Senate Commerce Committee General Counsel Gregg Elias Returns to Wiley Rein & Fielding

September 27, 2004

Washington, DC—Wiley Rein & Fielding is pleased to announce that on October 4, Gregg Elias, the current Democratic General Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and a former WRF associate, will be returning to the firm as a partner in its preeminent Communications and Government Affairs practices. Mr. Elias will focus on telecommunications, transportation and international trade issues, representing clients before executive, regulatory and legislative bodies. Mr. Elias will advise clients on strategic positioning, governmental and political initiatives, media relations and transactional matters.

For the past several years, Mr. Elias has served as primary counsel to Senator Ernest F. Hollings, the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee on international and domestic economic policy, as well as senior advisor on all issues within the Committee's jurisdiction. In this role, Mr. Elias has participated in all significant Commerce Committee activity for nearly eight years, including legislative initiatives, regulatory oversight, investigations and merger and economic analysis. Mr. Elias' tenure on the Senate Commerce Committee caps more than 12 years of Capitol Hill service. Prior to his previous tenure at WRF, Mr. Elias worked for five years in multiple capacities for Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD). He brings to WRF extensive experience interacting with Senate and House Leadership and committee staff, the White House and federal agencies including the FCC, Department of Commerce and USTR.

Managing Partner Richard E. Wiley said, "We are delighted to welcome Gregg home. In his previous stint with us, Gregg demonstrated first-rate talent and abilities. With the expertise and experience he has gained during his government service, he will make an even more outstanding contribution to our firm and its clients."

Mr. Elias received his J.D., cum laude, from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he was an Associate Editor of The Tax Lawyer and received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.