Richard Spees

Richard L. Spees serves as the chair of Akerman’s Government Affairs & Public Policy Practice Group. Rick leads a bipartisan team of professionals providing strategic counsel on policy and regulatory issues in the United States.

With his experience working on Capitol Hill, and decades of advocacy on behalf of clients before federal agencies, Rick represents public and private entities in their interactions with the government, helping them secure funding from executive agencies and address issues raised by complex laws and regulations.

Rick represents a wide range of clients in the education, government, healthcare, and transportation sectors, including cities, counties, transit authorities, educational institutions, science centers, hospital systems, and other corporations.

Prior to private practice, Rick served in a number of positions in the U.S. Senate, including three years as the staff director and chief counsel of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, Judiciary, and Related Agencies. He also served on the Senate Judiciary Committee and as a legislative assistant for Senator Paul Laxalt (R-Nevada).

In the community, Rick serves as the lead for Akerman’s DC pro bono team supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). He is a member of the board of A Brighter Tomorrow For Africa Foundation, which conducts feeding programs and other charitable work in Sierra Leone. For six years he also served on the board of Reading Partners—Washington DC, a children’s literacy nonprofit organization.

Education :

• J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1979, with honors
• B.A., University of California, Berkeley, Economics , 1976, with honors

Bar Admissions : District of Columbia; California

Court Admissions :

• U.S. District Court, District of Columbia

Professional Experience :

• U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, Judiciary, and Related Agencies, Staff Director and Chief Counsel, 1982-1986
• U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Regulatory Reform, Majority Counsel, 1981 – 1982
• Office of Senator Paul Laxalt, U.S. Senate, Legislative Assistant

Affiliations :

• The U.S. Conference of Mayors, Business Council, Member
• Reading Partners DC, Board Member
• Foundation for Prader Willi Research, Pro bono legal work