Mr Priebus has been on leave from his career in private practice since he was named chairman of the Republican National Committee in 2011, though he is still listed as a partner at Wisconsin firm Michael Best & Friedrich. There, he was a member of the corporate and litigation departments and co-chaired the firm’s public policy group. Mr Priebus also served as general counsel to the RNC before being elevated to the role of chairman.

‘Equal partners’ appointed

President-Elect Trump announced Mr Priebus’ appointment on Sunday alongside that of Breitbart News executive Stephen Bannon, who is set to become chief strategist for the Trump administration. The choice of Mr Priebus for the influential chief of staff role has been read by some as a nod to those establishment Republicans who have hesitated to embrace Trump’s leadership. However, Trump has made clear that Mr Priebus will work as ‘equal partners’ with political outsider Mr Bannon once inside the White House. Mr Priebus says his role in the administration will be to help Trump ‘create an economy that works for everyone, secure our borders, repeal and replace Obamacare and destroy radical Islamic terrorism.’

Sources: The American Lawyer; ABA Journal