L. William Paxon
Senior Advisor Emeritus
- Five-term member of the U.S. Congress.
- Former Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).
Bill Paxon retired from the firm at the end of 2017. He advised public and private sector clients on policy issues. A five-term member of Congress from New York State, Bill played a key role as Chairman of the NRCC in electing and re-electing the first House GOP majorities since the 1920s.
The authoritative Almanac of American Politics termed Bill “a triumphant national leader” who is “one of the party’s best political brains” and “best natural politicians.”
Following his 21-year career as a county, state and federal legislator, Bill joined Akin, where he advised on a wide range of public and private sector clients on policy issues. He has consistently been rated one of Washington’s top lobbyists.
In 1992, after just two terms in Congress, Bill was unanimously elected by House Republicans as the first new Chairman in 16 years at the NRCC, the campaign organization responsible for electing Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives.
In that role, Bill won acclaim for his efforts to revitalize the NRCC, and he spearheaded the historic 1994 “Republican Revolution” that captured the House by gaining 54 seats and electing a remarkable 73 freshmen Republican members.
He was reelected NRCC Chair for the 1996 election cycle and again led the House GOP to a stunning victory in retaining the first House Republican majority in 68 years.
Since leaving Congress, Bill has remained active as a senior leader of the Republican Party and a key fundraiser for GOP candidates and causes; in 2001, he chaired the Bush-Cheney Transition Advisory Team.
While in Congress, Bill served as chair of the House Leadership, founded the House Republican Israel Caucus and was a member of the following committees: Energy and Commerce, Banking, Budget, Small Business and Veterans Affairs.
As a member of the House GOP Leadership for five years, Bill was intimately involved in crafting and executing a wide range of legislative initiatives, including the historic “Contract with America,” welfare reform and tax relief and economic growth policies.
Originally from the rural upstate New York community of Akron, near Buffalo, Bill began his political career at age 23, when he won election to the Erie County Legislature, then to the New York State Assembly and finally, at age 34, to the first of his five terms in the U.S. House.
EducationB.S., Canisius College, 1977
B.S., Canisius College, 1977
- Consistently named by The Hill as one of Washington, D.C.’s “Top Lobbyists.”
- Member, U.S. Congress, 1989 to 1999 (R-NY).
- Former Chair, Republican House Leadership Committee.
- Founder, House Republican Israel Caucus.
- Member, Energy and Commerce Committee, U.S. Congress.
- Member, Banking Committee, U.S. Congress.
- Member, Budget Committee, U.S. Congress.
- Member, Small Business Committee, U.S. Congress.
- Member, Veterans Affairs Committee, U.S. Congress.
- Former Chair, National Republican Congressional Committee.
- Member, New York State Assembly, 1983 to 1988.
- Chair, Bush-Cheney Transition Advisory Team, 2001.
