Quorum was joined by experts from the Holland & Knight Public Policy & Regulation Group for a post-election briefing. Two panels of policy specialists — House and Senate — discussed what happened in key races, how shifts in the majority could impact key committees, what it meant for the remainder of 2024, and the policy changes anticipated in 2025.
Watch the recording for a lively Q&A with policy experts from Holland & Knight and strategies for engaging new legislators from Quorum.
Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Lehman served as Chief of Staff for the House Republican Conference. Her career began as counsel on the House Judiciary Committee Staff, where she served for eight years. She later served as special assistant to then-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), as policy director to House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX), and director of coalitions and outreach for Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL).
In 2003, she assumed the top post under GOP Conference Chairman Deborah Pryce, managing the fourth-ranking Leadership office in the House of Representatives. In this role she was charged with crafting legislative and floor strategies for House Republicans while earning respect from members on both sides of the aisle.
Karl Koch
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Koch served over four years as chief of staff to Congressman Jim Davis. Mr. Koch’s career in public service began in 1988 with his work for former U.S. Representative Buddy MacKay. In the 1990s, he worked on both campaigns for the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, serving as the director of the reelection campaign in 1994. He went on to serve as chief of staff to then Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay. Mr. Koch gained national exposure as the Florida Director for the Clinton/Gore presidential reelection campaign in 1996. From 1997-2002 he served as vice-president and principal of Dewey Square Group, a national public affairs firm.
Mr. Koch’s practice at Holland & Knight has ranged from issues relating to financial services, technology, health care, education and energy.
Meet the Senate Experts
Dimitri Karakitsos
Dimitri serves as the firm’s senior Senate Republican political liaison, coordinating on behalf of clients with GOP leadership, committee chairmen and members of the Senate Republican conference on issues critical to the firm’s clients.
Mr. Karakitsos has successfully worked with numerous clients on Capitol Hill and within the executive branch on issues ranging from energy and environment to trade and international treaties. He has advocated on behalf of companies on legislative initiatives including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) reauthorization process, federal infrastructure bills, appropriations, tax reform proposals, as well as energy- and environment-related legislation.
Todd Wooten
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Wooten was a lobbyist and consultant for a prominent Washington government relations and public relations firm. Mr. Wooten also served as interim senior vice president for government affairs for the National Football League.
In addition, Mr. Wooten served on three Senate committees for four senators. During his time on Capitol Hill, he served as the director of outreach and senior counsel for energy and tax on the Senate Committee on Finance, where he coordinated the committee’s communications to businesses and organizations. Mr. Wooten brings additional Senate experience from his time at the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and as the legislative director for Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).
