Joseph Lai is a Principal at BGR Group in Washington, D.C., where he is a trusted advisor and advocate for clients on high-stakes legislative and regulatory matters at the nexus of international finance, national security, and critical technologies. He helps the world’s top business leaders navigate international crises, regulatory inquiries, and congressional investigations. Drawing on his experience in the White House and the U.S. Senate, Joseph develops and executes legislative and political strategies for clients facing complex legal and geopolitical challenges.
Joseph joined BGR after serving in the White House as Special Assistant to President Trump for Legislative Affairs from 2017 to 2019. In that role, he led the White House’s outreach to the Senate on economic issues, including international trade and financial services. He worked with Senate leaders to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and to confirm appointees to the Cabinet, the Federal Reserve, and the Supreme Court.
Before joining the White House, Joseph spent more than a decade in the U.S. Senate. He served as Defense Policy Advisor and later Legislative Director to Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, now Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He also served as a policy advisor to Senators George Voinovich of Ohio and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.
A native of Burlingame, California, Joseph received his Master of Arts from Yale University and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a Regent of The Fund for American Studies and a Trustee of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. He is fluent in Cantonese.
Areas of Focus
- Political and Legislative Risk Mitigation
- International Economic Policy
- National Security Policy
- White House and Executive Branch Policy Process
- Congressional Hearing Preparation and Witness Training
Education
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Yale University
MA -
University of California at Berkeley
BA -
Affiliations
Regent, The Fund for American Studies Former Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations Fluent in Cantonese Chinese