MICHAEL R. MCLEOD
PARTNER
Michael R. McLeod has been in practice since 1967,
specializing in food, agricultural and derivatives law
and legislation, and issues that affect small
businessmen. He is known nationwide as an expert
in the field. As the counsel and legislative representative of many of
the nation's top food and agricultural organizations, he has written
and spoken extensively in matters relating to small businessmen and
agricultural law.
Mr. McLeod served for ten years as a key staffer in the U.S. Senate,
the last four as General Counsel and Staff Director of the Senate
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. In 1978, he
moved to the private sector and now serves as counsel to many of
the nation's top food and agribusiness trade associations. He also
represents agribusiness corporations, food companies, and the crop
insurance industry as well as financial services organizations before
Congress and federal agencies. His extensive knowledge of the
legislative process and his years of experience on Capitol Hill
enhance his role in the firm's government relations practice. He has
successfully assisted various trade associations to develop promotion
and research programs for such commodities as dairy, beef,
mushrooms, soybeans, avocados, and eggs.
Another area of his practice is the representation of companies and
trade associations in the derivatives and futures industry. His interest
in this area began with the creation of the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission in 1974 during his first year as General Counsel
and Staff Director of the Senate Committee, and continued with his
representation of the Chicago Board of Trade from 1978 until it was
acquired by the CME Group in 2007.
FORMER JOBS/POSITIONS HELD
Mr. McLeod began his career as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator
Herman Talmadge. He then served as Counsel to the Senate
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry from 1971-73, and
later as General Counsel and Staff Director to that same committee
from 1974-78. During his first year on the committee staff, he was
assigned to lead the staff of the Rural Development Subcommittee,
chaired by former Vice President Hubert Humphrey. The committee
produced the Rural Development Act of 1972. Subsequently his
work included legislation for the creation of the Commodity Futures
CONTACT INFORMATION
mmcleod@mwmlaw.com
tel: (202) 842-2345
fax: (202) 408-7763
PRACTICE AREAS
- Agricultural Legislation and Farm
Policy
- CFTC – Futures and Derivatives
Regulation
- Company, Trade Associations and
Coalition Representation
- Government Relations
- Regulatory Problem Solving
- US. Department of Agriculture
Agencies and Programs
EDUCATION
- A.B., University of Georgia
- J.D., American University
ADMISSIONS
- District of Columbia Bar
- United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Bar Association
- Bar Association of the District of
Columbia
Trading Commission, pesticide use and registration and forestry
management. Mr. McLeod played a major role in the drafting of
legislation for the 1977 Farm Bill, and he has been extensively
involved in every subsequent farm bill.
His work on the committee staff assisted Chairman Talmadge in
claiming important jurisdiction beyond farm programs. The
committee asserted itself in approving important school lunch and
food stamp legislation as well as forestry management legislation.
The committee was renamed the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition and Forestry. All of these areas are within his expertise.
PUBLICATIONS
Mr. McLeod published one of the nation's top websites
www.agriculturelaw.com. The firm currently sponsors
FarmPolicy.com, which is the most widely read summary of daily
agricultural news. This site provides daily summaries of agricultural
news as well as extensive links to other sources of agricultural law
and information resources. He has also authored various articles in
journals such as Top Producer, Successful Farmer and Farm Futures,
and the Agricultural
Law Letter.