Michael Best Strategies LLC announced today that Congressman Steve Israel, the eight-term congressman and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives Democratic leadership, has joined the firm as Senior Counselor and is expanding his role with the Michael Best Board of Advisors.

Representative Israel served in Congress as a member of the New York delegation from 2001 – 2017. While in Congress, Israel served as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015 where he was the chief political strategist and the lead architect of House Congressional campaign strategies. During his sixteen years in Congress, Rep. Israel served on a number of House Committees and Subcommittees including the powerful Appropriations Committee, Armed Services, and Financial Services.

“I’m pleased to be expanding my role at Michael Best Strategies,” said Rep. Israel. “I have come to know and greatly respect my colleagues at Michael Best for the work they do. We have built a strong bipartisan team with deep expertise in key areas of federal policy.  The opportunity to continue my work in D.C. and across the country is very exciting, and I look forward to this next step in my tenure with the firm and its clients.”

In his expanded role at Michael Best Strategies, Rep. Israel will provide strategic advice and counsel to clients and continue to facilitate business development efforts on behalf of the firm. Representative Israel will lend his strategic viewpoint and expert knowledge of federal policy development to help clients across key markets and industry sectors.

“The firm is pleased to extend our working relationship with Congressman Israel,” said Reince Priebus, President of Michael Best LLP and Chairman of the Board of Advisors. “As a former elected official and a man of true integrity, he is incredibly well-respected among his peers and colleagues. Steve has a deep understanding of the legislative process, which in turn is a key advantage that will strengthen the counsel we can provide to clients.”

“Representative Israel has been an invaluable asset to Michael Best Strategies in the past, as we recruited talented professionals to join our team and added clients across the country who rely on us for public policy advice and strategy” said Rob Marchant, President of Michael Best Strategies. “Representative Israel has helped us build a diverse, bipartisan organization, that is well positioned to provide exceptional advice and advocacy for clients regardless of electoral outcomes. We are thrilled that he has chosen to join us as a Senior Counselor and further expand our work together.”

Michael Best Strategies has seen steady growth over the last two years across its multi-state platform and in Washington, D.C.  The firm has most recently added significant new talent and increased visibility in the D.C. market.  The recent additions of Lucia Alonzo and Mike Dankler as Principals expanded the ranks of the bipartisan federal policy team in Washington, D.C., which also includes Reince Priebus, Tami Jackson Buckner, Anne Canfield, and Sarah Helton.

Michael Best Strategies (Strategies) helps companies accelerate their success through a combination of strategic business consulting, lobbying, government relations, public affairs, and communications. The firm has thrived by providing a diverse team of professionals with the experience, skills, and relationships necessary to help each client achieve their goals more quickly and fully.