Barney J. Skladany Jr. counsels corporate clients on a wide variety of legislative branch matters. Mr. Skladany has worked in the government relations area and been involved in national Republican political activity for over 35 years. Mr. Skladany achieved national media attention in 2006 for his lead role in the passage of federal legislation enabling an athlete to obtain her U.S. citizenship; the athlete went on to win a silver medal at the 2006 Winter Games. He also played a prominent role in the representation of an international tire manufacturer during the course of congressional investigations into SUV rollovers. From 1973 until joining Akin Gump, Mr. Skladany served as government relations advisor in the Washington office of the Mobil Corporation. Previously, he was associated with the law firm of Baker & Botts. He also served in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1970 to 1971 and as a law clerk to the Honorable George L. Hart Jr., U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, from 1970 to 1971. Mr. Skladany received his B.A. in economics from Rutgers University in 1967 and his J.D. from the George Washington University in 1970. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.