Big Bank Brings In a Face From the Clinton Administration

The political law group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is hiring a tax lawyer from the Internal Revenue Service to help its clients deal with what it expects to be a crackdown by the service on tax-exempt groups involved in political activities.

Patricia M. Zweibel of the IRS's chief counsel's office will join the law firm this month. Her specialty: the taxation of nonprofit organizations.

Keeping What's Theirs

BGR Holding is being tossed out of the fancy space on Pennsylvania Avenue it's occupied for seven years by its landlord, the law firm Covington & Burling.

Ed Rogers, BGR's chairman, is not happy even though he says Covington's request is perfectly legal. The lobbying firm has poured a ton of money into the place and did not expect to have to leave. The offices are lined with enough wood and marble to outfit a small palace.

Therefore, only half in jest, Rogers has promised a Christmas party at which guests can take whatever parts of the renovations they want. "One way or the other," he said, "the mahogany walks."

Hire of the Week

Speaking of BGR, the once all-Republican lobbying shop has hired its second Democrat. David DiMartino, 38, deputy chief of staff to Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), is joining the firm's PR arm next month.

DiMartino was previously a national spokesman for Sen. John F. Kerry's presidential campaign and a deputy communications director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He was brought to BGR by the firm's first-ever Democrat, Michael Meehan, who also worked for Kerry and for Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Please send e-mail to kstreet@washpost.com.