Akin Gump welcomes Jan Walter as a senior policy advisor to the firm’s Washington, D.C.-based public law and policy (PLP) practice. Based in Geneva, Jan is the first member of the PLP group located outside the United States, a strategic expansion of the U.S. team’s globally recognized lobbying and advocacy services to organizations with business interests outside of the U.S.
Jan is a former senior public servant with extensive experience in international policy development and delivery and is particularly well versed in the political complexities of intellectual property (IP) and governance issues arising in international organizations. He will represent clients’ interests before international agencies in Geneva, including the World Trade Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Health Organization, and other important policy and regulatory bodies,
“I am excited to join Akin Gump’s highly regarded public policy team—they are recognized as one of the most comprehensive and effective government relations practices in the world,” said Jan. “I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to craft advocacy strategies incorporating a global viewpoint valuable to clients across a broad range of industries.”
Jan’s knowledge of key policy issues in Geneva and direct experience with international agencies will help him provide specific guidance to organizations seeking to better understand international policy positions affecting their businesses. His arrival expands the PLP practice’s work advising clients on fast-moving issues of importance such as health/biotech, digital trade, standards, IP, and climate change.
PLP practice co-head Brian Pomper commented, “We are very pleased to welcome Jan to our public law and policy practice. He effectively extends the integrated offerings of our PLP, regulatory and international trade teams in Washington, D.C. to clients with issues outside of the U.S. His arrival is exceptionally timely, as global policy discussions ramp up on critical issues such as clean energy transition and IP considerations around innovation and access to innovation.”
Stephen Kho, partner in charge of Akin Gump’s Geneva office, added, “Jan’s presence here will help Akin Gump to further tap into the dynamic negotiations and meetings that are taking place daily among the international organizations in Geneva. These discussions can impact regulations and rulemaking that will affect trade, climate change, worker rights and competition policies around the world. Jan’s ability to gather information, assist in advocacy and develop strategies for our private sector and government clients will complement our office’s international disputes and arbitration practices quite nicely.”
Jan began his career in policy work in the Czech civil service in Prague and in Geneva. Since 2016, he has led on IP matters at the UK Mission Geneva.