Randy Evans, the attorney who has served as outside counsel to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since the 104th Congress, will join McKenna, Long & Aldridge, LLP on October 15, 2003. Mr. Evans will have offices in both Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, where he lives. McKenna, Long & Aldridge, LLP is a full-service law firm of 375 lawyers with offices in Atlanta, Brussels, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Mr. Evans will be joined by Stefan Passantino, Anthony Morris, Stacy Freeman, Doug Chalmers, Alison Solomon, and Jerry McNally. Mr. Evans’ financial services and political clients will follow him to McKenna, Long & Aldridge.

Randy Evans is probably best known nationally for his representation of former Speaker Newt Gingrich against ethics complaints made with the Committee on Standards in the United States House of representation. In 1996, then Speaker Newt Gingrich tapped Mr. Evans to lead his defense against ethics complaints when issues arose concerning a letter prepared by Gingrich’s existing counsel. Subsequently, Mr. Evans negotiated an agreement that permitted Mr. Gingrich to remain as Speaker. In 1997, Mr. Evans crafted the “Dole loan agreement” for the payment of a portion of the cost assessment made as a part of the ethics agreement. Since then, he has added to Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, former House GOP Chairman J.C. Watts, as well as a number of other United States Senators and Congressmen as client.

Among lawyers, Randy Evans has been a well-recognized author and lecturer on professional ethics issues. He has authored two books - The Practical Guide to Legal Malpractice Prevention and The Practical Guide to Purchasing Legal Malpractice Insurance. In addition, he has lectured on attorney ethics in over thirty states, and published hundreds of papers and articles regarding professional ethics and malpractice.

Mr. Evans made his first mark in the area of ‘Speaker politics and law in February 1988 when he assisted then Congressman Newt Gingrich with the drafting of the ethics complaint against then Speaker Jim Wright. Eventually, Speaker Wright resigned, leading to Gingrich’s elevation to Minority Whip of the House GOP Conference in 1989.

Mr. Evans continued in the area following Mr. Gingrich’s resignation. In 1999, newly elected Speaker J. Dennis Hastert kept Mr. Evans on as his counsel. He continues in that role today. Recently, Mr. Evans announced the negotiation and approval of a book contract for the publication of a book by Speaker Hastert to be published by Regnery Publishing, Inc. In addition, he briefed the Speaker Hastert’s position regarding the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act before the United States Supreme Court (which was argued on September 8, 2003).

In addition to Speakers of the 104th -108th Congresses of the United States, Mr. Evans has and currently represented a number of other political luminaries including Majority Whip Roy Blunt, former House GOP Conference Chairman J. C. Watts, as well as a number of current and former Members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate. In conjunction with Susan Hirschman (former Chief of Staff for Majority Leader Tom Delay), and Bill Paxson (former National Republican Campaign Committee Chairman), Mr. Evans also designed and formed the first political organization after the effective date of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act to receive nonfederal money. After challenges by Common Cause, the Federal Election Commission found that the entity as structured could accept nonfederal money.

Randy Evans has served as General Counsel to the Georgia Republican Party since his appointment by then Georgia GOP Chairman Ralph Reed. He was reappointed by Georgia GOP Chairman Alec Pointevint in 2003. In addition, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue appointed, (and the Georgia State Senate confirmed) Mr. Evans to the Georgia State Election Board in 2003. While serving as Presiding Justice, Chief Justice Norman Fletcher of the Georgia Supreme Court appointed Mr. Evans as a Special Master of the Court.

Mr. Evans started his career with a principal focus in the area of legal malpractice defense. His practice evolved into national complex litigation with the represent over several Fortune 500 companies. He has been pro hac vice in over 35 jurisdictions and been involved in litigation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several different countries. As his practice expanded to include celebrity politicians, he began to develop a separate niche involving various media. In recent years, he has negotiated television, book, and speech contracts for his clients including Lessons Learned the Hard Way by Newt Gingrich, Speaker by J. Dennis Hastert, A National Party No More by Zell Miller, Saving Lives, Saving Money by Newt Gingrich.

Mr. Evans is a summa cum laude graduate of West Georgia College and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia. He is a member of both the Georgia and District of Columbia bars.