Prominent government official Howard
Schweitzer, who played a key role in the federal government’s financial crisis response as
Chief Operating Officer of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), has joined Cozen O’Connor as a member of its Washington, D.C., office. Schweitzer will provide strategic advisory services to U.S. and multinational clients on a variety of issues involving the U.S. government and will focus his legal practice on public law, public-private partnerships, international business transactions, government contracts, and corporate compliance.

In October 2008, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson appointed Schweitzer as Chief Operating Officer for the TARP. As COO, Schweitzer was responsible for leading program execution and building the TARP infrastructure. Schweitzer served as a key point person regarding the financial crisis through the presidential transition and continued to serve as TARP COO under Secretary Timothy Geithner until August 2009. Upon his departure, Secretary Geithner awarded Schweitzer the Treasury’s Distinguished Service Award.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Howard,” said Tad Decker, president and CEO of Cozen O’Connor. “His work within the United States government and experience with complex financial transactions, international business, and compliance issues is unique and will serve Cozen O’Connor’s clients well.”

"Cozen is a dynamic firm that is seizing the opportunity to build its presence in the
nation’s capital," said Schweitzer. "I look forward to guiding clients through the increasingly complex maze of legal, policy, and regulatory issues they are facing in a changing world."

Prior to his work for the U.S. Department of Treasury, Schweitzer held numerous leadership positions in the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), which finances more than $16 billion of U.S. exports annually and has a portfolio of nearly $60 billion. Most recently, he served as the bank’s senior vice president and general counsel under the Administration of President George W. Bush. Schweitzer began his career at Ex-Im Bank during the Clinton Administration, serving as a senior counselor to five different bank chief executives during his tenure. Schweitzer also served as Ex-Im Bank’s chief ethics officer.

Mark Alderman, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s government practice, added that “Howard’s addition to our team marks a serious escalation of our efforts in Washington and is a statement that we have arrived. I can’t think of anyone who could do more for us or for our clients in this regard.”

A graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A., with distinction, 1991), Schweitzer earned his law degree from the George Washington University Law School (J.D., 1995).