Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is pleased to announce that Geoffrey G. Burr, who most recently served as chief of staff to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao, has joined the firm as a policy director in the Government Relations Department in the Washington, D.C., office. Burr will utilize his senior-level executive branch experience to counsel clients on transportation and labor issues.
“Geoff’s Cabinet and congressional liaison experience coupled with his work in the private sector make him a great addition to our team,” said Marc Lampkin, Brownstein’s Government Relations Department chair. “His high-level involvement with the departments of Transportation and Labor will help provide our clients with the strategic guidance they need to navigate business issues with the administration.”
As chief of staff to Secretary Elaine Chao, Burr advised her on policy matters and acted as the primary liaison between the department, the White House and all other Cabinet secretary front offices. He managed the political and career professionals charged with leading the agencies and modal administrations housed within the DOT. Prior to that, Burr served as Secretary Chao’s confirmation lead during the 2016-2017 presidential transition as well as her deputy assistant secretary for congressional affairs in the Department of Labor during President George W. Bush’s administration.
“Geoff is a trusted adviser and skilled manager, possessing a deep understanding of how Washington works,” said Secretary Chao. “From serving as ’Sherpa’ for my Senate confirmation to helping advance key administration priorities, to recruiting and identifying the department’s key non-career leadership, Geoff has played a vital role at DOT during the last two years.”
In addition to his experience in public service, Burr has an extensive background in the private sector. As the vice president of government affairs for Cablevision, a cable television provider serving millions of consumers, Burr represented the company’s interests at the local, state and federal level. He also served as vice president of government affairs at Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), a trade association representing the non-union construction industry. Before becoming an executive at ABC, he mobilized the association’s grassroots efforts, represented their interests on Capitol Hill as director of legislative affairs, and served as a state affairs coordinator, where he acted as the primary contact for 80 chapters on the policy issues of greatest importance to the organization.
Burr received his B.A. in government from the College of William & Mary.