Nossaman LLP has expanded its internationally recognized Infrastructure Practice Group with the hire of Shant Boyajian, former Senior Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Boyajian joins the firm as an Associate and will be located in its Washington, D.C. office.
During his time at the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Boyajian served as the senior infrastructure staffer and lead author and negotiator on the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act—the largest infrastructure bill in U.S. history, which was designed to provide long-term funding certainty for surface transportation. Previously, Boyajian served as Counsel to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. While there, he helped negotiate and draft the language for the federal-aid highway programs contained in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (Map-21) Act, which funded surface transportation programs at over $105 billion for fiscal years 2013 and 2014.
"Shant’s legislative experience and the relationships he’s forged at both the federal and state level will be an immediate advantage for our clients,” said Patrick Harder, Chair of Nossaman’s Infrastructure Practice Group. “Additionally, his extensive and nuanced understanding of the legislative process, and his work on the FAST Act and MAP-21 will add to the bench strength of our already robust practice.”
Nossaman’s Infrastructure Practice Group is one of the nation’s deepest and most respected practices. Having worked in 30-plus states, the group advises on transportation infrastructure, social infrastructure, and water and wastewater infrastructure projects ranging in size from $500 million to $10 billion. These projects include Florida's I-4 Ultimate, I-595 and Port of Miami Tunnel P3s (the latter two being the nation's first and second availability-payment contracts), Indiana's East End Crossing P3, California's Presidio Parkway P3, North Carolina's I-77, and Maryland's Purple Line LRT.
“We are thrilled to have Shant join our practice,” said Simon Santiago, Leader of East Coast operations for Nossaman's Infrastructure Practice Group. “His extensive experience drafting and building consensus for critical infrastructure legislation will be a valuable asset for our clients and help us enhance our services in the Washington, D.C. region and nationally.”
Nossaman’s best-in-class Infrastructure Practice Group, national platform, and the opportunity to work on the nation’s leading infrastructure and transportation projects attracted Boyajian to the firm.
“This is an outstanding opportunity. It allows me to work with the leading practitioners in the practice area and leverage the lessons I’ve learned during the legislative process on the largest, most innovative projects in the nation,” Boyajian said.
Boyajian’s government service also includes serving as Counsel to the Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation, where he was lead staffer for the Panel concurrently with his position as Counsel to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. He holds a J.D., cum laude, from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, and a B.A. from Patrick Henry College. He is admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia.