Reggie Babin

Senior Counsel

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Reggie Babin is senior counsel in the Public Law & Policy practice group at Akin in Washington, DC. He provides lobbying, consulting, and strategic advisory services to a broad range of clients, with a particular focus on cannabis compliance and federal policymaking.

Prior to joining Akin, Reggie served for nearly a decade in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, most recently as the chief counsel and lead cannabis policy adviser to Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY). In this role, Reggie oversaw Sen. Schumer’s legislative portfolio on issues including cannabis reform and he developed, coordinated and oversaw Senate Democratic Caucus strategy on this and other issues. Reggie’s experience includes engaging with senior staff in the Senate, House of Representatives, the White House and executive branch agencies; as well as working with a range of national and New York-based stakeholders in industry, trade associations and advocacy coalitions, and state and local governments. According to Politico, which named Reggie among the most powerful people on race and politics in its 2023 Recast Power List, “the entire discussion of cannabis policy on Capitol Hill is covered with [his] fingerprints.”

Prior to working with Sen. Schumer, Reggie served as the legislative director and, earlier, counsel to Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA) , former Assistant to the Majority Whip and former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). In this role, he managed a legislative portfolio including energy and the environment, intellectual property, judicial and legal reform, criminal justice and law enforcement, and human and civil rights. He also co-managed a number of House caucuses, including Justice and Public Safety, Congressional Refinery and Congressional Maritime.

Before joining Rep. Richmond’s office, Reggie served as an associate counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs’ Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight. He collaborated with senior staff to develop new legislation on government contracting oversight. He led an investigation into the lack of federal government oversight of U.S. infrastructure and assisted in conducting investigations and oversight hearings.