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Government Relations
The firm has an active practice in the area of government relations,
focusing not only on public policy development matters, but also representing
clients in the negotiation, interpretation, and litigation of contracts
with government agencies.
The firm's attorneys monitor and report on federal and state legislative
activity. They also assist clients in the development of strategies
designed to positively influence the outcome of legislative activity.
In legislative matters, our services include problem identification,
strategic planning of political and legislative agendas, policy
development, legal analysis, legislative drafting, preparation of
position statements, negotiation, and lobbying. Firm attorneys have
considerable experience in drafting legislation and public hearing
testimony. Further, firm attorneys are sometimes called upon to
provide technical expertise and expert opinions to legislative committees,
government-sponsored task forces, trade associations, and ad hoc
committees.
Energy & Environmental
Statement of Qualifications
Government Relations
- Developed and executed lobbying strategy for a solid waste disposal
company, including research and legislative drafting elements,
for the 1991 Special Session of the West Virginia Legislature
dealing with the West Virginia Solid Waste Disposal Act.
- Successfully advised and assisted various clients in the development
of consensus building strategies to generate grassroots support
for public policy positions taken by the clients.
- Successfully advised and assisted a construction firm in complex
negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the West Virginia
Division of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and the West Virginia Department of Transportation relating to
the construction of bridges across a major water impoundment.
- Successfully developed and executed a legislative strategy for
a consortium of whitewater rafting companies regarding regulation
of the whitewater industry in West Virginia, including the drafting
of legislation and legislative rules and working with the West
Virginia Division of Natural Resources and Governor's office to
organize a statutory industry and consumer advisory committee.
- Members of the department have successfully aided and assisted
other firm members in drafting and distributing materials to be
read by government officials at both the federal and state levels
as related to various environmental public policy matters, including
specific items such as permit issuances.
- Utilized frequently as correspondents to communicate events
and transactions of note by firm clients to government officials
in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C.
- Drafting negotiation, and lobbying of the West Virginia Hazardous
Waste Management Act, the West Virginia Underground Storage Tank
Act, the West Virginia Groundwater Protection Act, the Solid Waste
Management Act, the Hazardous Waste Emergency Response Fund Act,
and numerous amendments to other existing environmental management
acts.
- Drafting, negotiating, and lobbying associated with a comprehensive
rewrite of all West Virginia environmental statutes and the reorganization
of West Virginia environmental agency structures.
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