Nevada Legislature’s former director to join R&R Partners

By David McGrath Schwartz

Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 | 12:22 p.m.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Legislature’s former longtime director joined the state’s most powerful lobbying and government relations firm on Monday, where he will be R&R Partners’ director of public policy.

Lorne Malkiewich worked at the Legislative Counsel Bureau, which functions as the nonpartisan staff for the legislative branch, since 1981 and served as director beginning in 1994.

He retired in April to work for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in Reno.

Malkiewich is widely respected by Democrats and Republicans and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Nevada laws, the legislative process and issues.

There is no plan to have Malkiewich lobby the 2013 Legislature, according to R&R Partners.

Nevada has a one-year cooling-off period for former state employees, but it only applies to those who had influence over a contract with their new employer.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have someone of Lorne’s caliber on our team,” Pete Ernaut, president of government and public affairs for R&R Partners, said in a statement.

“His 30 years with the Legislative Counsel Bureau have given him unparalleled insight into policy analysis. He will be a tremendous asset to our clients, both in Nevada and nationwide,” he said.

Malkiewich will work with clients through the firm’s offices in Nevada, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Austin, Denver, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.