Podesta Group

With a vault of experience in Congress and two cabinet departments, Paul Brathwaite provides invaluable strategic counsel to Podesta Group clients on transportation and labor issues. A valued member of the firm’s senior leadership team, Paul also advises clients on health care, education and financial services policy matters as well as outreach to Democratic leadership and the Congressional Black Caucus.

Whether it’s business as usual or business in crisis, Paul’s considerable knowledge and high-level relationships benefit the firm’s clients as he steadily guides them to achieve their policy goals. He is particularly proud of his work with a coalition of nonprofit organizations to secure federal funding to help communities rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Paul is widely known and well-regarded fixture in the halls of Congress, both for his consummate professionalism and his infectious laugh. Before joining the Podesta Group, he served as executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), where he coordinated the group’s domestic and foreign policy initiatives. At the CBC, Paul worked with all 43 members and served three CBC chairs: Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) and Melvin L. Watt (D-NC).

During the Clinton administration, Paul served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employment Standards Administration. Earlier in his career, Paul worked in the Department of Transportation’s General Counsel’s Honors Program. He has also worked as a staff member for Rep. Tom Carper (D-DE), who was then a member of the House, Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) and former New York Governor, Mario Cuomo (D). Paul has received numerous accolades for his distinguished public service, including the first Brenda Pillors Award from the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and numerous selections as one of Roll Call’s “Fabulous Fifty” staffers on Capitol Hill.

A Delaware native, Paul holds a Juris Doctor and a master's in public policy from Duke University and a bachelor's from Delaware State University.

More on Paul:

• FOX DC: Political Headlines 8/04/10
• Roll Call: For Black Lobbyists, Progress Is Real but Big Challenges Remain
• ABC News Now: Beer Summit 2009: Podesta Group's Paul Brathwaite's Take on Obama-Gates-Crowley's Beer Meeting
• Atlanta Post: Their Influence on Congress is Growing