Former Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) a 14-term House Member who lost his primary re-election bid last year, has joined the law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough.

Mollohan, who will be part of the Washington and Huntington, W.Va., offices of the firm, will advise clients on innovation and technology issues, according to a release issued by the firm.

Marc Williams, managing partner of the West Virginia office of the firm, said that Mollohan’s tenure on the Appropriations Committee from 1986 to 2010 would make him a valuable addition to the firm.

In a statement, Williams said the former Congressman “developed extensive expertise in the programmatic funding decisions that impacted many of the important issues that faced the nation over nearly three decades.”

During his tenure in Congress, Mollohan also was ranking member of the House Ethics Committee and served on the Budget Committee.

However, he also faced ethics problems in recent years that became fodder for his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Mike Oliverio, who called Mollohan “one of the most corrupt Members of Congress.” Mollohan said his opponent was “spreading right-wing smears.”

Mollohan was under investigation for securing earmarks for nonprofit groups operated by friends who were also Mollohan’s investment partners, but the Justice Department concluded its probe without filing charges against the Congressman.

Oliverio beat Mollohan 56 percent to 44 percent but then was defeated by Republican David McKinley in the general election in November.