Several of our lawyers perform government relations services on issues related to economic development, banking, workers’ compensation, energy, environmental, education, employee, tax, and health care related issues. Our work can include bill drafting and in-depth review, technical presentations, and issue advocacy. The members of our government relations group have significant experience in dealing with government officials at the local, state and federal levels.

Effective government relations requires a year-round approach, which is why our government relations group actively participate in organizations and associations on government and legislative issues. Members of our team have successfully represented clients before municipal, state and federal government agencies, county boards of education, conducted workshops and seminars on effective grassroots and political campaigns, as well as participated in state-wide election efforts.

Our government relations group has in-house access to West Virginia’s legislative tracking system and we use our website to offer clients immediate access to the latest legislative information. We also have video conferencing in our Charleston, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Parkersburg and Lexington offices, linking these areas for personal meetings to more effectively discuss strategy with city, state and federal leaders and our offices.

Our government relations work conforms to the highest ethical standards, including the standards defined by the West Virginia Governmental Ethics Act and the Kentucky Ethics Legislative Commission. We are willing and anxious to assist you with your government relations, and will individualize our fee arrangements to meet your needs.

The chairman of our government relations group, Tom Heywood, has a strong background in government. He served as Chief of Staff and Counsel for Governor Gaston Caperton. He was appointed by Governor Cecil Underwood in 1997 to serve as Co-Chairman of the “Yes on 1 Committee,” which successfully advocated passage of an amendment to the West Virginia Constitution which permitted the State to invest in stocks. Mr. Heywood has also served as Chairman of Governor Underwood’s Transition Committee on Medicaid, having served as Chairman of the 1995 Medicaid Crisis Panel. In addition, he currently serves on the Board of the Discover the REAL West Virginia Foundation, the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Manufacturer’s Association and as Chairman of the West Virginia Manufacturer’s Association Government Affairs Committee, and has been active in various political, school bond and levy elections.

He has appeared before numerous legislative and agency committees, and has helped draft and review legislation.

Members of our firm available for direct lobbying include:

Mike Caryl: former West Virginia State Tax Commissioner and formerly Co-Chair of Commission on Tax Fairness

Kit Francis: former West Virginia State Senate committee law clerk, who has successfully lobbied the Legislature for fifteen years

Many of our firm’s nearly 100 attorneys have drafted legislation, testified, or otherwise lobbied the legislature or regulatory agencies, from time to time in the past, and are ready to assist our clients. Among these are:

Greg Bailey: former General Counsel for the Kanawha County Board of Education

Paul Frampton: former lobbyist for the U.S. Marine Corps with the Office of the Legislative Assistant for the Commandant

Leonard Knee: experienced on environmental legislative matters

Tom Lane: has an extensive background in mining, coal, oil and gas areas

Jeff Matherly: former general counsel for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

Edd McDevitt: has an extensive background in commercial and securities law

John Moore: has over 25 years of healthcare experience including substantial experience in executive and legislative matters

Howard Seufer: one of the most knowledgeable school law attorneys in West Virginia

Sally Smith: recognized as an authority on workers’ compensation issues

Spencer Noe: Counsel to the Kentucky State Republican Party, member of the Executive Committee of the Kentucky Center for Public Issues, and campaign advisor to Kentucky political campaigns, including that of Congressman Mitch McConnell

In addition, Judy Margolin serves as our firm’s Director of Communications and Government Relations, having served as an assistant to Governor Gaston Caperton, as well as U.S. Senators Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller. She served as a member of the Transition Committee for Governor Bob Wise in 2000. Because of her background, Judy regularly works closely with officials throughout West Virginia and the federal government. She is a veteran of several state-wide political campaigns, and has conducted workshops on organizing campaigns and fund raising.