The Chamber of Commerce’s former top immigration and labor policy official announced Thursday that he was becoming a partner at the management-side law firm Seyfarth Shaw, where he will join its Washington lobbying branch.
Senior Vice President Randel K. Johnson stepped down from the Chamber in November, following a year in which the nation’s top business lobbying group has struggled to find common ground with the Trump administration, particularly on immigration policy.
Johnson alluded to those struggles in his announcement: “I am grateful for my many years at the Chamber and I look forward to using the expertise I developed there to start a new practice at Seyfarth Shaw, a firm that I have long respected for its sophisticated legal expertise in employment. Employment issues, particularly in the area of immigration, are at a critical juncture in Washington today and I look forward to representing our clients as they face new challenges arising from government legislation on the horizon.”
The Chamber has yet to announce a replacement for Johnson. It is not clear who has taken over his duties there, and no one is listed as covering immigration on the leadership page on the Chamber’s website. “We don’t have any staffing announcements to make at this time,” said spokeswoman Blair Holmes, adding, “Randy had an entire team of policy experts, and their good work on issues ranging from labor, healthcare, immigration, and pensions continues.”
The Chamber has long supported relatively open immigration policies, arguing that immigrants are a net positive for the nation and the economy. It has taken a similar stance on trade policy, arguing that reducing barriers to commerce is crucial to the nation’s prosperity. President Trump shares neither view, which has put the Chamber, which leans strongly Republican, in an awkward position.
Johnson was the Chamber’s point man in trying to square that circle on immigration. He had been open in saying that it wasn’t been easy.
“It’s a controversial area. We’re trying to figure out where our interests align with the Trump administration,” he told reporters at a Labor Day press conference. “Immigration across the board, with some limitations, is a benefit to this country, and that is the position of the Chamber.”
Laura Maechtlen, head of Seyfarth’s Labor and Employment department, said the firm was thrilled with its newest member. “His experience on Capitol Hill and longtime insights into labor policy are virtually unmatched in the industry. He is a fierce advocate for employer issues, but one who has always shown a willingness to build bipartisan coalitions to advance legislation.”
