Former Northern California Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA)—the “Science Guy” in Congress—Joins Pillsbury’s Government Law & Strategies Team as Senior Policy Advisor

“We are delighted and honored to welcome Congressman McNerney to Pillsbury,” said Pillsbury Chair David Dekker. “With his extensive experience in government, science, technology and academia, he will play a key role in helping our clients navigate the intersecting challenges of technology, policy and law.”

McNerney previously represented California’s 11^th (2007-2013) and 9^th (2013-2023) congressional districts, serving in a variety of high-level leadership roles at the nexus of technology and government. During his 16 years in Congress, McNerney served as an active member of the House Energy and Commerce; Science, Space and Technology; and Veterans’ Affairs Committees. He was Co-Chair of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus as well as the Congressional Grid Innovation Caucus, which he helped found. Described by Roll Call as Congress’ “Science Guy,” McNerney enjoys strong bipartisan relationships with key officials in the House, the Senate, federal agencies, universities and national laboratories. 

“We are thrilled to have Congressman McNerney join our bipartisan Government Law & Strategies team,” said Pillsbury partner and practice leader Elizabeth Vella Moeller. “His substantive technical knowledge and strong relationships with leaders in Congress, the Biden Administration, industry and academia will give our clients a significant competitive edge. In particular, his experience as the former Co-Chair of the Congressional AI Caucus affords clients working with artificial intelligence technologies a critical understanding of the fast-moving legal, technical, policy and regulatory issues they face.”

McNerney is the third former member of Congress to join Pillsbury’s bipartisan lawyer-lobbyist team, following William Lacy Clay Jr. (D-Missouri) and Gregory H. Laughlin (R-Texas). Notably, his arrival also follows closely on that of Tony Phillips, a former Director and Associate General Counsel for Integrity at Meta Platforms, Inc. and a leading authority on issues of trust and safety, as well as four recent partner additions to Pillsbury’s Bay Area offices, including Adam Goldberg and Matt Kirmayer in San Francisco, and Patrick Hammon and Laura McDaniels in Silicon Valley.

“Pillsbury’s Government Law & Strategies team is at the top of its game,” said McNerney. “The firm has a reputation as the legal advisors for ‘what’s next,’ which makes it the perfect platform for the kinds of companies to which I can add the most value. I am excited to join and look forward to advising clients on the issues I care most about, including AI and machine learning, energy related issues and telecommunications.”

Pillsbury’s award-winning regulatory team operates on the front lines of law and policy, ensuring compliance with existing rules while anticipating new developments prompted by international turmoil, technological advances or changing worldviews. The firm’s experienced team advises on cross-border matters as well as federal, state and regional regulatory issues, and advocates for corporate, industry and nonprofit entities at all government levels.

Pillsbury’s global Technology Industry team brings together more than 300 sector-focused lawyers to meet the progressive needs of innovators, entrepreneurs and disruptors around the world. Regularly ranked among the top six most active law firms in the world for VC financings, the firm has advised on over $20 billion in venture financing, as well as completed nearly 100 IPOs and more than $400 billion in M&A transactions. Pillsbury lawyers have led in excess of 1,000 strategic outsourcing and technology transactions worth more than half a trillion dollars, filed approximately 30,000 technology company patents, and regularly represents clients in business-critical litigations, arbitrations and government investigations.