Former US Congressman Lou Stokes focuses his practice on legislative counseling in the domestic and international public and private sectors. He counsels clients on regulatory matters, specifically federal government and federal legislative issues, with an emphasis on legislative enactments and processes and effective legislative and administrative strategies. Internationally, he advises non-US government representatives and multilateral funding organizations on federal policies and procedures.

Prior to joining the firm, Lou served 15 consecutive terms in the US Congress, representing the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio. He was the first African American elected to Congress from the state of Ohio.

Lou served as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, chaired the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies, and served as the second-ranking Democrat of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. He is the former chair of the House Select Committee on Assassinations, the House Intelligence Committee, and the House Ethics Committee and served as a member of the House Iran-Contra Panel.

In 2009, Lou received the inaugural Pillar of Justice Award from the Federal Bar Association, Northern District of Ohio Chapter. In 2010, Lou was honored by the American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession with a 2010 Spirit of Excellence Award for his dedication to expanding opportunity in the legal profession to all minorities, and in 2011 he was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame.