FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2006
CONTACT: Vivian Myrtetus
850-410-0174
Vivian.Myrtetus@CristTransition.com
TALLAHASSEE — Governor-Elect Charlie Crist today announced Christopher Kise will serve as Counsellor to the Governor in his administration. As Counsellor, Kise will serve as a senior advisor to the Governor on legal and policy matters and assist in implementation of the Governor’s agenda.
“Chris is a remarkable lawyer who has served the people of Florida with great distinction, “said Crist. “I am pleased he has accepted the call to return to public service in my administration.”
Mr. Kise, a partner in the law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP and chair of its National Appellate Practice, currently serves as Transition Deputy Executive Director. Prior to joining Foley, Mr. Kise served more than three years under then Attorney General Crist as Florida’s Solicitor General, the state’s top litigator. He has argued three cases before the United States Supreme Court and filed briefs in more than a dozen other cases.
Kise has also handled numerous cases before the Florida Supreme Court, including successfully defending against the constitutional challenges to Florida’s voting precinct requirements, Sexual Predator Registration Act and representation of Attorney General Crist in the school voucher case.
At the trial level, he led major cases against Tenet Healthcare and AT&T Corp., both of which resulted in significant favorable settlements for the state, defended constitutional challenges to the lobbyist gift ban and compensation disclosure law and Florida’s Parental Notification of Abortion Act, and directed Attorney General Crist’s successful efforts before the Public Service Commission. Mr. Kise is a graduate of the University of Miami and the Florida State University College of Law.