Randy Evans

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Randy Evans
Randy Evans
Outside Council to U.S Speaker of Congress, J. Dennis Hastert
In office
106th Congress – 109th Congress
Outside Council to U.S Speaker of Congress, Newt Gingrich
In office
104th Congress – 105th Congress
Georgia Board of Elections: State of Georgia
In office
2003 – Present
Special Attorney General: State of Georgia
In office
Executive Order July 3, 2007 – Present
Special Master: Georgia Supreme Court
In office
1999 – 2004
General Council: Georgia Republican Party
In office
2001 – Present
Born September 24, 1958 (1958-09-24) (age 49)
Dublin, Georgia
Alma mater West Georgia College, Summa Cum Laude / University of Georgia. Doctor Degree Magna Cum Laude
Occupation Attorney: Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
Religion Baptist, The Church of the

Apostles, Atlanta, GA

James Randolph Evans, (born September 24, 1958), served as the outside counsel to the Speakers of the 104th through the 109th Congresses of the United States - Speakers Newt Gingrich and Dennis Hastert. He is the senior member of the five-person Georgia State Election Board and is the General Counsel of the Georgia Republican Party. He chairs the companies of Gingrich and former House Republican Conference Chairman J. C. Watts. He represents a host of well-known public officials including Senators, Members, Governors, White House officials and state elected officials. Evans is a partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge where he chairs the Financial Institutions practice. He has been recognized in various publications as one of the "Best Lawyers In America" and one of Georgia's "most influential people." Evans has authored two books and writes a weekly newspaper column that appears in newspapers around Georgia. He is a frequent lecturer and speaker throughout the United States.[1]


In 1988, Evans assisted then Congressman Newt Gingrich in the preparation of an ethics complaint against then Democratic Speaker Jim Wright. On May 31, 1989, Speaker Jim Wright resigned catapulting Congressman Newt Gingrich into national prominence and leading to Gingrich's election as the House Minority Whip. Evans chaired Gingrich's campaign organization (the Friends of Newt Gingrich (FONG)) in Gingrich successful reelection contests in 1988 and 2000. After the 1994 election in which Republican captured control of the United States House of Representatives, eighty-four ethics charges were made against then Speaker Newt Gingrich and a special counsel was appointed to pursue the charges. Evans gained national exposure when former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich brought in Evans to lead Gingrich's defense against the various ethics complaints before the Committee on Standards. Evans was initially brought in to address ethics complaints centered around a letter prepared by Gingrich's existing counsel. Subsequently, Evans assumed the lead for the defense against all of the ethics charges pending before the Committee on Standards. In 1996, Evans negotiated an agreement with the Investigative Subcommittee and the Special Counsel that allowed Gingrich to remain as Speaker. Under the agreement negotiated by Evans, Gingrich agreed that a letter provided to the Committee on Standards was inaccurate and that he should have pursued the advice of counsel in connection with a college class that Gingrich taught. Evans insisted that Gingrich's college classes violated no tax laws, a position which was validated in 1999 by the Internal Revenue Service when it cleared organizations connected with college classes. At a nationally televised sanctions hearing, Evans argued that the Committee should accept the negotiated sanctions of a reprimand and a $300,000 cost assessment for cost associated with the inaccurate letter submitted by Gingrich's prior counsel. By as seven to one vote, the Committee on Standards agreed. Subsequently, the United States House of Representatives accepted and agreed to the recommendations of the Committee. In January 1996, Gingrich was reelected as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.


After Gingrich decided to pay the cost assessment using his personal funds, Evans crafted the “Dole loan agreement” in 1997 so that Gingrich could pay the cost assessment within one year. Under the terms of the agreement, 1996 Republican Presidential nominee Bob Dole agreed to loan Gingrich the funds. Evans negotiated the book contract for the New York Times Bestseller “Lesson Learned the Hard Way”. After Gingrich stepped down as Speaker at the end of 1998, Evans negotiated a variety of business ventures for Gingrich including a television contract with FOX and book contracts for several books, including New York Times Bestsellers. The books include nonfiction works “Winning the Future”, “Real Change”, “Rediscovering God in America”, “A Contract With the Earth”, and “Saving Lives Saving Money.” Fiction works “Gettysburg”, “Grant Comes East”, “Never Call Surrender” and “Pearl Harbor.” Evans also chairs Gingrich’s companies. [2]


In addition, Evans represents various elected Georgia officials including Governor Sonny Perdue and Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson.


