Member Listing
Steven A. Merksamer
Sacramento, CA
(916) 446-6752
Email
Education
He is an honors graduate of Claremont McKenna College, and received his law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
Professional Experience
Steven A. Merksamer is the senior government law partner and a member of the firm’s Management Committee.
A recognized expert in government and administrative law and the initiative process, he has also had a most distinguished career in public service. He has served as the Chief of Staff to Governor George Deukmejian, a position which he held from 1982 to 1987. Prior to that, he was the Special Assistant Attorney General of the State of California, serving as the Attorney General’s senior counselor and policy advisor. He has also served as a California Deputy Attorney General, Assistant to the Lt. Governor of California and Assistant to the Speaker of the California State Assembly. He chaired and directed the Transition between the Brown and Deukmejian administrations.
Widely quoted in state and national publications, he has served as a key policy and political advisor to many state and national political leaders. He was appointed by President Reagan to serve on the President’s Administration of Justice Task Force, the President’s Export Council, and the National Commission on Presidential Scholars.
He has served as a member of the Board of Overseers of the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, the Board of Governors of the Rose Institute of State and Local Government, the Governor’s Residence Foundation and the California Museum for History, Women & the Arts. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Musical Theater and the Stevenson School and is a past Chairman of State Law Resources, Inc., a national network of independent law firms.
Mr. Merksamer was selected by his peers to be included in the 2008 edition of “The Best Lawyers In America.”
Gaming Experience
Steven A. Merksamer is the senior government law partner in the California law firm of Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Gross & Leoni, LLP. A recognized expert in government and administrative law and the initiative process, he has also had a most distinguished career in public service. He has served as the Chief of Staff to Governor George Deukmejian, a position which he held from 1982 to 1987. Prior to that, he was the Special Assistant Attorney General of the State of California, serving as the Attorney General’s senior counselor and policy advisor. He has also served as a California Deputy Attorney General, Assistant to the Lt. Governor of California and Assistant to the Speaker of the California State Assembly. He chaired and directed theTransition between the Brown and Deukmejian administrations. Widely quoted in state and national publications, he has served as a key policy and political advisor to many state and national political leaders. He was appointed by President Reagan to serve on the President’s Administration of Justice Task Force, the President’s Export Council, and the National Commission on Presidential Scholars. He is an honors graduate of Claremont McKenna College, and received his law
degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He has served as a member of the Board of Overseers of the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace, and the Board of Governors of the Rose Institute of State and Local Government. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Musical Theater. Mr. Merksamer is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts, and the Stevenson School and is a past Chairman of State Law Resources, Inc., a national network of independent law firms.
