February 14, 2005
Rosalind Rubens Newell, former Deputy City Attorney for the City of Atlanta, has joined the Government Affairs group of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP as a member of the firm's local government practice. She will serve as Of Counsel and will be based in the firm's Atlanta office. McKenna Long & Aldridge's local government practice provides strategic solutions to matters involving the intersection of government and private enterprise in such areas as economic development, privatization, procurement, public finance, Tax Allocation District (TADs) and zoning.
"Rosalind Rubens Newell's intimate knowledge of the workings of the City of Atlanta government coupled with her strong credentials in state and local government law will be a great benefit when it comes to providing local counsel to our government affairs clients," said Sharon A. Gay, partner and member of the firm's local Government Affairs team.
Ms. Rubens Newell joins McKenna Long & Aldridge after serving for almost 18 years in the City of Atlanta's Law Department. Most recently she served as Deputy City Attorney of the Finance and Real Estate group which was responsible for providing legal oversight of financial, land use, zoning and procurement matters, commercial transactions and real estate transactions. She will draw upon this experience to work with firm clients in the areas of economic development, procurement, municipal finance and legislative action.
"I have worked closely with many members of the Governments Affairs practice for several years," said Ms. Rubens Newell. "I look forward to the opportunity to work with the team and to representing their local Government Affairs clients."
"When it comes to local government law, few lawyers in Georgia are more knowledgeable than Ms. Rubens Newell," said O.V. Brantley, Fulton County Attorney and former member of the City of Atlanta Law Department. "McKenna Long & Aldridge has definitely snagged a rare prize."
From January 2002 - August 2002, Ms. Rubens Newell served as Interim City Attorney during Mayor Shirley Franklin's transition into office. She worked with the Mayor and City Council on numerous legal and policy matters. She also served as Adjunct Professor in the School of Social Work at Clark Atlanta University from 1992 through 2002.
"During my time as the City Attorney for Atlanta, Roz has been a key member of my senior team," said Linda DiSantis, City Attorney for Atlanta. "She brought focus and expertise to our municipal finance practice and skillfully managed her commercial transactions practice group. There are few attorneys anywhere with the level of knowledge and skill that she possesses in the areas of municipal law and local government legal practice. The Law Department and the City will greatly miss her expertise. On a personal level, I will miss her incredible sense of humor and the fun that we have had working together. McKenna Long & Aldridge is gaining a great lawyer."
"Rosalind Rubens Newell has been a prominent member of the Atlanta government affairs arena for many years," said Eric Tanenblatt, head of the firm's national Government Affairs practice. "Her experience will enhance the growth of our local government practice and she will be an invaluable asset to our clients."
Ms. Rubens Newell serves on the Board of Trustees of the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home for Children, Inc. and is a member of the Gate City Bar Association, Caucus of Emory Black Alumni, DeKalb Lawyers Association, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and National Association of Bond Lawyers. A native New Yorker, she is a 1981 graduate of Emory College and a 1986 graduate of Emory University School of Law.
McKenna Long & Aldridge's Government Affairs practice helps private sector clients achieve their business goals in working with government by providing counsel to clients, including businesses, industry associations, charitable non-profits and educational institutions, at the federal, state and local levels of government. Our team members include numerous state and local government appointed and elected officials as well as former members of Congress, diplomats, White House and Administration officials.
About McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
McKenna Long & Aldridge is a full-service law firm of 350 lawyers and public policy advisors with offices in Atlanta, Brussels, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The firm provides business solutions in the areas of corporate law, government contracts, intellectual property and technology, complex litigation, environmental and regulatory law, public policy and government affairs, international trade, real estate and finance. To learn more about the firm and its services, visit our website at www.mckennalong.com .
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