Kevin O'Neill, co-chair of the Legislative practice group, helps clients understand and navigate federal legislative and executive complexities in order to further their business objectives. His clients include domestic and foreign corporations, associations, municipal governments, transportation agencies, healthcare systems, universities and foreign sovereigns. Mr. O'Neill's clients span several sectors of the economy including tax and financial services, healthcare, education, transportation, and local government.
Mr. O'Neill has extensive experience in the areas of transportation and healthcare. This work includes representing transportation entities as they partner with the federal government to address growing infrastructure challenges nationwide. His clients have secured more than US$3 billion in federal infrastructure funding in the last 15 years for development of new highway, transit and bike infrastructure projects.
In his work with medical professionals and healthcare providers, Mr. O'Neill has helped pursue policy changes to improve both patient experience and maintain the quality of the nation's medical workforce. He also represents a number of hospitals across the country in seeking federal support for infrastructure improvements, treatment of special populations, expansion of outreach programs and alterations to federal funding policies that negatively influence specific operational objectives.
In the tax and financial services sector, Mr. O'Neill has helped companies and associations develop long-term campaigns to advocate for specific policies in comprehensive tax reform legislation and the Dodd-Frank Act. He has also advocated before the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on behalf of companies and associations affected by rulemakings before that agency.
In the education area, Mr. O'Neill has helped universities pursue a range of policy issues in areas as diverse as agriculture, foreign relations, workforce development, healthcare, transportation, export controls, collegiate athletics, campus safety and export controls. He also has experience helping institutions of higher education pursue federal research funding for innumerable topic areas. Mr. O'Neill has also regularly represented educational companies as they advocate for education policy that keeps pace with the evolving needs of students.
Mr. O'Neill is the co-founder and current president of the nation's largest bipartisan federal political action committee (PAC) dedicated exclusively to the policy interests of college students and higher education. In the fall of 2007, Mr. O'Neill was a candidate for the Republican nomination in a special election in Virginia's First Congressional District. In 2012, he was a volunteer fundraiser for the Romney-Ryan campaign. In 2004, he was one of the youngest major fundraisers for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. In 2001, he was part of a team of lawyers that served as legal counsel for the Presidential Inaugural Committee. In December 2013, Kevin was appointed to the Virginia Public Building Authority by Governor Bob McDonnell.
Focus Areas
Legislative and Public Policy
Experience
Legislative and Public Policy
Advocated for specific issues in major recent legislation, including the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, several transportation reauthorizations, reauthorizations of elementary and higher education laws, tax extenders and annual appropriations bills.
Represented a scientific and higher education association to help restore full funding for a major NASA research program scheduled for closing by two successive Presidential Administrations.
Sought specific technology-based changes to education law on behalf of several education clients.
Assisted a financial services association implement a long-term strategy for regulatory action related to Dodd-Frank implementation.
Helped a leading transit agency secure more than US$2 billion in direct federal funding for construction of major new infrastructure improvements.
