Lobbying world

• Stoney Burke has joined Southern Company as director of federal legislative affairs in the energy giant’s Washington, D.C., office. Burke has served as legislative assistant to Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas), the chairman of the Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee.

• Thomas M. Susman has joined the American Bar Association (ABA) as head of the Washington, D.C., office. Susman comes from law firm Ropes & Gray . He is the co-author of the ABA’s lobbying manual.

{mosads}• Todd A. Walker has been promoted to vice president of government relations at UST Inc. , the smokeless tobacco and wine producer. Walker began his career at UST in 1992, when he joined the state government relations department. He is now based in UST’s Washington, D.C., office.

• Brigham McCown has joined Hunton & Williams LLP in the regulatory and legislative practice. McCown served previously as acting administrator of the pipeline and hazardous materials safety administration for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

• Aoife McCarthy, who reported on polls and campaigns for Politico, has joined Glover Park Group . McCarthy has worked previously as a pollster and consultant.

• Covington & Burling LLP has announced three promotions in its Washington, D.C., office. Christopher Denig, who focuses on federal civil litigation, has been named a new of counsel. Les Carnegie, who advises clients on trade and immigration law, and Eric Sonnenschein, who focuses on employee benefits and intellectual property litigation, have been named special counsels.