Former Justice Dept. public affairs chief and advisor to Attorney General Eric Holder, Tracy Schmaler, is heading a new crisis communications, litigation and issues management unit for ASGK Public Strategies in Washington.

Schmaler, whose exit from Justice was reported by O'Dwyer's in February, as taken a managing director slot at the firm founded by Obama advisor David Axelrod and Edelman vet Eric Sedlr.

ASGK said the new unit will handle public affairs and media relations for clients in crisis, involved in corporate and other complex litigation, government probes or regulatory matters.

She handled multiple crises and high-profile battles in the Obama administration, including the "Fast and Furious" gun-running probe, the PA defense of the Affordable Care Act and litigation against mortgage lenders and BP.
 
She oversaw communications and media relations for the White House-appointed Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which continues to conduct criminal and civil probes related to the global financial crisis.