(COLUMBIA, S.C.)—Former legislator Dan Cooper of Anderson, immediate past chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, will be one of three principals in Parker Poe Consulting, a governmental affairs consulting firm which will include veteran lobbyists Vicki Clarke Parker of Columbia and Stephen H. Smith of Spartanburg, according to an announcement made today by the Parker Poe law firm.
Parker and Smith are combining their practices under the auspices of the Parker Poe law firm and will become principals with Cooper under the banner of Parker Poe Consulting, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parker Poe law firm.
A longtime member of the SC House of Representatives, Cooper was a member of the Budget and Control Board as well as the Joint Bond Review Committee. “I look forward to putting my experience and knowledge about the legislative process, in general, and the appropriations process, in particular, to work in assisting businesses and organizations with their dealings with the General Assembly and our state agencies,” Cooper said.
Parker has over 30 years of political and governmental affairs experience on both the federal and state levels, representing clients in a wide variety of fields, including education, economic development and trade associations. “Dan, Steve and I have worked together on numerous issues at the State House, and I am excited about the opportunity to expand services for our clients,” Parker said.
Smith, who has been providing government relations services longer than any current member of the General Assembly has been serving at the State House, has worked with local, state and federal government officials on behalf of his clients, which include banking interests, health organizations and educational groups. He is currently the owner of Capitol Strategies, Inc.
“With Dan’s extensive record of legislative leadership and his outstanding reputation, combined with Vicki’s and my longtime experience at the State House, I look forward to our working together to help guide our clients through the legislative process,” Smith said.
Ray E. Jones, a partner in Parker Poe’s Columbia office, said, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to forge this expansion of our consulting and lobbying practice. We feel it will position our consulting arm to provide superb service to clients who need legislative and governmental advice.”
About Parker Poe Consulting LLC
Parker Poe Consulting LLC is a South Carolina limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP. Parker Poe Consulting offers a full complement of services, including lobbying, legislative monitoring, economic development and site selection consulting, crisis management and image counseling, to support some of the Southeast's most prestigious companies as well as providing valuable state-level counsel to global companies. Clients include healthcare companies, public utilities, manufacturing companies, higher education institutions, counties and municipalities as well as association management, among others. To learn more, please visit www.parkerpoeconsulting.com.
Although Parker Poe Consulting LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, it is a separate entity, is not a law firm and does not provide legal services. Consequently, Parker Poe Consulting LLC is not subject to the rules of professional conduct applicable to lawyers and law firms, and its clients do not have the benefit of the protections of the attorney-client relationship.
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has 230 lawyers in six offices located in major markets across South Carolina and North Carolina. The Firm provides legal counsel to large commercial and public organizations on litigation, corporate and regulatory matters. It has been recognized in recent years as one of the fastest growing law firms in the United States and as an award-winning leader in the use of technology to provide better and more efficient service to domestic and international clients.