Laurie Rubiner

Laurie Rubiner is senior government relations counsel in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

Laurie has more than 25 years of experience in the national public policy arena, serving in senior positions for both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate. From 2011–2017, she served as chief of staff to Senator Richard Blumenthal where she worked with the Senator to determine and implement his long and short range goals, legislative strategy, and policy priorities on such issues as women’s health, gun violence prevention, and consumer rights. Laurie also served as legislative director for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton from 2005–2008, and was responsible for the development and management of the Senator’s legislative and policy agenda. She was one of the lead members of the team that helped craft the Senator’s health care reform agenda that became a key plank of her 2008 presidential campaign. For nine years she was a legislative assistant to the late Senator John Chafee and handled issues related to health care, women, poverty, and children. Recently, Laurie served as special counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee for the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Prior to joining Kelley Drye, Laurie was executive vice president for Domestic Programs at the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids where she formulated, supervised and managed the Campaign’s U.S. programs, 65 person staff and $33 million annual budget. Laurie oversaw the Campaign’s advocacy at the federal, state and local levels, as well as its U.S. focused research, communications, development, and youth advocacy. She assisted with fundraising including developing relationships with donors, political leaders and the media. She also oversaw the Campaign’s newly formed program to develop new federal strategies for overdose prevention and treatment.

Outside of Congress, Laurie has held senior positions with several national policy organizations, including as vice president for Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), where she led the organization’s implementation of national and state strategies for improved public policies through government relations, grassroots organizing, litigation, and political affairs. She also served as a director at the New America Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, DC, and as vice president for public policy at the National Partnership for Women & Families.