Tracy Schmaler

Tracy Schmaler provides clients with strategic public affairs advice on issue advocacy, crisis and litigation communications, government investigations, and general issues management. A seasoned media strategist with over two decades of experience working at the intersection of politics, law, and journalism, Tracy leads the firm’s Crisis Communications, Litigation, and Issues Management practices. 

Prior to joining Kivvit, Tracy served in the Obama Administration where she managed the Office of Public Affairs at the Department of Justice and served as a senior advisor to Attorney General Eric Holder. While there, she was responsible for the department’s overall media strategy on high-profile law enforcement, policy and legislative issues, congressional investigations, and hearings, as well as significant criminal, civil, and antitrust litigation.

Previously, Tracy oversaw global public affairs for Yahoo! Inc., where she advised the CEO and executive leadership team on communications strategy involving policy and regulatory issues such as Internet privacy, intellectual property, and corporate social responsibility efforts in emerging markets. She also served on the company’s crisis communications team managing priority matters including M&A issues.

Tracy also worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee.  She served as the communications director for the committee and its chairman, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

Tracy began her career as a journalist in New England where she covered state and national politics. She lives in Washington, D.C.