Rick Spees represents public and private entities in their interactions with the federal government helping them secure funding from Congress and address issues raised by complex federal laws and regulations.

Rick represents a wide range of clients in the education, government, healthcare, and transportation sectors, including cities, counties, transit authorities, educational institutions, science centers, hospital systems, and other corporations. Prior to private practice, Rick served in a number of positions in the U.S. Senate, including three years as the staff director and chief counsel of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, Judiciary, and Related Agencies. He also served on the Senate Judiciary Committee and as a legislative assistant for Senator Paul Laxalt (R-Nevada).

Rick is the Executive Director of the Akerman LLP Political Action Committee (Akerman LLP PAC) as well as the firm’s state and local political contribution activities. He writes a periodic report on the developments of the federal budget and when requested, he provides legislative strategy advice and tracks bills through the Congressional process. Additionally, with the revival of the community project funding, he helps his clients receive direct appropriations from Congress.

Building on his decades of experience, in 2022, Rick published a humorous Washington novel, Capitol Gains, about a young lobbyist that goes rogue and creates a fictitious client. His second novel, Capitol Losses, will be released in the late summer of 2025.