Government Affairs and Public Policy

Putting Policy on your side

Public policy can change on a dime – influenced by evolving politics, unprecedented legal decisions, vocal interest groups, and the ever-changing news of the day. From in-depth strategic planning to legislative and advocacy policy proposals, we cut through uncertainty with creative, multidisciplinary solutions that reduce potential vulnerabilities and maximize strategic opportunities.

Collaborating with strategic, invested partners who anticipate challenges and opportunities now and down the road is critical to your resiliency and success. We combine political intelligence, sector insights, and a keen understanding of market conditions and risk to deliver solutions that put policy on your side wherever you do business. We craft strategies for effective advocacy before Congress, the executive branch, and state governments that drive real results.

Our team of lawyers and policy advisors features former high-ranking government officials and elected members of Congress who provide actionable insights and political intelligence into what’s happening behind the scenes. This team includes:

Several long-serving US senators
Congressmen who served in the House of Representatives
Ambassadors
Chiefs of Staff to members of Congress
Legislative Directors and Counsels
Policy advisors to Members of Congress
Officials from Federal agencies

And with experience building coalitions and driving bipartisan progress, our team knows how to get things done and can tap into a strong network of policy makers and government contacts to build collaborative and strategic relationships.

At the intersection of law, government, and politics, we help companies, government entities, and investors doing business in the US to navigate complex and nuanced landscapes driven by geopolitical forces. Our team can help you assess and mitigate the challenges of entering or investing into the US market.

Examples of focus areas:

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POLICY

AI and automation are changing the way we do business. We can help you understand the risks and opportunities of creating and deploying these game-changing technologies. From compliance with an array of global regulations to ethics and everyday business decisions, our global team has you covered. Our global, cross-functional AI team of 100+ lawyers, data scientists, coders, and policy makers is at the forefront of AI regulations and work closely with government agencies and industry associations to shape emerging rules. 

APPROPRIATIONS

We understand how the federal and Congressional budget and appropriations process works. With close ties to policy makers on both sides of the aisle, we assist those seeking federal funding for projects, services and programs in economic development, education, transportation, defense, biomedical and environmental matters. Our experience enables us to assist in securing federal funds through the annual federal budget and appropriations process and through grants awarded competitively by federal agencies.

CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS

Our multi-disciplinary team, which includes former members of Congress, congressional investigators, and congressional staffers, have decades of experience leading every form of inquiry and request at every stage, including the most high-profile congressional investigations. From responding to informal requests for information to handling subpoenas for documents or testimony, we leverage cooperative and bipartisan relationships to navigate these challenging dynamics with a steadfast focus on protecting client rights and business priorities.

DEFENSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Defense and national security priorities are actively shaping the way companies do business in and with the US, whether it is congressional policies, restrictions on trade with China and sanctions imposed on various countries, to policies designed to promote national growth or a US-based supply chain. We combine our legal knowhow with political insights to deliver strategic solutions designed to mitigate risk while promoting your commercial objectives. Our team of lawyers and policy advisors are well versed on successfully securing defense funding, helping companies through changing policies and congressional decisions, and other factors impacting the national security and defense environments.

HEALTHCARE POLICY

We bring unmatched legislative experience that includes developing and advancing critical legislation for the lifecycle of 21st century health care delivery – from research and development to approval and coverage of medical products. Our team has driven improvements to our nation’s medical preparedness and response systems, all with an eye on understanding and building pathways to address the workforce needs for the future. From in-depth business analysis and strategic planning to legislative and advocacy policy proposals, our multi-disciplinary solutions identify strategic opportunities and reduce potential vulnerabilities.

EDUCATION

We help our clients by leveraging political savvy and insights to anticipate risks and forecast solutions. We provide key intelligence and strategic advice for higher education to navigate the evolving regulatory, funding, political, and policy landscapes. Our team taps into deep networks of relationships to gather information from Congress, Executive Branch agencies, regulatory bodies, academia, and industry players to develop a comprehensive understanding of potential challenges facing clients and opportunities for growth.

