The Adams and Reese Governmental Relations Team works at the federal, state and local levels to advance our clients' goals and interests. Beginning with a clear understanding of the client's needs, our attorneys and lobbyists craft strategies and implement action plans that may involve legislative or executive processes. We build the necessary team and employ coalition building or — when necessary — prepare to fight our clients’ battles alone. We are equipped to work both sides of the political aisle while being mindful of conflicts.
In addition to knowing the decision makers, we get to know your business and the relevant issues so we can summarize them succinctly and in their best light. When there is a budgetary issue or legislative problem, we can step in quickly. Applying our broad range of public policy tools will advance your strategic objectives.
Our Attorneys
With a deep understanding of how the political process shapes federal and state funding, Adams and Reese has enjoyed much success in achieving appropriations requests and drafting language that meets the needs of our governmental, private sector and nonprofit clients. Our team members are based in Washington DC, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. They include current and former lawmakers as well as several distinguished public officials.
While our client base is increasingly national in scope, Adams and Reese remains committed to furthering the economic health of businesses at the state and local level. We recognize the need for regional businesses to unite in their efforts to promote trade, commerce and industry. The involvement of our attorneys in the civic activities of the region, combined with the varied backgrounds of our governmental relations professionals, enables us to convene a highly qualified regional government affairs team.
Core Practice and Clients
Over the years we have built a client base that includes Fortune 500 publicly-traded corporations, smaller companies headquartered in our regional footprint, governmental entities, professional associations and various nonprofit organizations. Industries we serve include aerospace, agriculture and rural development; airports, banking, defense, education, energy, environment, financial services, health care, housing, manufacturers, maritime, municipalities, counties and parishes, pharmaceuticals, procurement, tax, telecommunications, transit authorities, transportation and logistics, travel and utilities.
A snapshot of our areas of concentration includes:
Substantive Lobbying: working with our clients to devise solutions to business and organizational challenges and developing strategies to implement those solutions through advocacy in the public arena. This includes working with elected and public officials and related staff to influence policy, drafting of model laws for your industry and utilizing defense strategies and litigation to defeat potentially harmful legislation.
Appropriations and Authorizations: assisting clients with interests related to the annual federal appropriation bills. By understanding the complex process by which Congress authorizes and funds state and federal programs, our team members routinely interact with various congressional delegations. We put your issue in a position where there isn’t much competition for funding by making sure the arguments for your project are extremely strong, including the explanation of the science behind it when applicable.
Regionalization: developing project teams with lobbyists and professionals to provide clients with the breadth and depth needed to address issues and projects that touch multiple jurisdictions. We are comfortable with participating in or managing broad initiatives. The Governmental Relations Team routinely joins forces with outside lawyers, lobbyists, event planners and other specialists to meet your objectives.
Federal Practice: incorporating a comprehensive governmental relations strategy in many of our practices to analyze specific business or industry objectives and manage political risks. We also promote client interests before government departments, agencies and legislative bodies; provide policy research and analysis; draft expert testimony; prepare and distribute formal and informal advocacy materials; draft, monitor, promote and report on legislation; build grassroots support; and address cross-jurisdictional policy issues.
Representative Experience:
- Settled an insurance matter regarding premium taxation in 2009 that not only saved a company millions in potential penalties and interest, but also provided multi-millions of dollars in tax revenue to the state that it would not have otherwise received.
- Worked with a major health care firm regarding state licensure to confirm it was not required and saved them significant money in potential penalties.
- Worked with an energy company on approval of a project that will generate over 1,000 jobs and $125 million in Tennessee in its first year.
Our Governmental Relations attorneys are experienced professionals who can apply our political savvy and provide comprehensive, substantive solutions to our clients at the local, state and federal levels.