Rick Pasco

Richard Pasco

Partner

Richard Pasco is general counsel and lobbyist for agribusiness clients in the food, agricultural, trade and environmental arenas. He has more than 35 years of experience working in agriculture and food-related legislative and regulatory matters. Mr. Pasco advises and represents trade associations and companies on government policies and programs. In this capacity, he serves as President of the Sweetener Users Association.

He has a wealth of experience working with Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He has played a key role in implementing lobbying strategies and advancing agricultural program and trade reforms, as well as developing environmental guidelines, food labeling rules, and food safety/nutrition legislation. During the course of his private and public-sector career, he has been closely involved in seven omnibus farm bills.

Former Jobs/Positions Held

Prior to joining the firm in 1995, Mr. Pasco was Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Pork Producers Council. From 1985 to 1987, he served as Legislative Assistant to Senator Edward Zorinsky, the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Before his career in Washington, D.C., he practiced law at a law firm in his hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska for two years.

Mr. Pasco has been appointed by the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade (ATAC) in Tobacco, Cotton and Peanuts after previously being appointed to serve on the ATAC for Trade in Livestock and Livestock Products, and the National Advisory Council for Commodity Distribution. He also served on the Board of the American Commodity Distribution Association and was a founder of the Agricultural Clean Water Working Group.

Publications

Mr. Pasco authored "AGOA Countries: Challenges and Considerations in Exporting Horticultural Products to the United States" (International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council, Issue Brief), co-authored "Blowing Smoke: Does Congress Lack the Willpower to Reform Federal Tobacco Policies" (Journal of Medicine and Law, Michigan State University Detroit College of Law); and has written a number of articles for the Agricultural Law Letter.

Education

B.S., Mechanical Engineering
University of Washington
M.S., Agricultural Economics
University of Nebraska
J.D., University of Nebraska

Bar & Court Admissions