Matt Leggett is a partner and is a member of the Public Policy and Law practice group. Prior to joining the firm, Matt served as minority Chief Counsel for the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He managed the legal, policy, and communications teams which developed and implemented the strategic plan of the committee agenda. Before this, Matt had served as majority chief counsel for the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
In both of these jobs, Matt was responsible for overseeing committee staff, preparing for hearings, coordinating media strategies, and participating in the regulatory process. He provided legal counsel, advice, and legislative solutions to the Ranking Member and Chairman of the respective committees, Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, members of the committees, Senate Republican leadership, and other Senate offices. He directed committee hearings and Senate consideration of more than 65 presidential nominations in the energy, environment, natural resources, and transportation space. Matt also ensured compliance with Senate, committee, and Republican conference rules. He devised rules-based strategies to pass legislation, process nominees, defend committee jurisdiction, and advocate before the Senate Parliamentarian. Additionally, he managed oversight and investigation activities, while also serving in an official role at committee business meetings.
Matt led his committees’ legislative activities on the Senate floor relating to the Inflation Reduction Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. He oversaw bipartisan enactment of an environmental innovation package to promote carbon capture and sequestration technologies, reduce diesel emissions, and phasedown hydrofluorocarbons. In addition, he managed committee passage of bipartisan infrastructure legislation to reauthorize the federal highway program and support the build-out of hydrogen, natural gas, and electric vehicle fueling infrastructure. The America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act served as the basis for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Prior to his service as chief counsel, Matt worked for Senator Barrasso as policy counsel with the Senate Republican Policy Committee where he provided the Senate Republican Conference with strategic guidance, policy solutions, and communications support on energy, environment, natural resources, infrastructure, and agriculture matters. He oversaw all major legislation and drove the Senate Republican Conference’s response to federal agency regulatory activities in these spaces. He frequently served as a featured speaker at legal, policy, and energy conferences, including the Energy Bar Association, Hudson Institute, Federalist Society, Institute for Energy Law, and Energy Policy Research Foundation.
Earlier in his career, Matt managed a US Congressman’s assignment to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, co-chairmanship of the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus, and chairmanship of the Congressional Steel Caucus. He also served on the staff of the US House Agriculture Committee and for a senior US Senator.
Much of Matt’s tenure in the US Congress focused on natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and exports, and other energy infrastructure matters. As a result of his oversight and his management of all nominations for the Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and his review of environmental impact statements throughout his career, Matt has deep knowledge of the inner workings of these agencies and the individuals who run them.
- Recognized by The Legal 500 United States as a Recommended Lawyer for Government relations, 2024
- “What Chevron's End Means For How Congress Does Business,” Law360, 30 July 2024
- “Businesses Must Prepare for Shutdown Impact on Grants, Contracts,” Bloomberg Law, 27 September 2023
- Quoted, “Trump vs. Biden’s historic climate agenda,” Politico.com and Yahoo! News, 29 July 2024
- Quoted, “What Does America’s Confusion About The Economy Mean For Business?,” Forbes.com, 26 May 2024
- Quoted, “Energy CEOs Split on Pursuing Biden Incentives So Close to Election,” Forbes, 20 May 2024
- Quoted, “Clean energy in America awaits the presidential election. and 4 legislation at risk,” Attaqa, 20 May 2024
- Quoted, “Biden CO2, Hydrogen Pipeline Dreams Get Wake-Up Call,” Forbes, 12 April 2024
- Quoted, “Business Lobby Loses Ally With McConnell’s Exit From Leadership,” Bloomberg Law, 28 February 2024
- Quoted, “Texas Solar Projects First to Qualify for Key Climate Tax Credit,” Energy Wire (Politico), 1 December 2023
- Quoted, “K Street braces for potential shutdown,” The Hill, AOL.com, and Yahoo! News, 27 September 2023
