Primary Practice
Public Policy and Law
Secondary Practices
Arctic
Global Government Solutions
Maritime
Education
Certificate, University of Notre Dame, 2008, Mendoza College of Business, Leadership and Management
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1992
BA, Northern Michigan University, 1980, (with highest honors)
Admissions
Bar of District of Columbia
Mark Ruge is a lawyer in the Public Policy and Law practice group at the global law firm K&L Gates, one of the largest policy groups in the United States. He focuses his practice on the federal government, representing clients on policy matters before Congress, administrative issues before the federal agencies/departments, and, occasionally, regulatory disputes in the federal courts. He is involved in a broad range of maritime issues and issues related to the Great Lakes states.
A veteran of more than a decade as a staffer on Capitol Hill, Mr. Ruge serves as counsel to the American Maritime Partnership, the largest coalition in the history of the U.S. maritime industry, and represents numerous other transportation clients on federal policy issues. In addition, he represents and has represented a broad range of other companies, associations and other entities on federal legislative tax, healthcare, commerce, appropriations and other issues. He is counsel to several major business organizations throughout the Midwest.
Mr. Ruge also counsels clients on issues before the federal agencies and departments. He has successfully helped litigate cases under the Administrative Procedure Act, which mandates rational decision-making by federal agencies. Mr. Ruge has participated successfully in numerous agency administrative appeals and rulemakings.
Before joining the firm, he worked on Congressional staffs, including positions as chief of staff to Rep. Bob Davis (R-MI) and as deputy staff director (minority) of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, where he specialized in Michigan and Great Lakes issues. Mr. Ruge is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Northern Michigan University. In 2008, Mr. Ruge received an Executive Certificate in Leadership and Management from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.
He served as the Parish Council president at St. Luke Catholic Church in McLean (VA) for nearly 20 years; chairman of the Board of Directors of the Father McKenna Center; co-chairman and founder of the Food From the Bar legal community food drive that has raised more than 3 million meals for the Capital Area Food Bank; the national board chairman for the lgnatian Volunteer Corps; and as the Fathers’ Club president at Gonzaga College High School. He received the St. Aloysius Medal from Gonzaga in 2015.
Mr. Ruge is a part owner of the Green Bay Packers.
Achievements
Mr. Ruge has been nationally ranked by Chambers USA, a leading guide to the legal profession, as one of the top lawyers in the United States, every year since 2012. He has also been selected as a “Super Lawyer” in the area of Government Relations.