Thomas Strickland

Thomas L. Strickland’s practice focuses on a range of matters at the intersection of law, business, and government policy, including governmental enforcement cases, Congressional and internal investigations, corporate governance, and high-stakes crisis management matters. His substantive expertise includes natural resources and environmental law, healthcare regulation and securities law.

Mr. Strickland joined the firm after serving as Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks for the United States Department of the Interior; US Attorney for the District of Colorado; and Chief Legal Officer at UnitedHealth Group.

Mr. Strickland’s service as a senior member of the Obama Administration followed his previous roles as chief legal officer for UnitedHealth Group, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, and Policy Director for former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm.

Following confirmation by the US Senate, Mr. Strickland joined the Interior Department in 2009, holding both the Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary positions. As Chief of Staff to Secretary Ken Salazar, he oversaw press, legislative and intergovernmental affairs for the department, including coordination with the White House and external constituencies.

Mr. Strickland was also responsible for oversight, and management of 77,000 employees and a $12 billion budget. While there he was also very involved in energy matters, from leasing decisions on federal land to the development of the five year plan for the Outer Continental Shelf.

Prior to joining the Department of the Interior, Mr. Strickland was executive vice president and chief legal officer at UnitedHealth Group, where he managed an in-house legal department of 200 attorneys and a nationwide team of outside counsel. He was responsible for all legal, regulatory and compliance matters and implemented a number of corporate governance initiatives.

Mr. Strickland is a founding member of Great Outdoors Colorado, a statewide initiative that directs lottery dollars to help preserve wildlife habitat, parks, rivers, trails and open space. In addition, Mr. Strickland currently serves on the board of directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

EDUCATION :

• JD, University of Texas School of Law, 1977
• BA, English Literature, Louisiana State University, 1974

ADMISSIONS : District of Columbia, Colorado, Texas

CLERKSHIPS : US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 1977 – 1979

GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE :

• Department of the Interior
• Department of the Interior
• Department of Justice, United States Attorneys’ Offices