Managing PARTNER

Ryan Leavitt

Ryan represents various clients before Congress and Executive Branch agencies. His work largely focuses on advising on and advocacy related to infrastructure, appropriations, public policy, and federal funding strategies. His current client list includes units of local or regional government, including municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations, transit, water, and health districts, as well as large public universities. He also represents non-profit organizations and private sector companies in the cybersecurity technology, education, healthcare sectors. In 2023 and 2024, Ryan was named by the “The Hill” newspaper as a “Top Lobbyist” for the results he delivered for his clients in the nation’s capital. 

Having served in senior policy positions advising several key Members in both the US Senate and the US House of Representatives, Ryan Leavitt brings a decade of Capitol Hill experience to Barker Leavitt. Before joining the firm as a partner, Ryan served as a Senate Judiciary Committee Counsel, a Senate Legislative Director, as a Deputy Chief of Staff, and in other senior positions in the US Senate and the House of Representatives. While serving as Council to the President Pro Tempore of the US Senate, he developed a keen understanding of Senate Floor procedure and developed an excellent working knowledge of the US Senate.  In addition to Ryan’s policy expertise, he is an expert in the legislative process, floor procedure, and legislative strategy.

As Ryan earned his Juris Doctor from George Mason University School Law, he clerked for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights.

Ryan is an active member of the Washington, DC Bar and US Supreme Court Bar.

Founding Partner

Jim Barker

Jim Barker is recognized as an expert in the federal legislative process.  He has provided strategic guidance, government relations, and legal related services for his clients over the last quarter century.  He specializes in federal legislative, administrative, and regulatory affairs.

Mr. Barker has extensive experience helping his clients navigate challenging environments, manage potential threats, and secure federal funds.   The firm’s broad experience stems from its work with corporations, universities, local governments, and trade associations.   At the heart of Mr. Barker’s success is his pursuit of innovative, bipartisan strategies based on persuasive public policy positions, close personal relationships, and an insider’s knowledge of the nuanced decision-making process by key legislative and executive branch officials.

Among other key issue areas, infrastructure and appropriations issues have been a key part of Jim Barker’s practice, and he has helped guide his clients in receiving billions of dollars in federal funds for infrastructure development.

His client list has included a diverse mix of clients:  the largest water district in the country, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (20 million water users), the Municipal Water District of Orange County, California, the South Coast Water District (of California), Park City, Utah, the Wasatch Front Regional Council, and the Utah Transit Authority, among others. 

Mr. Barker has also represented some of the largest and most well-known companies in America:  Fannie Mae, the largest secondary market mortgage financial services company, Sonic Healthcare USA, the third largest clinical laboratory company in the USA, the prestigious Business Software Alliance, a group of technology companies including Microsoft, Adobe, IBM and other premier tech companies, to list a few of his corporate clients.   He has also represented the Utah Winter Olympic Games Organization as well as other prominent local governments. 

Jim Barker has enjoyed tremendous success working with Congress throughout the duration of his career. Mr. Barker’s congressional achievements are well-known and admired. Most importantly, he understands firsthand how Members of Congress approach certain issues and how key staffers seek to resolve challenging matters.

Mr. Barker’s success is rooted in his extensive experience as a lobbyist as well as having served as a Senator's Chief of Staff, a House Chief of Staff, and a Committee Staff Director.  While serving in the U. S. Senate, Among other recognitions, Mr. Barker was named Technology Staffer of the Year by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a premier trade group headquartered in the nation’s capital. 

Jim earned his Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law located in Los Angeles, California, and is an active member of the Washington, D.C. Bar Association.

POLICY ANALYST

Ally Stolworthy

Prior to joining Barker Leavitt, Ally interned in the United States Senate where she gained experience in policy focused on healthcare, education, labor, and foreign relations. Before her time on the Hill, Ally served as the State Finance Director for a successful U.S. Senate Campaign, a Development Specialist for a policy non-profit, The Policy Project, and through her university, conducted extensive political research regarding women running for office internationally and at the state-level.

Ally earned her bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in Political Science, where she served as President of BYU Women in Politics.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Alia Cardwell

After serving on Capitol Hill as an Executive Assistant for a Member of Congress, Alia joined the firm in 2007 as a Legislative Assistant. In that capacity, she provided legislative research, as well as performed administrative and communication duties at the firm until her departure in 2017.

After several years working and living abroad, Alia Cardwell returned to Barker Leavitt in 2023 as an Administrative Assistant. She brings more than a decade of organizational expertise to the firm.

She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and a master’s degree from George Mason University.