Evans has been a well-recognized author and lecturer on professional ethics issues. He has authored two books – The Practical Guide to Legal Malpractice Prevention and The Practical Guide to Purchasing Legal Malpractice Insurance. In addition, he has lectured on attorney ethics in over thirty states, and published hundreds of papers and articles regarding professional ethics and malpractice.[3]


In addition to representing Speakers of the 104th -109th Congresses of the United States, numerous other political figures have utilized Evans' services including Majority Whip Roy Blunt, former House GOP Conference Chairman Watts, as well as a number of current and former Members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate. In conjunction with Susan Hirschman (former Chief of Staff for Majority Leader Tom Delay), and Bill Paxon (former National Republican Campaign Committee Chairman), Mr. Evans designed and formed the first political organization after the effective date of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act in order to receive nonfederal money. After challenges by Common Cause, the Federal Election Commission found that the entity - as structured - could accept nonfederal money.[4]


Evans has served as General Counsel to the Georgia Republican Party since his appointment by then GOP Chairman Ralph Reed. He was reappointed by Georgia GOP Chairman Alec Poitevint in 2003. In 2008, Evans served as the chairman of the Georgia Republican Convention in Columbus, Georgia, where he masterfully abused his knowledge of party rules and Robert's Rules of Order to keep silent any duly-elected delegate who wished to question the GOP's support of John McCain as the party's presidential nominee.[5] In addition, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue appointed (and the Georgia State Senate confirmed) Mr. Evans to the Georgia State Election Board in 2003. Then Presiding Justice Norman Fletcher of the Georgia Supreme Court appointed Mr. Evans as a Special Master of the Court.[6]


Evans' is married to Linda and has a twenty-year-old son, Jake.

Contents

[edit] Early Life and Education

Randy Evans was born in Dublin, Georgia on September 24, 1958. Evans grew up in Warner Robins, Georgia, where he graduated from Northside High School in 1976 with highest honors. His team was the State Champion in its division and he was the top speaker for extemporaneous speaking. He was award a debate scholarship to West Georgia College in Carrollton, Georgia. Evans majored in Political Science with a minor in Mathematics and Speech and graduated a Summa Cum Laude.


In 1976, Evans met Newt Gingrich and volunteered on his campaign staff and then again in 1978 when Gingrich was first elected to the United States Congress. During the summer of 1979, Evans lived in the basement of Gingrich's Virginia home while he interned for the freshman congressman.[citation needed]


Evans began his study of the law at the University of Georgia in 1980. While in law school, he was a member of the Editorial and Managing Boards of the Georgia Law Review. His Moot Court team was one of the top four in the nation. In 1983, Evans was awarded a Juris Doctor Degree Magna Cum Laude along with citations of honor from the Order of the Coif and the Order of the Barristers.


The Boundurant, Miller, Hishon & Stephenson law firm asked Evans to join them as an associate. Evans was elected chairman of the Douglas County, Georgia Republican Party in 1985. Later that same year, Evans was asked to join Arnall, Golden and Gregory in their legal malpractice section.

[edit] Legal Career

Evans' career started with a principal focus in the area of legal malpractice defense. His practice evolved into national complex litigation and he began representing several Fortune 500 companies. He has been admitted pro hac vice in over 35 jurisdictions and has been involved in litigation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several foreign countries. Evans developed a niche for media related legal issues as he began taking on celebrity politicians. In recent years, he has negotiated television, book, and speech contracts for his clients including Lessons Learned the Hard Way by Newt Gingrich, Speaker by J. Dennis Hastert, The Democratic Party: A National Party No More by Zell Miller, and Saving Lives, Saving Money by Newt Gingrich.

Evans became chairman of the Financial Services practice group at McKenna, Long & Aldridge in Atlanta in 2003. He continues to try cases as well as author law articles as well and speak at seminars and legal programs. The editors of Best Lawyers in America have cited Evans in the practice areas of Commercial and Legal Malpractice in 2004, 2006 and 2007.[citation needed] He has been recognized as one of Georgia's Super Lawyers by Atlanta Magazine. James Magazine has named him one of the most influential persons in the state in the last two years.

[edit] Cases

Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal: Superior Const. Co., Inc. v. Brock, 445 F.3d 1334 (11th Cir. 2006); Illinois Union Ins. Co. v. Shefchuk, 108 Fed.Appx. 294, 2004 WL 1858705, (6th Cir. 2004); Lewis v. Cigna Ins. Co., 234 F.3d 1262 (2nd Cir. 2000); Home Ins. Co. v. Bowers, 39 F.3d 1177 (4th Cir. 1994).

