New Officers for RNLA in 2019

The RNLA recognizes its distinguished new officers for 2019, elected by the RNLA’s Board of Governors at their annual meeting. These elite attorneys will help to lead the over 6,000-member-strong organization in 2019.

RNLA Executive Director Michael Thielen stated: “The RNLA is honored to be led by these distinguished Republican attorneys as we begin the 2020 cycle. We appreciate their dedication and willingness to serve at such an important time for the country and the defense of the rule of law.”

Nine new officers were elected for 2019. Manuel E. Iglesias of Miami, Florida, was elected Chair. Mr. Iglesias is the Co-Chairman of the Board, Director, and Founder of Hygea Holdings Corp. He has an extensive background in financial services; was a founding member of Human Rights, an organization designed to combat the lack of human rights in Cuba; and has been heavily involved with the Republican Party since 1972.

David Warrington of Alexandria, Virginia, was elected President. Mr. Warrington is a corporate and white-collar litigator and constitutional lawyer at Kutak Rock LLP. Previously, he served as General Counsel for the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee, as counsel for the 2016 Trump Campaign to the Credentials, Platform, and Rules Committees at the Republican National Convention, and in the United States Marine Corps.

David Bowsher of Birmingham, Alabama, was elected First Vice President. Mr. Bowsher specializes in mergers and acquisitions, oil and gas acquisitions and financing, and bankruptcy matters as the Partner in Charge of the Birmingham office of Adams and Reese LLP. He previously served as Deputy General Counsel and Acting General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce under President George W. Bush.

Reb Brownell of Washington, DC, was elected Vice President for Judicial Affairs. Mr. Brownell is an author and is former Deputy Chief of Staff and Counsel to U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell. He previously served in the U.S. Department of State and at USAID under President George W. Bush.

Ron Hicks of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was elected Vice President for Election Education. Mr. Hicks is a Pennsylvania business trial lawyer who handles emergency, complex and appellate litigation and other business matters for LGBT+ business owners and other clients at Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP. He is also on the Board of Governors for the Allegheny County Bar Association, a leader in the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition, and Deputy Solicitor for Western Pennsylvania for the Republican State Committee.

Chris Marston of Alexandria, Virginia, was elected Vice President for Membership. Mr. Marston provides financial and compliance services to Republican campaigns and party committees, conservative political action committees, tax exempt organizations, and corporate and trade association PACs at Election CFO. He is the general counsel of the Republican Party of Virginia and previously served as an assistant secretary of Education in the George W. Bush Administration.

Mike Wakefield of Washington, DC, was elected Vice President for Washington, DC Operations. Mr. Wakefield is Counsel for U.S. Senator Susan Collins, advising the Senator on national security, foreign policy, and homeland security while also supporting her work on the Senate Appropriations Committee. He has also served as Counsel to U.S. Representative Mike Coffman, and previously, as an active-duty Army Judge Advocate at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers headquarters in Washington, DC, and as a White House Military Social Aide.

Don Wallace of Washington, DC, was elected Vice President for Programming. Prof. Wallace is Professor and Chairman of the International Law Institute at Georgetown University Law Center. An internationally recognized expert in the field of international law, he regularly publishes books and articles on international law topics and previously served as Regional Legal Advisor for the Middle East and Deputy Assistant General Counsel to AID in the Department of State.

Joy Lee of Washington, DC, was elected Secretary.  Ms. Lee is Senior Counsel at Americans for Prosperity, where she specializes in state and federal political law, including strategic compliance, campaign finance, ethics, and taxation of exempt organizations.  She was previously counsel with the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee, the 2016 Republican National Convention, and the Office of Member Patrick Pizzella at the Federal Labor Relations Authority. She is a graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law.

The RNLA thanks these Republican lawyers for lending their expertise to lead the RNLA.