Secretary Nicholson is Senior Counsel in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck's Washington, DC office. He is a member of the Government Relations, Health Care, and Energy & Environment groups and his practice includes public policy, health care, state and federal regulatory law, international relations, real estate, oil & gas, and alternative energy. Secretary Nicholson served most recently as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for the second largest department of government with more than 250,000 employees and a budget of $77 billion. Prior to his tenure at the VA, he served as US Ambassador to the Holy See. Pope John Paul II knighted him for his leadership on human rights issues. He was the Chairman of the Federal Interagency Council on Homelessness. Secretary Nicholson was a director of New Community Development Corporation and Commissioner of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS), both Presidential appointments. He has led an active political life, which includes serving as Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1997-2001. He has worked on a number of political campaigns at every level, from county commissioner to US President. As Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Mr. Nicholson set records for fundraising, and in 2000 presided over winning the Presidency and majorities in the US Senate, the US House, state houses and state legislatures. Full bio. 

​

Fields of expertise

EUROPE & EURASIA