There are tons of opportunities for attorneys on Capitol Hill. Have you ever thought about using your law degree to pursue a job in government relations? If so, come join SABA-DC for an informative discussion on how best to pursue a career in federal lobbying.
Topics will include personal career paths into the government relations arena, valuable pointers on applying for lobbying and government relations jobs, the art of working Capitol Hill’s fabled hallways, and various career opportunities for law students and experienced attorneys in this dynamic field.
This panel will be moderated by Naveen Parmar, Director of Government Relations, Nationwide Insurance.
Our esteemed panelists include:
Ami Gadhia is Assistant Director in the Department of Federal Affairs at the American Academy of Pediatrics. Ami works on federal policy issues related to child abuse and neglect; toxic stress; genetics; environmental health; injury, violence and poison prevention; Native American child health; and foster care, adoption and kinship care.
Before joining the AAP, Ami spent 7 years in the Washington Office of Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. At CU, she worked on federal legislation and regulation related to product, auto, and food safety, among other issues. Ami has testified before Congress and federal agencies numerous times, and has appeared in the national print and TV press on product, auto, and food safety policy issues. A former practicing attorney, she is a member of the Connecticut and New York State Bars. Gadhia received her law degree in 2002 from the University of Connecticut School of Law and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Cornell University.
Karishma S. Page is an Associate at K&L Gates. Based in Washington, D.C., Ms. Page is in K&L Gates’ Public Policy and Law Practice. Ms. Page concentrates her practice on federal policy, focusing on tax, financial services, retirement security, and health care issues. Ms. Page has extensive experience working on a variety of tax legislation and tax administrative matters, as well as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Affordable Care Act, and the related rulemaking activity.
Ms. Page develops and implements a variety of advocacy strategies to advance client objectives, both from a Congressional and administrative perspective. In particular, she focuses on complex, multi-faceted policy campaigns incorporating lobbying, coalitions and third-party advocates, grassroots/grasstops strategies, and traditional and new media. Additionally, she has experience building, managing, and working with coalitions.
Kapil Sharma currently serves as Vice President for Government and Public Affairs, North America for Wipro. Based in Washington, DC, the office represents Wipro issues before federal, state and local governments in the US and Canada including but not limited to Wipro’s membership on various US and Canadian based public affairs organizations. Kapil also supports and leads Wipro’s corporate social responsibility activities in the region.
Kapil previously served as senior general manager for Tata Sons in Washington, DC. He also served as general manager for Tata Services in Mumbai, India, where he primarily focused on global branding and communications. He also assisted Tata group of companies on various issues such as innovation, climate change, and business excellence/quality management.
Before joining Tata Sons, Kapil was the vice president for Madison Government Affairs – a boutique government relations firm – representing non-U.S. clients and U.S. public entities before the U.S. Congress, Administration, and federal agencies.
From 2000 to 2001, Kapil served as senior counsel and legislative director to U.S. Senator RobertTorricelli (NJ) where he managed Senator Torricelli’s legislative, policy, and correspondence staff. From 1998 to 2000, He was a legislative consultant to the law firm of Verner Liipfert Bernhard McPherson and Hand where he assisted in the management and representation of non-US clients before Congress, the Administration and Congress. From 1996 to 1998, Kapil served as a legislative assistant to Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ). While working for Congressman Pallone, among other duties, he assisted in the management of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
Anurag Varma is a Partner at Akin Gump, Strauss, Hauer, and Feld. Mr. Varma develops and executes strategies to facilitate direct communication between sovereign and private-sector clients with the U.S. Congress, the administration, nongovernmental organizations, think tanks, and other relevant experts and institutions on a wide variety of trade and policy matters.
Mr. Varma served as lead U.S. policy counsel for the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) on the passage of legislation for the Civilian Nuclear Agreement (“123 Agreement”) between the United States and India and also for USIBC’s efforts to limit the adverse impact of U.S. immigration legislation on U.S.-India relations. Mr. Varma has served as counsel to sovereign entities, including as general policy counsel to India, Sri Lanka and a national political party in Bangladesh, and as policy counsel for the Republic of Korea for the extension of its 123 Agreement with the United States.
Mr. Varma provides strategic trade advice, engages U.S. and Indian government officials, and coordinates legal strategy for clients facing market entry and other policy matters in India.