The Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., is senior counsel in the Government Advocacy and Public Policy practice group at King & Spalding. Having served as Governor, U.S. Congressman, state legislator, and civil litigator, he counsels clients on an array of government matters, with particular expertise in health care, finance and economic development. As Maryland's first Republican governor in 36 years, Governor Ehrlich launched construction on 123 statewide transportation projects in four years and managed the most successful military base realignment and closure strategy in the nation. He toughened penalties for sex offenders, drunk driving, and witness intimidation and established Maryland's first Office of Homeland Security.
Governor Ehrlich earned national commendation for empowering individuals with disabilities. He created the nation's first cabinet-level Department of Disabilities, for which he earned the "Highest Recognition Award" from the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, among other awards.
Prior to serving as governor, Congressman Ehrlich won four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In Congress, he served as a member of the House Majority Whip team, wherein he helped pass comprehensive tax relief, greater access to health care, federal education reform, and the first balanced budget in a generation.
He also served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1986 to 1994, representing Baltimore County.
Prior to running for public office, Ehrlich was associated with the Baltimore law firm of Ober, Kaler, Grimes and Shriver, where he practiced civil litigation for eleven years. He was a founding Member and Partner at the law firm of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC in Baltimore.
He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Princeton University in 1979, where he captained the freshman and varsity football teams, and his Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University in 1982.
Governor Ehrlich is married to Kendel (Sibeski) and they live in Annapolis, Maryland with sons Drew and Josh.
