Attorney Robert Barnett Featured Speaker at ABA's Legislative Day

On Wednesday, May 17, the American Booksellers Association's first-ever Legislative Day at BookExpo America will begin at noon with a featured presentation by Robert Barnett, senior partner at the prestigious Washington law firm Williams & Connolly LLP.

Robert Barnett

One of the premier authors' representatives in the world, Barnett has a varied practice representing national and international corporations and individuals on a wide range of matters. His long list of author-clients includes Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Lynne Cheney, Alan Greenspan, Barack Obama, Howard Dean, James Patterson, and Tim Russert. Barnett represents major corporations in litigation matters, corporate work, contracts, crisis management, transactions, government relations, and media relations. He is also one of the leading representatives of television news correspondents and producers. Ranked first on Washingtonian Magazine's list of "Washington's Best Lawyers," he was also named one of the 100 most powerful people in the entertainment industry by Entertainment Weekly Magazine.

Barnett, who has practiced law for 30 years, is an avid reader, and, he noted, "Being an author's representative provides me with a very small part in a book's creation." As part of his remarks at the Legislative Day opening session, "Washington & Books: Welcome Lunch," Barnett will look at the popularity of political books today -- why politicians write them and what they can do to help ensure a book's success; the future of political books; and his role as author representative in a book's development.

Of the popularity of political titles today, Barnett commented, "With the advent of cable news, the growth of the Internet, and the popularity of blogging ... people are more interested, more knowledgeable, and more involved. This knowledge and involvement has translated into people's desire to read political books."

Noting that the more people know, the better their choices, he said, "Books by politicians address issues that are not only important, but that affect the daily lives of people."

Barnett became an author representative in the mid-1980s. In 1984, he headed the team that prepared Geraldine Ferraro for her debate with then-Vice President George H.W. Bush. After the election, he said, "everybody came to Ferraro about writing a book," and he worked with her on the sale of that book.

Then, after David Stockman, President Reagan's budget director, left the administration, Barnett "auditioned" to be his representative and secured the position, he said. With a Democrat and a Republican on his resume, he began providing representation for more political books. These days, however, his practice encompasses authors of many types of books, from fiction to sports.

Legislative Day, which will be held at the Doubletree Crystal City and on Capitol Hill, was created as a way to brief booksellers about current public policy issues affecting the book industry and to provide them with the opportunity to meet with their senators and representatives. For a more about the day's events, which will culminate with a visit to congressional offices on Capitol Hill, click here.

Booksellers who would like to participate in Legislative Day must RSVP to ABA by May 1, so that the association can set up appointments with congressional members and appropriate legislative staff, as well as properly prepare for lunch. To RSVP, contact Margaret Petrie at (800) 637-0037, ext. 6614, or via e-mail at [email protected]. (Please put "Legislative Day" in the subject line of the e-mail.) --David Grogan