Daniel Feldman, former Chief of Staff and Counselor to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, will rejoin Covington’s Environmental, Social and Governance, Business and Human Rights, and Public Policy & Government Affairs practices as a partner in the firm’s Washington office.
As Chief of Staff and Counselor to Secretary John Kerry, Dan helped drive the U.S. government’s international climate agenda, coordinating high level interagency policy-making, engaging with corporate stakeholders, and contributing to key bilateral and multilateral climate discussions, including last year's Leaders' Summit on Climate hosted by President Biden, and the UN Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. Before his most recent role in the Biden Administration, Dan served as Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the U.S. Department of State in the Obama Administration, Director of Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs at the National Security Council in the Clinton Administration, and as counsel and communications adviser to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He also has served as a senior foreign policy and national security advisor in several presidential campaigns.
“Our global team of lawyers and former diplomats and senior government officials solve complex problems at the nexus of public policy and law around the world,” said Doug Gibson, Covington’s Chair. “Dan’s deep ESG, BHR, and public policy experience, amplified by his important government role helping to lead the Biden Administration’s climate change and sustainability agenda, will enable him to provide invaluable assistance to our clients.”
“We’re thrilled to have Dan return to Covington from his role helping lead the U.S.’s engagement with the international community on climate change,” said Kevin Poloncarz, co-chair of Covington’s ESG practice. “Dan gained unparalleled insight into how sustainability is driving corporate and investor strategy during his work for the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. Pairing that with his expertise on BHR issues adds up to a rare set of capabilities across the whole range of ESG issues now receiving attention within corporate C-suites around the world.”
Dan earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School, his M.P.A. from Princeton University, and his B.A. from Tufts University.