Capitol Management Initiatives Founder Scott Hatch Brings His Practice to Manatt

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, today announced that Scott Hatch, founder and managing partner of Capitol Management Initiatives (CMI) and former National Republican Congressional Committee executive director, has joined the Washington, D.C. office as a managing director in Manatt’s rapidly growing Federal Government Affairs and Public Policy Practice. He will be joined by Government Affairs Advisor Dana Marston and Legislative Assistant Hilary Kelly. These most recent additions come just weeks after former California congressman Dennis Cardoza joined the practice.

“Manatt’s history in government affairs runs very long and deep”

Prior to founding CMI, Hatch served in a variety of key roles in the governmental, political, and association arenas, including as chief floor assistant to the majority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives and as executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

“Scott is one of the leading strategists in the nation and we are thrilled that he has decided to join us at Manatt,” said James Bonham, chair of Manatt’s Federal Government Affairs and Public Policy Practice and former executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “With Scott, we are now the only firm in Washington where the former head of a Republican Party committee and the former head of a Democratic Party committee are working in tandem to solve the problems facing our clients. Just as voters are increasingly demanding that government work in a bipartisan fashion to solve problems, so are our clients and we are thrilled to be building in this way for the future.”

Hatch founded CMI in 2001 when approached by Bono, the lead singer of the band U2, to represent his antipoverty foundation, now known as the ONE Campaign. He worked closely with Bono on many initiatives, and most notably facilitated a bipartisan agreement between the White House and Congress on both passing and funding the historic $39 billion President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) legislation.

Known for his exceptional political instincts, Hatch has advised a diverse client base over the past decade, including those in the non-profit, defense, aerospace, telecommunications, healthcare, and technology fields. At Manatt, Hatch will counsel clients on business strategy and brand management, legislative and political advocacy, and organizational development.

“I was attracted to Manatt’s assembling of a dynamic, bipartisan team of talented strategists who understand that advocacy, like politics, requires agility and innovative thinking,” said Hatch. “Combining shoe-leather lobbying with modern messaging, tools and tactics brings a different sense of forward-thinking to this industry. It’s clear Manatt is on the leading edge, and I wanted to be part of it.”

Hatch and his team join an impressive national government group at Manatt, with professionals who develop, advocate, and implement integrated business, legal, and government strategies and activities in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, New York City, Sacramento, and Albany. Members of the practice have served in leadership positions as U.S. ambassadors; members of Congress; presidential appointees; senior career federal and state government officials; senior congressional staff; state legislators, leaders, and staff; as well as in positions in city and county governments.

“Manatt’s history in government affairs runs very long and deep,” said George David Kieffer, chair of the national Government Relations and Public Policy Division and a prominent California attorney and policy strategist. The firm was founded by the late Charles T. Manatt, former chair of the California and national Democratic parties, and has been a powerhouse in California and Washington for many years. The firm expanded in New York City and Albany a number of years ago. “Scott’s addition to our growing Washington team continues to both balance and build on Chuck’s legacy of reaching across the aisle and beyond partisan divides to find solutions,” said Kieffer.

“Effective government relations is now a multilayered, increasingly complex process that integrates strategy, bipartisan relationships, political savvy, communications and policy expertise that are then vertically integrated across every level of government.” Bonham continued. “This is how we are building to serve our clients for the future.”

As chief floor assistant to the majority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives, Hatch was a skilled vote counter, honing his detailed working knowledge of the legislative and parliamentary processes in serving as the whip’s "eyes and ears" on the floor of Congress.

At the age of 30, Hatch was selected by the Republican House leaders to serve as the executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee, becoming the youngest director in its history. Hatch led a staff of 60 professionals and managed a budget of $55 million, overhauled the committee’s operations, and shattered previous fundraising records.

Hatch also served in the executive branch as a presidential appointee in congressional and intergovernmental affairs at the U.S. General Services Administration. He later advocated on behalf of the world’s largest federation of businesses, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as a member of the congressional and public affairs lobbying team.

Profiled in numerous articles - including a Washington Post Magazine cover story, praising his judgment, relationship building skills, and ability to maneuver within the legislative process – and regularly recognized by Roll Call newspaper as one of the "50 Most Powerful and Influential Staffers in Washington,” Hatch serves as a guest lecturer, panelist and advisor at conferences and in private discussions with corporate and non–profit leaders. He earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is one of the nation's leading law firms, with offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany) and Washington, D.C. The firm represents a sophisticated client base – including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies – across a range of practice areas and industry sectors. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.