ENERGY AND ENVIROMENTAL

Environmental concerns and energy transitions are impacting nearly all businesses as they aim to innovate and adapt for a better future. We support our clients in tackling these challenges, seizing opportunities in an evolving landscape. From drafting environmental and energy policies, to regulatory lobbying and defending industry interests, our lawyers and policy advisors are well versed and experienced in influencing regulatory standards, legislative drafting, and coalition building.

POLITICAL LAW

Our political law practice provides comprehensive legal counsel to a diverse range of national and international clients that are active in advocacy and politics at the federal, state, and local levels in the United States and around the world. We offer experienced, practical advice and develop appropriate, effective political law compliance programs designed to ensure that you conduct your lobbying and campaign activities in full compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and best practices. We also offer campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics compliance work as a component of broader projects, such as a significant lobbying campaign or a transaction involving a company or firm active in government affairs.

STATE AND LOCAL ADVISEMENT

Our trusted team of lawyers and policy advisors advocate for legislation, policies and other initiatives at the state and municipal level. We build and maintain relationships with lawmakers, government officials, and key stakeholders to help steer decision making. With decades of experience, our team works to craft strategies for effective advocacy before state governments, that drive real results. We also provide informed insight into state-level issues by leveraging a broad network of close contacts to keep you informed on the latest developing state issues.

Awards and recognition

Leading Firm Government Relations Chambers USA 2024
Several partners and Senior Policy Advisors are recognized and ranked by Chambers and The National Institute for Lobbying (NILE)
Members of the Government Affairs and Public Policy practice are ranked by The Hill as “Top Lobbyists”
Government Contracts: The Elite Nationwide Chambers USA 2024 – Band 3

Experience

Worked with a number of aerospace and defense companies to obtain appropriations and increased funding for key national security programs.
Advised clients on recent Congressional investigations, including companies that have been the subject of data breaches or cyber-attacks, as well as companies in the baby food and ventilator industries.
Worked with a US based AI company on new policy strategies, long-term government affairs engagement strategy and analyzing proposed legislation.
Worked with a large Defense company to secure hundreds of millions of dollars for a defense weapons system, which had been initially cancelled by the Defense Department. The effort involved drafting legislative language and creating a significant strategy for advocating before all Congressional Defense committees.
Represented several companies and individuals in high-profile congressional investigations. Worked with clients on witness preparation, thoughtful strategy development, and significant document production.
Advised clients on recent Congressional investigations, including companies that have been the subject of data breaches or cyber-attacks, as well as companies in the baby food and ventilator industries.
Represented an AI company before Congress and prepared the CEO and senior execs to testify during several high-profile Congressional hearings on AI policy issues.
Worked with a US based AI company on new policy strategies, long-term government affairs engagement strategy and analyzing proposed legislation.
We represented an AI deepfake detection company before Congress and the Executive Branch, receiving an invitation to the Senate’s AI Insight Forum.
Served as counsel to an innovative, pharmaceutical company in developing legal, legislative and media strategies to preserve the full patent life of the companies pioneering lifesaving drug.
Advised several health-care companies on strategies related to key policy issues, drug pricing proposals and telemedicine issues.
At the State level, succeeded in helping a company to secure the necessary financial support to continue delivering vital autism services
Helped several companies to develop a strategy to protect renewable energy tax credits.
Provide advice to several Universities on Higher education policy and funding issues.
Provided strategic advice to several Chinese based companies as to the political risk in the US and how to navigate market access issues.
Represented an early education group and helped develop multifaceted congressional strategy to secure an additional $1.1 billion in funding for early education programs.
Represent a national coalition which has been at the forefront of every major public policy and regulatory development involving the collection, security and use of personally identifiable information.
Advise clients on lobbying and ethics regulation matters including training for company attorneys on political law compliance; political activity and PAC strategies; and advise on state lobbying and pay-to-play compliance matters.
Represent a Middle Eastern banking industry association before the US government to develop coordinated strategies for addressing international money laundering, terrorism financing, and sanctions compliance efforts.
Represented numerous clients on the policy aspects of national security reviews conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Assisted clients to navigate the policy and political aspects of these reviews.