian Vos, an international public policy professional, is joiningCovington & Burling to lead the European division of the firm¡¯s global publicpolicy and government affairs practice.
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Mr. Vos joins the firm as a partner in its Brussels office where he will focuson competition and technology related public policy issues and continue hispublic policy work involving emerging technologies and services. Mr. Vos willlead a team that includes: former Ambassador Jean De Ruyt[http://www.cov.com/jderuyt ] , who served as Belgium¡¯s permanentrepresentative to the European Union; Lisa Peets [http://www.cov.com/lpeets ],a partner and practitioner in the firm¡¯s EU public policy group, Wim van Velzen[http://www.cov.com/vanvelzen ], who served as a member of the EuropeanParliament and was the vice-president of the EPP Group; and Paul Adamson[http://www.cov.com/padamson ], a senior figure in European public affairs.
Mr. Vos¡¯ move to Covington follows the recent additions of competition partnersJohan Ysewyn [http://www.cov.com/jysewyn ] and Peter Camesasca[http://www.cov.com/pcamesasca ] to the Brussels office, reflecting Covington¡¯scommitment to further developing the firm¡¯s top tier advisory capability inEurope.
"Sebastian will play an integral role in expanding our global presence. Hebrings extensive experience in the European Union and can skilfully adviseclients as they navigate and manage today¡¯s global regulatory and policychallenges," said Timothy Hester [http://www.cov.com/thester ], chair of thefirm¡¯s management committee. "As European legislators re-cast priorities forthe next five years, we feel our clients will particularly appreciateSebastian¡¯s insight, experience and vision."
Previously a partner and board member at a leading global public affairsconsultancy, Mr. Vos¡¯ experience spans public affairs as well as trade andcompetition law. A qualified lawyer, he advises on government affairs andlegislative issues, providing clients with public policy, regulatory, strategicand communications advice on a range of competition, trade, transactional andsectoral issues. Mr. Vos has particular expertise in advising companies in thetechnology, financial services, energy and transport sectors.
"The recent European Parliament elections and forthcoming changes within theEuropean Commission will significantly alter the landscape for businesseshoping to enter into a dialogue with the European institutions. Now is the timeto engage, and Sebastian¡¯s arrival significantly increases our ability to do sofor our clients," said Dan Bryant [http://www.cov.com/dbryant ], chair ofCovington¡¯s global public policy and government affairs practice group.
In his new role, Mr. Vos will work closely with the U.S.-based members of thefirm¡¯s group, including: Stuart Eizenstat [http://www.cov.com/seizenstat ], whoserved as U.S. Ambassador to the EU and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury duringthe Clinton Administration; Senator Jon Kyl [http://www.cov.com/jkyl ], thesecond-highest ranking Republican senator when he left Congress in 2013;Congressman Howard Berman [http://www.cov.com/hberman ], the former chairman ofthe House Foreign Affairs Committee; former Homeland Security Secretary MichaelChertoff [http://www.cov.com/mchertoff ]; Holly Fechner[http://www.cov.com/hfechner ], who served as a senior aide to Senator EdwardKennedy; John Dugan [http://www.cov.com/jdugan ], the former U.S. Comptrollerof the Currency; John Veroneau [http://www.cov.com/jveroneau ], who served asdeputy U.S. Trade Representative; Dan Spiegel [http://www.cov.com/dspiegel ],former U.S. Ambassador to the European Office of the United Nations; andMuftiah McCartin [http://www.cov.com/mmccartin ], former staff director of theHouse Committee on Rules.
Having representation in Brussels is increasingly important for companies basedin Asia, Latin America and Africa. In his new role, Mr. Vos will also workclosely with colleagues in the firm¡¯s offices in Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai toprovide guidance on European policy and regulatory issues as well as withformer U.S. State Department officials and policy advisors such as formerAmbassador Alan Larson [http://www.cov.com/alarson ]; Witney Schneidman[http://www.cov.com/wschneidman ], former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Statefor African Affairs in the Clinton Administration; and Arturo Valenzuela[http://www.cov.com/avalenzuela ], former Assistant Secretary for WesternHemisphere Affairs during the first Obama administration.
"What sets Covington apart is its ability to combine the tremendous strength ofthe legal expertise in its litigation, investigations, corporate and regulatorypractices with a deep knowledge of policy and policymakers," Mr. Vos said. "Iam delighted to be joining Covington after a number of years dedicated purelyto public affairs consultancy. I believe that in an increasingly complex andregulated world, clients facing tough challenges are best served by adviserswho are able to combine multiple disciplines under one roof, and can provideclients with input from both legal and government affairs perspectives."
Mr. Vos earned a master¡¯s degree in International Relations and InternationalEconomics from Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington, D.C. while on a Fulbrightscholarship, and has an L.L.M in European law and economic, public, andcorporate law from Utrecht University. Prior to joining Covington, Mr. Vosspent time working for a variety or public sector and private institutions,including the United Nations, the European Commission, Goldman Sachs, andFreshfields. He is a member of the Amsterdam and the Brussels bars and speaksDutch, English, German and French. In his new role, he will continue to do probono work for Missing Children Europe.
In an increasingly regulated world, Covington & Burling LLP provides corporate,litigation, and regulatory expertise to help clients navigate through theirmost complex business problems, deals and disputes. Founded in 1919, the firmhas more than 800 lawyers in offices in Beijing, Brussels, London, New York,San Diego, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and Washington.