Christopher W.K. Fetzer

Christopher W.K. Fetzer is a Partner in Dentons' Regulatory, Public Policy and Government Affairs group, based in Washington, DC. His practice focuses on Government Contracts, serving as a trusted advisor to Global 500 and other multinational firm C-suites in heavily regulated industries.

He serves as a co-leader of the US Public Policy and Federal Government Relations practices, the leader of the National Security, Foreign Policy, Energy Security and Critical Minerals team, and a co-chair of the Global Task Force on Ukraine Transformation.

A native Washingtonian with a long-established track record of securing favourable outcomes in complex, high-stakes matters at the intersection of business, law, policy, politics and geopolitics, Chris focuses on advocacy and strategy in the energy (including nuclear, and oil and gas), defence, trade, security, technology and foreign affairs arenas. Leveraging over two decades of public and private sector experience, he develops and leads successful campaigns on behalf of US and non-US companies, from startups to multinationals, including government contractors, to achieve their business and policy objectives before Congress and the Executive Branch.

Chris routinely advises and advocates on behalf of multinational firms in heavily regulated industries in complex, high-stakes national security, economic security, energy security and supply chain security policy, trade and sanctions policy, and foreign policy matters involving Congress, the Department of State, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of Treasury, Department of Commerce, coalitions, NGOs, foreign governments and private sector stakeholders.

As a leader of the US Sovereign Advisory group, he counsels, advises and leads US advocacy efforts on behalf of foreign governments in multiple regions of the world, with a particular focus on security, energy, trade and economic cooperation matters. In this role, Chris serves as a legal, policy and strategic advisor to heads of state, cabinet-level ministers, ambassadors and senior embassy staff.

He also serves as a leader of the multidisciplinary US Congressional Investigations practice, overseeing integrated legal, policy and political advisory, and strategic and crisis communications functions in helping individuals and companies navigate the potential legal, reputational and political liabilities associated with Congressional inquiries and investigations.

Before transitioning to the private sector, he served as an aide on Capitol Hill to a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Leadership.

His experience includes serving as Washington, DC counsel to BMNT, an Inc. 5000 company; acting as outside general counsel and policy director to the Common Mission Project, which oversees the Hacking for Defense university course; representing a Fortune 100 defence and aerospace company in matters related to a multibillion-dollar programme before Congress; advising US and non-US oil and gas and other energy sector interests, including multiple Global 500 companies and a trade association; serving as lead legislative and regulatory counsel to a major global provider of SaaS logistics technology; and serving as legislative and regulatory counsel to the world's largest olive oil producer.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Council, a member of the Board of Directors of the US-Ukraine Business Council, a member of the Advisory Council of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy, a member of The Economic Club of Washington, DC, and Chairman and a member of the Executive Committee of the British-American Business Association.

Chris has been named a Washington, DC Super Lawyers "Rising Star" for Legislative & Governmental Affairs, Government Relations and Lobbying (2016–2024), is listed as a Recommended Lawyer for Government Relations by The Legal 500 (2021–2026), and is recognised as a Top Lobbyist by The Hill (2022–2025). He holds a BA in Political Science from Dickinson College, an MPS from Georgetown University and a JD from Washington and Lee University School of Law.