U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, has announced the appointment of Washington lawyer Linda L. Lord as Chief Counsel for the committee.

Lord was in private law practice for 12 years, specializing in financial institutions and corporate law and working on mergers and acquisitions; commercial loans, and regulatory matters for banks and thrifts.

"Linda's real-life experience in confronting the regulatory structures that govern our banking and securities markets will make her an invaluable leader on the Senate Banking Committee team," Gramm said. "She will provide the insight the committee needs as we prepare to rework Depression-era banking laws and study further regulatory relief for securities transactions."

Lord's appointment marks her return to Congress, where she spent six years as a staff member, working primarily with the House Banking Committee.

Immediately prior to her Senate appointment, Lord was an attorney fellow in the office of general counsel at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Lord was a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti from 1993 to January 1996 and was previously a partner at Hazel & Thomas. She spent five years with the Washington office of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, becoming partner there in 1989.

Lord is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association and the American Bar Association.