Sean Walsh

Senior Consultant

Sean Walsh is a senior consultant at Bingham Consulting and the senior public relations officer of Bingham McCutchen LLP. He brings with him 18 years of senior-level experience in federal and state politics, policy and communications. He has advised two of California’s most successful governors and served on the White House staffs of Presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, in addition to advising clients in the private sector.

Prior to joining the firm, Sean served Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in his history-making recall election. He acted as Gov. Schwartzenegger’s senior policy adviser as well as director of the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) where he was the head of policy development. As a cabinet-level officer, he managed major policy initiatives, including the governor’s ambitious efforts to partner state government with private business. He also oversaw the State Clearinghouse, an office in state government that deals with land-use issues and environmental law. Sean managed the OPR Legislative and Policy and Research units and the Office of the Small Business Advocate. Additionally, he was responsible for the state’s interaction with the United States Department of Defense.

With his years of experience in high-level government positions, Sean is a nationally-recognized expert in crisis communications. He has conducted hundreds of interviews with members of the national and international press corps and served as an analyst and policy expert for national network broadcasts. He also owned a private government relations and communications consulting business that was engaged in a wide variety of business, public affairs and campaign matters.

Sean’s senior-level experience in government also includes his service in dual roles as deputy chief of staff and press secretary for California Governor Pete Wilson, who is a principal member of BCG. His responsibilities included supervision of the Office of Communications; Offices of Public Affairs, Speechwriting, Constituent Affairs and Executive Writers, and six regional offices. In the White House, he was President Bush’s assistant press secretary and director of Press Office Operations working under Marlin Fitzwater, the only press secretary to serve two presidents. Under President Reagan, Sean was staff assistant for press relations in the office of Vice President Bush.

He also served on several key state boards and commissions, including in the position as vice chairman of the California Little Hoover Commission, an oversight agency that investigates state government operations. He was a member of California’s Commission on State Mandates, which determines reimbursements and adjudicates claims regarding state-mandated programs for local entities, and he was a non-voting member of the Housing Finance Agency Board (CalHFA), which works to create affordable rental housing and assist first-time homebuyers.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Board of Delegates
EDUCATION
  • University of California, Los Angeles, Bachelor of Arts, 1987

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Sean Walsh