In Transition

Another veteran of President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate office is joining his White House staff. Obama announced this afternoon that Michael Strautmanis, who was Obama’s chief counsel and deputy chief of staff in the Senate, will be the chief of staff to Valerie Jarrett, the assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs and public liaison.

Strautmanis was also a member of the congressional relations team for Obama’s presidential campaign. He’s a longtime friend of the Obama family, dating back to the days when he was Michelle Obama’s paralegal at the Chicago law firm of Sidley & Austin.

The transition team also announced that Christina M. Tchen, a partner and corporate lawyer in the Chicago law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, will be the director of public liaison.

— David Nather