Governor Sebelius names Sally Howard to serve as chief counsel

Governor Kathleen Sebelius has chosen Sally A. Howard to serve as chief counsel to the Office of the Governor. Howard currently serves as chief counsel to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

“Sally has an impressive range of experience in private and public practice,” Sebelius said. “She will be an important part of this administration and a valued member of the team we’ve assembled to work for the people of Kansas.”

Howard began her legal career as an associate attorney with Holbrook, Heaven & Fay, P.A., in 1993. She handled civil litigation and health care law, representing private, county and state hospitals.

In 1998, Howard became an associate counsel with Stevens & Brand, L.L.P, where she worked on health care law issues for Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Three years later, in 2001, Howard became a partner at Parkinson, Foth, Orrick & Brown, L.L.P. There, she represented clients in tort litigation, domestic litigation, and employment discrimination cases. During that time, she also served as a counsel to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Since 2003 Howard has served as chief counsel to KDOT, providing legal counsel to the Secretary of Transportation, overseeing KDOT legal staff and the Office of Civil Rights.

Howard is a member of the Kansas Bar, as well as the bars of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas and both the Eighth and Tenth circuits of the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Howard received her Bachelor of Arts from Kansas State University in 1988 and received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1993. She has one son, Nathaniel Clayton, 19, of Lawrence.

Howard begins her new position on January 29 and replaces Matt All, who recently became vice president and general counsel for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.

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