Arshi Siddiqui, a top aide to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), is leaving Capitol Hill for K Street, joining Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld as a partner.

Since joining Pelosi’s leadership staff in 2003, Siddiqui has worked on high-profile issues including the health care reform package, for which she received a personal shout-out from Pelosi on the House floor during debate over the measure. She also worked on tax, trade, pension and other economic matters for Pelosi — all of which make her a big get for Akin Gump.

“Arshi is a superb and highly regarded lawyer with a wealth of experience in legislative policy and strategy. We are very pleased to welcome her to the firm,” Smith Davis, co-leader of Akin Gump’s policy practice, said in a statement.

Former Rep. Vic Fazio (D-Calif.), a senior adviser at Akin Gump, said: “Arshi is bright and savvy about the ways of Washington. Our firm was most fortunate that she chose to join our team as she begins a new phase of her career.”

This will not be Siddiqui’s first time in the private sector. The Georgetown University Law Center graduate previously worked at Williams & Jensen. On the Hill, she worked for Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) as his Ways and Means Committee counsel.

“Public service has given me an unparalleled opportunity to work on a wide range of challenging issues with extremely talented leaders on both sides of the aisle and the private sector,” Siddiqui said in a statement. “I look forward to joining Akin Gump and to working with colleagues I have long admired and respected.”

Siddiqui joins an expanding policy practice at Akin Gump, one of the city’s largest lobbying and law firms. Recently the policy shop brought on the Democratic lobbying boutique of Parven Pomper Strategies, including Scott Parven and Brian Pomper.