Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) has joined the Washington, D.C., office of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, a Pennsylvania-based law firm. But don’t expect him to pound the halls of Congress lobbying even after his cooling-off period ends. [IMGCAP(1)]

Tim Ryan, the firm’s CEO, said Santorum will provide behind-the-scenes counsel to the firm’s clients on the legislative and regulatory process, but he will not make contact with government officials on behalf of clients. “We would never expect for Sen. Santorum to engage in any lobbying,” Ryan said. “On a global scale, he can provide a lot of good counsel to clients who are navigating the current business environment.”

Eckert Seamans lured Santorum, who lost re-election in 2006, because, Ryan said, Santorum has “a very close relationship with several of our partners here.”

Santorum also serves as a senior fellow with the Ethics and Public Policy Center and is a contributor to Fox News Channel.

Meanwhile, lobbying and law firm Patton Boggs has added former Texas gubernatorial candidate and Rep. Chris Bell (D) to its roster. Bell, who will be of counsel at the firm, will be based out of Patton Boggs’ Dallas office and will focus on public policy, lobbying and regulatory issues.

— Kate Ackley