Timothy E. Punke

Tim Punke is a partner at Monument Policy Group, a government affairs consulting firm with offices in Washington DC and Seattle.  Tim has over fifteen years of experience working in politics and policy, including work in the U.S. Senate, the Clinton White House, and for national campaigns. Since leaving government service in 2005, Tim has helped a broad range of Fortune 500 companies, industry associations, and public entities on a diverse set of issues, including tax policy, international trade, health care, immigration, travel policy, public lands issues, intellectual property protection, and corporate social responsibility.

Tim previously served as chief international trade counsel to the Senate Finance Committee. During his four years on the committee, Tim advised Chairman Max Baucus and other Senators on international trade and international tax issues, as well as international competitiveness policies. While on the committee, Tim was responsible for the communications and press strategy for all international issues.

Tim also served at the White House National Economic Council, where he worked on a diverse range of economic and development issues.  Tim helped drive the interagency effort to implement China’s accession to the World Trade Organization. Tim also helped prepare for and staff the president’s participation in the 1999 WTO Ministerial in Seattle, and the 2000 G7/G8 summit in Okinawa, Japan.

Tim is active in Democratic politics. He was a state director for the 2000 Gore-Lieberman campaign, and has been involved in numerous presidential, congressional, and local campaigns. He currently serves on the steering committee for the New Democrat Caucus.

Tim is a frequent commentator on CNN and Fox News, and he has appeared as a witness before congressional committees.  Tim has taught business and law classes at Georgetown University Law School, George Washington University Elliot School of International Affairs, and the University of Baltimore Law School.  His legal background includes work as a partner at K&L Gates and as an associate at Dewey Ballantine. He was also a law clerk to Judge Sidney Thomas of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Tim received both his J.D. and B.A. from Cornell University. He currently sits on the Board of the Seattle Art Museum, and also chairs the Executive Committee of the U.S.-Japan Leadership Program.  He has previously served on the boards of the Washington Council on International Trade and the King County Conservation Voters.  In 2010, he was named by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of the 40 Under 40 Top Young Business Leaders.  His interests include triathlons, running, and anything outdoors.

Tim and his wife Lori Otto Punke have three children.