Mr. Kurzweil focuses his practice on public policy and government relations at the federal, state and local levels. Mr. Kurzweil successfully has represented clients on significant matters where complex and sometimes contentious, legal, policy-related and political challenges have been involved. In most of these situations, senior-most management and boards of leading enterprises/clients were personally engaged in the efforts to achieve workable and effective resolutions of the issues at hand.
Mr. Kurzweil's clients have included market-leading international hospitality chains, a leading communications company (both wireline and wireless), leading national security-related technology companies, global and market-leading private equity firms, the world's leading food service and facilities management company, global real estate developers, leading airport concession companies, a leading national shopping mall operator, major gaming operators, a major air carrier, a preeminent anchor-store retail chain, national retirement housing providers, colleges, and universities.
Mr. Kurzweil's engagements have covered diverse subject areas such as capital formation, homeland security, insurance, taxation, health care, unfunded mandates, Native American sovereignty, minimum wage, business incentives, business development, empowerment and enterprise zones, workplace safety and environmental standards, and other related real estate development issues.
He has led coalitions and other industry-wide efforts on matters of national and international importance. Where governmental actions have impacted, or might impact, company-specific and/or industry-wide strategies and operating models, Mr. Kurzweil has had extensive participation. In many cases, Mr. Kurzweil played leadership roles in the efforts to meet and resolve these kinds of challenges, often considered to be of the "bet-the-farm" level of urgency and importance.
An example illustrative of his unique practice, Mr. Kurzweil, on behalf of two of the most high profile and well-recognized hotel chains in the world, serves on the Steering Committee of The Coalition to Insure Against Terrorism (CIAT). CIAT became a leading force in support of the enactment of The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, and in 2005, CIAT took a leading role in the enactment of The Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act. CIAT's membership includes the virtual entirety of America's leading economic interests.
Mr. Kurzweil has over 30 years of legal, public policy, government relations experience, and he has been recognized as one of the top lawyer-lobbyists in Washington, D.C. Influence, a Legal Times publication, frequently has cited Mr. Kurzweil as a leading advocate, noting that "Jeffrey Kurzweil has earned his reputation by mastering the complexities of individual tax matters one issue at a time."
Though he has been engaged in many complex, high profile legislative tax issues, his public policy reputation is based on more than tax matters. Mr. Kurzweil's more broadly applicable skill sets were recognized again by Influence in a December 2002 article entitled "Lobbying Leaders-- A look at Washington advocates who took charge in 2002."
Explaining its consideration of Mr. Kurzweil as a leading government relations advocate, Influence highlighted Mr. Kurzweil's advocacy for terrorism insurance legislation, which Influence aptly described as one of the "... year's most difficult legislative journeys."
Activities
Mr. Kurzweil has served on a number of boards of directors, both for-profit and non-profit.
Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of JWM Family Enterprises, a Marriott-family, privately owned business entity, and, until November 2009, had been a member of the Board of Directors of Cowen Group, Inc., a publicly traded investment bank.
He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Duke University.
Mr. Kurzweil is also a former member of The Best Friends Foundation, and served on the Executive Committee as the Treasurer of the Foundation.
He also served on the Board of Visitors of Johnson C. Smith University, the Alumni Board of Vanderbilt University Law School, and the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the American Schools of Oriental Research.
Government Experience
Special Assistant to the General Counsel, United States Department of Commerce
Judicial Clerkships
Honorable Naomi E. Morris, North Carolina Court of Appeals, 1975 - 1976
News
November 9, 2009, Venable's Tax Lobbying Group recognized by Tax Analysts for growing client list
June 17, 2003, Venable's Legislative Group Advances Smartly in Latest Influence Survey
December 18, 2002, Jim Burnley and Jeff Kurzweil named "Lobbying Leaders" by Influence
February 4, 2002, Top DC Lobbyist Jeffrey Kurzweil Joins Venable's Growing Legislative Practice
Honors
Special Assistant to the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1978-79