Influence Alley

Majority Leader Eric Cantor's senior policy advisor Mike Ference will join Shockey Scofield Solutions as a partner, the firm announced Thursday.

Ference spent five years in senior roles for the Virginia Republican and previous House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo. He has also worked for Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., and Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla.

The S-3 group, which has heretofore focused on appropriations and national security, is particularly excited to add Ference's expertise in telecommunications policy, financial services and authorization.

"Often your challenges on the Hill sort of start in the appropriations process and end up in the authorization process, or vice versa, they kind of go back and forth. You really need to be able to work both sides of that," Firm founder John Scofield told the Alley. "That's the big plus for us, and clients, is that he has the ability to work fairly deeply in the authorization space."

He came highly recommended from the lawmakers with whom he worked closely, Scofield said, and he will certainly be missed on the Hill.

"Ference has been an important part of the Cantor Team and trusted advisor for me on many critical and complex issues," Cantor said. "I will miss his wise counsel but wish him all the best in his new endeavor."

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., also congratulated him on the move.

"Mike has been a trusted advisor and friend whose post with the Majority Leader made him a vital resource for the Energy and Commerce Committee in our legislative efforts as well as our outreach to stakeholders affected by the laws we pass," Upton said.

Ference will start at the firm sometime in the new year.