Venable LLP is pleased to announce that David Bonelli has joined the firm as a partner in the Autonomous and Connected Mobility Group in the Washington, DC office. Mr. Bonelli focuses his practice on autonomous technologies, electric vehicles, micromobility, and healthcare transportation.
Ariel Wolf, chair of the firm’s Autonomous and Connected Mobility Group, said, “It is an exciting time in this industry, and we are thrilled to tap into David’s experience navigating the complex legal issues surrounding autonomous and emerging mobility technologies, as well as enhance our experience with general transportation law and policy.”
Mr. Bonelli has significant experience developing legal and policy strategies for autonomous and electric vehicle transportation and technologies, business-government relations, and securing federal contracts and grant opportunities for his clients. Mr. Bonelli’s legal work includes serving as a senior attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation, where he drafted and advised on administration policies, legislation, and rulemaking for highway and motor vehicle safety issues. During his tenure at NHTSA, he was responsible for representing the agency on oversight, regulatory, budget, and strategic transportation legal and policy matters. He developed regulations for highway and motor vehicle safety programs, including the “Cash for Clunkers” Program. He also served as counsel on a detail to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where he assisted in drafting and negotiating legislation authorizing Department of Transportation programs. Most recently, Mr. Bonelli worked at Lyft as a federal regulatory policy advisor for the company on emerging technology issues, including autonomous and electric vehicle ridesharing, bicycles, and scooters.
Commenting on his move to Venable, Mr. Bonelli said, “Venable has a deep roster of talented legal and policy professionals working on the forefront of autonomous mobility and emerging technology issues. I’m excited to join this group, and to use my experiences to benefit clients and continue growing this practice.”
Mr. Bonelli received his J.D. with honors from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law and his B.A. in English and psychology from Georgetown University.
Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 850 professionals across the country, including in California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients’ objectives in the United States and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit https://www.venable.com/.
