President Obama today nominated Richard Verma for the post of assistant secretary for legislative affairs at the State Department. Verma has a lengthy lobbying pedigree at the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson, which he rejoined in 2007 after serving for more than five years as a senior policy adviser to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., according to the firm.

While at Steptoe, Verma was a member of the government relations and public policy practice. He registered to lobby on behalf of a variety of clients including: Williamsport Wirerope Works; U.S.-India Business Council; The Humane Society Legislative Fund; TD Bank Financial Group; Sterling International Consultants; Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America; MyRichUncle; National Association of Convenience Stores; Manufactured Housing Institute; Liberty Media Corporation; InterAction; EchoStar Corporation; Dish Network; and CIGNA Corporation.