Approach
Businesses and other organizations across every sector of the economy are materially affected by public policy as expressed through statutes or regulation. As a result, more and more businesses and organizations are seeking political counsel in order to successfully shape government decisions to maximize business opportunities and manage political risks.
Winning in the public policy arena is as much a game of what you know as who you know. Michael Best’s bipartisan Government and Public Policy Group is successful in this arena because we understand these requirements and blend sound political judgment with legislative and regulatory experience and extensive political contacts. We provide effective client representation at all levels of government in the areas of strategic counseling, legislative and regulatory advocacy, grassroots organizing, government and political law and public relations. Our seasoned professionals intimately understand the dynamics of the regulatory and legislative environment. We use our knowledge to anticipate, plan and implement proactive strategies for our clients that prevent adverse events from dictating outcomes. Our team-based approach to problem solving, enables our clients to minimize political risks, shape public policy to meet their needs and ensure that it is properly implemented into law.
Attorneys / Lobbyists
The Michael Best Government and Public Policy Group consists of several bipartisan professionals whose practices focus on matters of government law and public policy. Group members have served in senior positions in both government and private industry and many are engaged in outside political activities, in both major US political parties. This experience allows us to assess client issues from a legal framework as well as within policy and political contexts. In light of the myriad of laws and regulations that control lobbying and political activities, we ensure that these activities are being carried out in compliance with the law.
Clients
The Michael Best Government and Public Policy Group represents a wide range of individuals and companies, nonprofit organizations, municipal governments and trade associations.
Practice
Success requires an understanding of client issues, knowledge of how the client business objectives may be impacted, development of strategy and a coordinated and well-timed approach in implementing the tactical elements. Michael Best brings both subject matter experience and knowledge of the legislative and regulatory processes to work together with our clients to achieve their objectives in a team-based approach.
The lawyers and other professionals who are part of the Michael Best Government and Public Policy Group have considerable experience in government service and in working with elected officials and the major political parties. Our experience allows us to assess client issues from a legal framework as well as within policy and political contexts. In light of the myriad laws and regulations that control lobbying and political activities, we ensure that these activities are being carried out in compliance with the law.
As part of a team-based approach we are uniquely positioned to offer and apply our experience to any government and public policy project. We consult with clients to evaluate what services are needed to accomplish a particular objective, make recommendations to pair clients with professionals best suited to a case or task and coordinate the team in a seamless and efficient fashion on behalf of our clients.
It is especially important to note that a client matter can implicate more than one government interest - multiple state agencies or overlapping local, state and federal jurisdiction. We are skilled at addressing the conflicting requirements of competing government interests in order to meet client objectives.
Services
Michael Best offers a wide range of Government and Public Policy services to clients including:
Strategic Counseling
- Proactive - identification of potential government based opportunities not being utilized
- Defensive - aggressive planning to avoid government-based problems and/or expenses
- Political Involvement - access to key decision makers at all levels and counseling a business and its Executive/Management team on structuring political involvement to maximize impact
- Political Issues - counseling businesses on successful strategies in political situations, such as referenda, zoning, high profile government contracts, etc.
- Developing comprehensive strategic and tactical plans to achieve client objectives
Legislative Advocacy
- Utilizing legislative relationships to meet client needs
- Lobbying members of Congress, State Legislature and Executive Branch
- Bill drafting and analysis
- Drafting and presenting testimony
- Preparing witnesses for legislative and administrative hearings
- Researching, monitoring and reporting legislative activity
- Political intelligence and analysis
- Preparing legislative newsletters
- Creating political contribution campaigns
Regulatory Advocacy
- Utilizing agency relationships to meet client needs
- Drafting rule changes
- Monitoring executive agency activity
- Researching, monitoring and reporting regulatory activity
- Obtaining regulatory approvals, licenses and permits
- Preparing regulatory newsletters
- Preparing political compliance plans
Grassroots Organizing
- Legal representation of business in its interactions with any levels of Government
- Administrative conflict
- Regulatory relations
- Government contracts, including privatization and procurement
- Applications for and securing of business development assistance offered by local, state and federal governments including grants, loans and other financing options
- Government investigations and enforcement actions
- Legislative and executive agency monitoring
Political Law
- Counseling on matters involving campaign finance/elections, ethics/lobby law and political advocacy law
- Reapportionment law
Public Relations
- Forming and coordinating professional teams, including media and other consultants, to attain client objectives
- Crisis management