Liliana Coronado Joins the Brimley Group
Former Crime Subcommittee Counsel and Federal Defender Deepens Firm’s Criminal Justice Expertise & Strengthens Bipartisan Outreach
Washington, D.C. (December 3, 2015) – The Brimley Group, a full service government affairs firm, announced today that Liliana Coronado will join the firm as Vice President & Counsel, focusing on the firm’s growing Criminal Justice, Reentry and Law Enforcement practice. Liliana will also help manage the firm’s new Los Angeles, California office in addition to her work in Washington, DC.
Liliana’s hiring continues to bolster the Brimley Group’s record of working across the aisle, given her background working for senior House Democrats. The firm’s president, Jessica Nickel, and vice president, Thomas Culligan, both come from senior Republican authorizer and appropriator offices.
“During the two years she served on my Crime Subcommittee staff while I was Chairman and Ranking Member, I was consistently impressed with Liliana’s judgment, attention to detail, and overall policy knowledge,” commented Congressman Bobby Scott. “It’s great to have her back in our nation’s capital in this new role where I know she will continue her career long efforts to fix our broken criminal justice system.”
Prior to joining the Brimley Group, Liliana served as a Supervising Deputy Federal Public Defender with the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. She joined the Federal Public Defender's Office in 2003, after spending a year as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Warren J. Ferguson on the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. During her tenure at the Federal Public Defender, Liliana served as one of the representatives in the Convictions and Sentence Alternatives Program (CASA), an innovative post-guilty plea diversion program that is the first of its kind in federal court.
Liliana re-joined the Federal Public Defender's Office after serving as counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.
for two years. While there, Liliana worked on several key pieces of criminal justice legislation, including the Tribal Law & Order Act of 2010, which President Obama signed into law on July 29, 2010, and the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2012. In addition, Liliana assisted and served as counsel for several committee and subcommittee hearings, including a hearing on domestic minor sex trafficking, which is believed to have contributed to craigslist’s decision to remove its adult services category. Liliana’s portfolio also included data retention, synthetic drugs, sentencing, and prison issues.
“Liliana is an exceptional federal defender and her breadth of experience – both in the courtroom and on Capitol Hill – will significantly contribute to the criminal justice policy work that is central to our firm,” said Brimley Group President Jessica Nickel, “I have worked closely with Liliana for the last five years. She is a talented attorney and policy expert who has a deep understanding of the federal system. During her time on House Judiciary Committee she guided successful criminal justice reform legislation and key coalition strategies.”
Liliana was raised in Watsonville, California and is the daughter of Mexican immigrant farm workers. She graduated from Stanford Law School, and Mills College. She is married and a mother to a 2 ½ year old son.
About the Brimley Group
Founded in 2009, the Brimley Group blends experience navigating Washington with in-depth policy knowledge. The firm has grown quickly and earned its reputation as one of the most effective boutique government affairs shops in Washington, D.C., with a proven record of success supporting national foundations, state and local officials and corporations. With well-respected practices in the areas of Appropriations, Criminal Justice, Reentry & Law Enforcement, Aerospace, Space & Science, as well as health care and mental health, the Brimley Group is well positioned to serve a range of clients.
For more information, visit www.brimleygroup.com or call 202-729-8160.