Legislative and regulatory changes occur every day that directly affect the course of business for most companies. Waller Lansden’s government relations team has years of experience representing the interests of clients before a broad range of state and local decision-makers. Several of our attorneys and policy advisors have served in key positions in government, enabling our practice to combine the strong advocacy skills of our team members with the knowledge and perspective of government decision-makers. Such extensive experience has produced a government relations practice that comprises a strong lobbying force before both the Tennessee General Assembly and the executive branch of Tennessee state government, as well as numerous local governments and agencies.
The lobbying efforts provided by Waller Lansden vary depending upon the particular needs of each client. We routinely help clients promote, oppose or amend specific pieces of legislation. We also offer legislative drafting services and have built the necessary relationships working closely with state and local government staff, other lobbyists and legislators to propose and negotiate amendments. Our attorneys and policy advisors represent clients at legislative committee meetings and hearings, provide public testimony, and attend one-on-one meetings to advocate our clients’ interests.
We are often engaged to monitor and track state or local legislation of interest to our clients. Our legal staff can review proposed legislation to identify bills and proposed laws that may potentially impact our client. After determining that a particular proposal may affect a client, tracking efforts include the daily review of status changes on these selected bills, weekly reports to the client, and attendance at committee hearings and public hearings and debates.
Corporations, lobbyists and elected officials have come under increased scrutiny in recent years with respect to compliance with campaign finance, lobbying disclosure, and ethics laws. Waller Lansden’s government relations attorneys and policy advisors provide counsel on compliance issues related to the formation of political action committees (PACs) including advice concerning PAC contributions and limits, governance and compliance with various federal and state campaign finance laws. Additionally, we review proposed state and local political contributions, and advise corporations or PACs on the potential ramifications of certain contributions.
To represent the needs of our clients fully, we also work closely with the executive branch of state and local government. Waller Lansden has represented clients before all key Tennessee regulatory agencies, utilizing the strong executive experience of our attorneys to effect the desired results for our clients. Our attorneys and policy advisors have worked with state and local departments and agencies obtaining necessary grants or licenses, negotiating favorable settlement of disputes, participating in rule-making advocacy, administratively contesting cases and performing general monitoring of regulatory activities.
Our government relations practice is frequently complemented by the knowledge of attorneys from other practice areas when representing clients before the Tennessee General Assembly, the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and other government agencies. This multi-disciplinary approach ensures a high level of client representation on matters involving environmental, healthcare, taxation, business formation and organization, telecommunications, public utilities, land use and zoning, incentive-based industrial recruitment, and other issues.
