Billy Linville, Advisor to Mayor Shirley Franklin and Former Governor Roy Barnes Joins Firm as Managing Director
January 19, 2006
ATLANTA, GA - (January 19, 2006) - Billy Linville, a key advisor to Mayor Shirley Franklin, Governor Roy Barnes and a number of other elected officials, joins the Government Affairs practice of McKenna, Long & Aldridge LLP as a Managing Director. Linville will be based in the firm’s Atlanta office and will begin on February 1, 2006.
“McKenna Long & Aldridge is known for providing unparalleled Government Affairs counsel at all levels of government,” said Billy Linville. “My goal is to draw on my previous governmental and political experience to advise clients and further enhance the credentials of McKenna Long & Aldridge’s Government Affairs team.”
Mr. Linville, current president of the public affairs firm of Linville & Associates, has extensive experience in government at a local, state and national level. Mr. Linville previously worked at Strategy.Gov, a strategic planning, public affairs and political consulting firm and with Strother, Duffy, Strother, a Washington, DC political consulting and public affairs firm. He has also served as an advisor to former Governor Roy Barnes and Louisiana United States Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) in addition to functioning as a legislative assistant for former United States Congressman Phil Sharp (D-IN).
On a local level, Mr. Linville served as Mayor Franklin’s Communication Director for her election as Mayor in 2001; headed media relations for her transition team; and was the Deputy Campaign Manager for her re-election last November. He also headed up the Mayor’s successful Water and Sewer Referendum in 2004 and the Cobb County Sales Tax Referendum in 2005. On a state level, Mr. Linville served as Governor Roy Barnes Communication Director in 2002.
“Billy Linville is a trusted friend and advisor,” said Mayor Shirley Franklin. “ He brings valuable perspective on government, business, politics and public strategies. He will be a great addition to the firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge.”
By joining the Government Affairs practice of McKenna Long & Aldridge, Mr. Linville becomes the newest member of an experienced group of professionals that was recently joined by former US Senator Zell Miller and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, Powell Moore.
“In recognition of our clients’ need for counsel at the intersection of business and government, the Government Affairs practice at McKenna Long & Aldridge has an aggressive growth strategy in order to meet the public policy needs of our clients at all levels of government,” said Eric Tanenblatt, head of the firm’s Government Affairs practice. “As such, a person with Billy’s knowledge and expertise in the area of government will be of great value to the firm and our clients.”
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
McKenna Long & Aldridge is a full-service law firm of 400 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, public policy and regulatory affairs, international law, real estate, environmental, energy and finance. To learn more about the firm and its services, log on to www.mckennalong.com.
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