Pablo E. Carrillo

Before arriving at the firm, Pablo was Chief of Staff to US Senator John McCain, who served as Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee and ran as a US presidential candidate. In that capacity, Pablo was responsible for the development and implementation of the Senator’s legislative and congressional oversight strategy.

Pablo also served as Minority General Counsel of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he advised then-Ranking Member McCain and other Republican Senators on the defense authorization bill and the Minority’s O&I activities, particularly on defense acquisition and contracting policy and management issues. In that capacity, he was the lead Republican staff member in developing the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009, major bipartisan legislation intended to help reform how the Pentagon procures major weapon systems, and other legislation that helped reform the national security space launch program to open it to new commercial launch companies.

As the firm’s lead on congressional O&I, Pablo helps clients forecast and navigate intersecting legal, regulatory, policy and reputational risks presented by high-profile, often politically charged, congressional O&I. As to the tradecraft of O&I, Pablo brings his extensive experience with such investigations to the needs of the firm’s clients, having led a major congressional investigation of a multibillion-dollar deal whereby the Air Force would procure aerial refueling tankers, which uncovered evidence that led to the imprisonment of a top Air Force acquisition executive and a corporate office of a major defense contractor, and an investigation into allegations regarding DC lobbyist Jack Abramoff, which uncovered evidence that led to 20 guilty pleas and convictions, including those of a member of Congress and a top Administration official.

In his policy practice, Pablo advises and advocates the interests of corporate and sovereign clients on policy matters relating to defense and national security before federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury and the Export-Import Bank of the US; advises venture-backed emerging technology startup companies on doing business with the federal government; and frequently lectures on related policy issues. Pablo is also a top adviser to clients in several key issues, including US-China relations and artificial intelligence policy. Finally, Pablo helped lead a tiger team at the firm that helped clients navigate small business relief programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act).

Pablo is also a frequent contributor to the firm’s Capital Thinking – Global Public Policy Insights blog and its Chips Chatter blog, a forum on international trade policy developments specific to semiconductors and emerging technology.