WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2026 — Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced that Sean Clerget has joined as senior principal in its Washington, D.C., office.
“Sean brings deep, hands-on experience at the center of federal tax policymaking and congressional oversight,” said Howard Schweitzer, CEO of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. “His background leading complex tax and oversight work on Capitol Hill will significantly enhance our ability to help clients navigate legislative, regulatory, and enforcement matters in Washington.”
Clerget will focus on client-related tax policy work at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, as well as congressional investigations and other government investigations at Cozen O’Connor. He joins the law firm and its government and communications affiliate from the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, where he most recently served as chief tax counsel to Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.). In that role, he led the development, drafting, and passage of the tax portions of H.R. 1, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act; coordinated directly with the U.S. Department of the Treasury regarding implementation of H.R. 1; and advised members on all other tax policy matters.
He previously served as chief oversight counsel for the committee, where he led multiple, high-profile congressional investigations of private sector entities such as major U.S. corporations and large tax-exempt organizations. Clerget also served as a shared staffer on both the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary and the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, participating in all aspects of joint investigations.
In all of his roles, Clerget has worked closely with House and Senate leadership, the White House, the Treasury Department, and other key stakeholders.
“Sean has served the Ways and Means Committee in two critical roles and has been central to many of our most significant accomplishments,” House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith said. “His tireless work developing and presenting policy options for members was instrumental to the successful passage of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. Sean helped shape both the substance of the policy and the strategy that guided it across the finish line.”
“His deep knowledge of tax policy, combined with political calculation, made him a trusted advisor to me and to the entire committee,” Smith added. “Before leading our tax team, Sean served as chief oversight counsel, where he spearheaded one of the most aggressive oversight agendas in the committee’s history.”
“Sean Clerget brought not only sharp legal judgment but a thoughtful, strategic approach to every congressional investigation he handled after joining my Ways and Means staff in 2019, earning the respect of members and staff on both sides of the aisle,” said former Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas). “He has been a trusted advisor to me, as well as to members and staff alike.”
“In recent years, I’m grateful for Sean’s tireless work to make the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent through the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” Brady added. “Sean’s professionalism, work ethic, and steady leadership made a real difference for the committee, and I’m grateful for his service.”
Before his work on Capitol Hill, Clerget practiced law in the D.C. office of a large national firm. In this role, he led internal investigations and complex litigation and represented clients in commercial disputes.
Earlier in his career, he served as a law clerk to the Hon. Theresa L. Springmann of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Clerget has also served as an adjunct professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School.
Clerget earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from George Mason University School of Law (now Antonin Scalia Law School), where he was an articles editor for the George Mason Law Review and received multiple writing and academic honors. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science, summa cum laude, from Wabash College. He is admitted to practice in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
“Sean’s combination of high-level tax policy experience, congressional investigations work, and strong litigation background will be a tremendous asset to our clients,” Cozen O’Connor Commercial Litigation Department Co-Chair Barry Boss said. “His insight into congressional and regulatory processes, particularly in the tax and enforcement arenas, will further strengthen our white-collar defense and investigations capabilities in Washington — and beyond.”
About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. The firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management and strategic communications. Its client base spans multiple industries, including health care, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 1,000 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 35 offices across two continents.
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