The Washington D.C., office of global law firm K&L Gates LLP has welcomed Stephen Martinko as a government affairs counselor in the public policy and law practice. Martinko joins the firm from the Port of Pittsburgh Commission (PPC), where he served as executive director of one of the largest inland ports in the United States.
Previously, Martinko spent 12 years as a congressional aide, including serving as deputy staff director for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I Committee) of the U.S. House of Representatives, which has broad jurisdiction over all modes of transportation – aviation, maritime, highways, bridges, mass transit, and railroads – as well as national infrastructure such as clean water and wastewater management, pipelines, flood damage reduction, federally owned real estate, and public buildings. Prior to his deputy staff director role, he was chief of staff to Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA), chairman of the T&I Committee and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and was the director of floor debate for former House Republican Conference Chair Deborah Pryce (R-OH).
During his time on the T&I Committee, Martinko helped to develop and execute the committee’s agenda and played an integral role in enacting major initiatives into law in nearly every mode of transportation, including a comprehensive surface transportation authorization, pipeline safety legislation, rail safety bills, Federal Emergency Management Agency reform, and Federal Aviation Administration, Coast Guard, and Amtrak reauthorizations. He is also widely-recognized for his role as lead staff negotiator in the enactment of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014.
“Steve is a tremendous addition to our policy team, and his in-depth knowledge of transportation policy will enhance our already robust offerings for clients,” said Darrell Conner, co-leader of K&L Gates’ public policy and law practice. “With his background and experience, Steve will be able to advise clients on the nation’s infrastructure challenges, energy transport matters, and transportation policies, and to effectively advocate for their interests before Congress and Executive Branch agencies on those and other issues.”
Martinko is the fourth new addition to K&L Gates’ public policy and law practice in recent months, following the earlier arrivals of Giovanni Campi in Brussels and both Donald A. Dempsey and Roderick D. Hall in Washington, D.C. The public policy and law practice has nearly 50 bipartisan lawyers and policy professionals with 500 years of combined experience in federal and state government.
