Former US Secretary of Labor and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Tom Perez joins Mayer Brown

Washington DC – Mayer Brown announced today that Tom Perez has joined the firm in Washington DC as a partner in its Public Policy, Regulatory & Government Affairs practice and Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. Tom brings an extensive record of senior leadership experience at the highest levels of government, including serving as US Secretary of Labor, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, and most recently, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House.

"Tom’s arrival continues Mayer Brown’s tradition of attracting the nation’s most respected government leaders to our partnership,” said Jon Van Gorp, chair of Mayer Brown. “His experience at the highest levels of government, combined with his wide-ranging legal skills, will be invaluable to our clients navigating today’s complex policy environment."

Tom’s arrival further strengthens Mayer Brown’s commitment to providing clients with sophisticated counsel at the intersection of law, policy, and government. With decades of experience as a practicing lawyer, policy leader, and trusted advisor to three US presidents, Tom will focus on complex litigation, internal investigations, labor-management relations, higher education, state and local government matters, as well as infrastructure and public policy issues. 

“Tom’s decades of public service across multiple branches of government make him a great addition to our bipartisan public policy team, as well as our attorneys general and White Collar practices,” said Andrew Olmem, managing partner of Mayer Brown's Washington DC office.

Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Tom spent the bulk of his career at the Department of Justice, serving as a prosecutor in the Civil Rights Division during both Republican and Democratic administrations. In this capacity, he tried some of the Department’s most high-profile cases. As Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Tom oversaw enforcement of a wide range of civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and also worked closely with State Attorneys General on numerous enforcement issues. He also served as Counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services. As US Secretary of Labor, Tom was a member of the President’s economic team, and worked closely with workers and employers alike on a wide range of labor issues. Tom settled two major labor disputes involving 20,000 West Coast port workers and 40,000 workers for a major mobile network provider.

Most recently, Tom served as Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House. His wide-ranging portfolio included working closely with state and local elected officials on a range of issues, as well as handling sensitive domestic and international matters. His deep relationships with state and local governments, as well as his experience navigating complex legal and policy challenges, make him a go-to advisor for clients facing high-stakes issues at all levels of government. Tom is also a former Chair of the Democratic National Committee, where he led a historic transformation of the organization, rebuilt critical infrastructure, and helped secure key electoral victories nationwide.

"I am honored to join Mayer Brown and to work alongside such an exceptional team of lawyers and professionals,” said Tom. “Throughout my career in public service and as a practicing lawyer, I have seen firsthand the critical role that legal counsel plays in helping clients navigate complex challenges at the intersection of law, policy, and government. I look forward to drawing on my experience in government, labor, and public policy to help our clients achieve their goals and to contribute to the firm’s tradition of leadership and innovation." 

“I’ve known Tom for over a decade, and I am thrilled to welcome him to Mayer Brown,” said Raj De, member of the firm’s global Management Committee. “Tom’s extensive experience in federal, state and local government, along with his understanding of labor and civil rights issues, will enable him to serve a wide array of clients on a range of matters. His deep roots in the DC legal and policy community will further strengthen our office and enhance our ability to support clients on their most critical matters."

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