[edit] Bar Associations

American Bar Association:Sections: Administrative Law; Tort & Insurance Practice; General Practice and Litigation; Corporate and Banking Sections; Georgia Bar Association: Tort and Tort & Insurance Practice Section (Chairman 1996 - 1997); General Practice and Litigation; Legal Study Committee (2007-8); Advisory Committee on Legislation (2005-6, 2007-8) District of Columbia Bar Association Georgia Bar Foundation Fellow; Federal Bar Association; Republican National Lawyers Association (Board of Governors (2007 - present)

[edit] Boards, Positions & Other Organizations

Evans was named in 2001 to head the business companies owned by former speaker Gingrich. In 2002, he began to represent J.C. Watts, the former and always popular congressman from Oklahoma. After one year, Watts named Evans to head his business interests as well. That same year he accepted employment as the outside counsel of House Majority Whip Roy Blunt.[citation needed]

Boards and Positions: Chairman, Gingrich Holdings, Inc.; Chairman, J. C. Watts Companies Inc.; Advisory Board, Federalist Society

Adjunct Professor: Woodrow Wilson College of Law (1983-87) – Jurisdiction, Civil Procedure, Professional Responsibility, and Insurance


[edit] Publications

[edit] Books

J. Evans, Practical Guide To Legal Malpractice Prevention (Seventh Ed. 1999);

Evans & Morris, Guidelines for Purchasing Legal Malpractice Insurance (Third Ed. 1999)

[edit] References

  1. ^ J. RANDOLPH EVANS. McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.
  2. ^ Arnall, Golden, Gregory, LLP Just Lost Their Entire Political Law Practice.... The Political Vine (2003-10-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-12.</ Upon his election as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1999, Speaker J. Dennis Hastert retained Evans as his outside general counsel. Evans represented Hastert throughout his tenure as the longest serving Republican Speaker of the House in history. Evans appeared on behalf of Hastert before the Committee on Standards in the investigations involving two different mattes of national interest - the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill investigation and the Mark Foley investigation. He also represented Hastert in connection with public controversies involving Hastert’s real estate investments and the FBI’s raid of Congressman William Jefferson’s Congressional office. Evans appeared on behalf of Speaker Hastert in the United States Supreme Court litigation involving the McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation known as the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act. Evans negotiated the book contract for Hastert’s book entitled “Speaker - Lessons From Forty Years in Coaching and Politics”. After Hastert left the Congress in 2007, Evans negotiated various business ventures for Hastert. In addition to Speakers Gingrich and Hastert, Evans represented various Senators and Members before the Congress including members of the GOP House leadership. In 2003, Senator Zell Miller engaged Evans to represent him. Evans negotiated the book contract for Miller’s New York Times Bestseller book “A National Party No More - The Conscience of a Conservative Contract.” In addition, Evans negotiate Miller’s television contract with FOX. Evans also represents former House GOP Conference Chairman J. C. Watts. Evans negotiated Watts’ television contract with CNN and his speech contract with the Washington Speaker’s Bureau. <ref>{{cite web | title = Arnall, Golden, Gregory, LLP Just Lost Their Entire Political Law Practice...| work = The Political Vine| url = http://www.politicalvine.com/news/newsview8963.html| first = | last = | date = [[2003-10-08]] | accessdate = 2008-02-12 }}</li> <li id="cite_note-2">'''[[#cite_ref-2|^]]''' {{cite web | title = Arnall, Golden, Gregory, LLP Just Lost Their Entire Political Law Practice...| work = The Political Vine| url = http://www.politicalvine.com/news/newsview8963.html| first = | last = | date = [[2003-10-08]] | accessdate = 2008-02-12 }}</li> <li id="cite_note-3">'''[[#cite_ref-3|^]]''' {{cite web | title = Arnall, Golden, Gregory, LLP Just Lost Their Entire Political Law Practice...| work = The Political Vine| url = http://www.politicalvine.com/news/newsview8963.html| first = | last = | date = [[2003-10-08]] | accessdate = 2008-02-12 }}</li> <li id="cite_note-4">'''[[#cite_ref-4|^]]''' "GEORGIA GOP: McCain gets slate as Paul's fans fume," ''Atlanta Journal Constitution'', 18 May 2008 (retrieved 21 May 2008).</li> <li id="cite_note-5">'''[[#cite_ref-5|^]]''' {{cite web | title = Arnall, Golden, Gregory, LLP Just Lost Their Entire Political Law Practice...| work = The Political Vine| url = http://www.politicalvine.com/news/newsview8963.html| first = | last = | date = [[2003-10-08]] | accessdate = 2008-02-12 }}</li></ol></ref>

[edit] External links

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Persondata
NAME Evans, Randy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Professor, Council to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
DATE OF BIRTH September 24, 1958
PLACE OF BIRTH Dublin, Georgia
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH