Murphy Partners LLP is pleased to announce that Roosevelt J. Donat has been named Special Counsel and Director of Government Affairs. Mr. Donat has extensive experience in the areas of government relations, law, and regulatory matters, in Newark and throughout New Jersey and New York.

“Roosevelt is an integral part of our growing team. He is a dynamic attorney and government affairs professional, and his relationships throughout the region are extensive. His ability to quickly analyze complex policy issues, while understanding the underlying political implications, will be an immediate value to our current and future clients,” says Kellen F. Murphy, the firm’s managing partner.

Roosevelt formerly served as the Director of Government Relations and Strategic Planning for Brick City Development Corporation (the predecessor to the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation). In that role, he was responsible for developing the organization’s political engagement strategy with federal, state, and local elected officials, and business engagement strategy with corporations. Roosevelt also advised the organization’s department heads on the impact of proposed legislation and determined an appropriate response to that legislation. He regularly appeared before the Newark City Council and liaised with local and state officials to articulate, promote, and protect the interests of Brick City Development Corporation.

After Brick City Development Corporation, Roosevelt worked in the New Jersey State Assembly Majority Office before he was recruited to Wall Street, where he served in the Global Legal Compliance and Regulatory Office at American International Group (AIG) -the world’s largest insurance organization. In this position, he was critically involved in the structuring, negotiating, and execution of a wide variety of domestic and international transactions and other business arrangements. On the government front, Roosevelt provided counsel to senior management, global business and legal functions, and operating companies with respect to insurance regulatory matters, and regularly liaised with Department of Insurance stakeholders from various jurisdictions.