FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT NAMED DIRECTOR OF CONSULTING'S FEDERAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP

Frank J. Donatelli, formerly an assistant to President Ronald Reagan and a long-time activist in Republican and conservative causes, has joined McGuireWoods Consulting as senior vice president and director of the Federal Public Affairs Department. In addition to his duties with McGuireWoods Consulting, Donatelli will act as counsel to McGuireWoods LLP.

"We are extremely please to have Frank Donatelli heading up our Federal Public Affairs group, " said L.F. Payne, CEO of McGuireWoods Consulting. "Frank's knowledge and experience in Washington enables us to position ourselves to provide a broader array of services and increased value to our clients."

Donatelli, who hosts a nationally syndicated radio show called Talking Politics, has been active in national politics for more than 30 years. His previous appointments have included serving as an assistant to President Reagan for Political and Intergovernmental Affairs (March 1987-Jan. 89) and being named deputy assistant to the President for Public Liaison at the White House (March 1984-May 85). Donatelli served on White House Chief of Staff James Baker's team that negotiated presidential debates in early 1984 and ran Baker's 1978 campaign for Attorney General of Texas. He also assisted Baker again last year in the Florida Recount fight on behalf of the Bush-Cheney team.

Donatelli was a senior advisor to Bob Dole in 1996. Previously he worked in the presidential campaigns of George Bush and Ronald Reagan. In 1992 he served as the Chairman of the Christopher Columbus Quincentennery Commission, whose mission was to celebrate the 500^th Anniversary of Columbus’ first voyage to the New World. He is also chairman of the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors, which seeks to preserve President Reagan’s Ranch in Santa Barbara as an historic property. He has appeared on numerous public affairs programs on MSNBC, Fox News and CNN, and is a noted writer whose articles have been printed in the Washington Post, the Washington Times and the New York Daily News.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Donatelli was a partner in the Washington office of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP. He practiced in the firm's public law and policy section, and focused his practice on legislative issues, including appropriations and general commerce matters. Donatelli also represents professional sports leagues on a number of legislative issues. Prior to Akin Gump, he was a partner at Bond and Donatelli and specialized in lobbying, public affairs and grassroots organizing campaigns.

Donatelli has a bachelor's of arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a J.D. from the American University in Washington, D.C.