Updated at 2:37 p.m.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has secured former Representative Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), expanding its roster of former members of Congress to seven, the firm announced on Thursday.
Kildee, who left Congress in January after not seeking reelection, will join former representatives Victor Fazio (D-Calif.), Bill Paxon (R-N.Y.) and Tom Loeffler (R-Texas), as well as former senators Phil Gramm (R-Texas), Lauch Faircloth (R-N.C.) and John Sununu (R-N.H.), at Akin.
He will be a senior consultant in the firm's American Indian law and policy practice and a policy adviser at Ietan Consulting. Ietan, which specializes in federal government relations work for tribes, has a strategic alliance with Akin and is located in the law firm's Washington office.
"I'm looking forward to getting back in the harness," Kildee said.
Under federal law, he won't be able to descend on Capitol Hill as a lobbyist until January 2014. Kildee said in the meantime he will focus on "advising" tribes.
Akin partner Donald Pongrace said in a written statement that Kildee will be a "tremendous asset" for tribes.
"Congressman Kildee is an icon in Indian Country, and we are very pleased to be able to tap into his experience and wisdom on behalf of our clients," Pongrace said.
Akin, which has the highest-grossing lobbying practice on The National Law Journal's latest Influence 50, last year lobbied for about a half-dozen tribes, including the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona, the firm's biggest lobbying client that year, according to congressional records. The tribe paid Akin $2.6 million in 2012.
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