Virtually every sector of the economy is affected by decisions made by government bodies. It is not unusual for fates, futures and bottom lines to shift substantially as a result of governmental decisions. Organizations that are aware of government decisions and can help shape those decisions have a competitive edge. To achieve their goals, companies and other organizations need timely and relevant information and the ability to identify and access the right government officials when issues and proposed legislation or regulations arise that might affect them.
The K&L Gates Policy group operates at the intersection of public policy, law and business. Founded more than 35 years ago, at a time when few law firms had lobbying practices, the Policy group has grown from a single lobbyist to its current place among the largest practices in the United States. Today the group continues to thrive with a client base that includes leading publicly traded companies, associations, and other entities in America, and with a status as the fastest growing top law/lobbying firm in the United States between 2002 - 2005 (National Journal, March 2006). K&L Gates has also been ranked the fifth largest law and lobbying firm in the United States (Legal Times, March 2009).
The Policy Team
The Policy group has more 500 years of combined experience in federal and state government. Our team members include:
- Slade Gorton, the former U.S. Senator from Washington State, member of President Bush's 9/11 Commission, and former Attorney General from Washington;
- Dick Thornburgh, the former Attorney General of the United States and the former Governor of Pennsylvania;
- James Walsh, the former U.S. House of Representative from Central New York state;
- Emanuel Rouvelas, a former U.S. Senate Commerce Committee counsel and top Democratic lobbyist; and
- Numerous others, including the former general counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency; an assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; a Democratic National Committee member; the chief tax counsel of the Senate Finance Committee; the Sergeant of Arms of the House of Representatives; the chief trade counsel of the Senate Finance Committee; and White House officials, Congressional Committee counsels, senior executive branch officials, Congressional chiefs of staff, leadership staff, senior counsel at various government agencies, senior Gubernatorial aides, military officials and others.
Members of the Policy Group know "what makes government tick" in Washington, D.C., and throughout the United States. Our state policy practice has a strategic geographic footprint covering the entire country, with regional headquarters across the United States: Washington, D.C., Texas, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Knowledge and Experience
The Policy group successes are built on a philosophy that emphasizes a deeply substantive and teamwork-based approach to public policy. The group's goal is to understand a policy issue from every direction - substantively and politically - and to use the collective knowledge and experience of its team to help a client achieve its objectives. The group is well-positioned to consider a range of legislative, regulatory and even judicial options to help its clients.
That approach has worked for more than three decades, which is why the Policy Group has thrived through eight administrations and 18 Congresses, longer than virtually any other lobbying organization in Washington, D.C. Likewise, our state policy practice can effectively meet clients' needs in states with dynamic political climates. The group's services include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Legislative and Regulatory Monitoring
- Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy
- Government Procurement
- General Fund and Capitol Budget Appropriations
- Administrative Agency Advocacy/Grants and Loans
- Political and Campaign Finance Advice
In addition, the Policy group maintains an active government ethics counseling practice to help guide its clients through the maze of government requirements. The firm has written the book on government ethics — A Guide To Political and Lobbying Activities — which includes advice on political fundraising, lobbying disclosure rules, Congressional ethics and executive branch ethical considerations.
Public Service
The Policy group also has a long and cherished tradition of providing pro bono representation. Among its most satisfying recent successes was its work with Water Advocates to pass the 2005 Water for the Poor Act. More than a billion people currently lack access to clean drinking water, and each day water-related illnesses kill 3,900 of the world's children. The Water for the Poor Act commits the United States for the first time to promoting safe, affordable drinking water and sanitation in the developing world. A broad, bipartisan team of professionals from the Policy group worked with Water Advocates to help draft this legislation and thread it through Congress. In addition, the firm worked to increase water aid funding by $100 million for 2006.
The Policy Group maintains a Federal Policy Practice before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies and a State Policy Practice before state jurisdictions in a range of specific substantive areas.
Public Policy and Law: State Policy Practice
The K&L Gates approach to service offers its clients a full range of comprehensive, integrated, and carefully managed representation in all areas of public policy advocacy at the state government level. K&L Gates has a 35-year history of developing innovative and lasting alliances with its clients in solving problems that arise before state government. Companies and organizations often call upon K&L Gates to manage state government relations matters for them in multiple states or regions, for coordinated, consistent and successful results. These relationships are based on trust, an understanding of clients’ business, industries and needs, and a sincere commitment in working with them to achieve the results they expect. K&L Gates clients can count on several things: a well-known knowledge of the state public policy process, an advocacy strategy that is based on an insider’s familiarity with the way decisions are made, and an attitude of wanting to help clients build their identity in the halls of state capitals in a positive way.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, the Public Policy group helps clients excel in one of the fastest growing states in the country. We provide comprehensive advice and solutions in government relations, public affairs and government contracting. Focused on giving clients an edge over the competition, we devise and execute strategic advocacy plans that help our clients meet their business and political goals in our state. Our thorough understanding of state and local government coupled with our strong personal relationships with top government and business leaders enable us to provide effective and targeted lobbying services, as well as advise on corporate constituency building and political strategy. When legislators and lobbyists are surveyed by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, we routinely appear as one of "The 50 Most Influential Lobbyists.” Our members serve in leadership positions in the Chamber and other important areas of the community to help make North Carolina a better business environment for our clients.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Governor’s Office and state and local agencies make decisions that could have significant financial repercussions for industries and organizations operating in the Commonwealth. K&L Gates state legislative and executive branch lobbying team is led by a former Secretary of Legislative Affairs to the Governor of Pennsylvania, who also served in a host of senior positions within the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, as well as a United States Senator. The Policy Practice also includes a former top lobbyist for one of Pennsylvania’s largest business associations, with enormous experience in managing coalitions on broad industry issues.
The Pennsylvania Policy Team also includes a bipartisan group of former Governor’s Office and state agency appointees, including former agency chiefs counsel and senior staff, with enormous experience in the policy making process. The attorneys and professionals that comprise our Pennsylvania Policy Practice were involved in the creation and evolution of many of the state programs, laws and regulations that are relevant to client priorities and, as a result, can bring particular insight to bear on behalf of the client.
Download a more detailed description of our Pennsylvania practice.
Texas
The right to do business in Texas is directly affected by the way the Legislature – and the rest of the state’s bureaucracy – is driven to enact new legislative and regulatory mandates. The Legislature decides what taxes businesses will pay, how much credit will cost, how good the roads will be, what kind of health care employees deserve, how business may access an educated work force, and to what extent state government can regulate the day-to-day functions of companies doing business in Texas. State agencies can pass rules that regulate the way companies open their doors to commerce, how to keep the air clean, how much they will pay for water, what insurance will cost, and whether there is an infrastructure in place to keep Texas competitive in the world marketplace. Whatever action government takes becomes a matter of law, and organizations caught up in the rough and tumble world of state politics must live with those actions.
The members of the K&L Gates Texas Public Policy team have worked together for many years on a number of projects that have been among the most challenging that any client can face. K&L Gates lobbyists are well-skilled in their trade, having acquired their experience from working in prominent positions in the legislature and executive branches of Texas government or with Fortune 500 companies. They are a group of experienced and well-known public policy advocates who are backed up by a secure support system of resources, personnel, and technology. K&L Gates lobbyists understand that winning the support of key decision-makers is a process of converting a matter of importance for us into an issue they will want to champion as their own. This approach to decision-making helps K&L Gates build the relationships it needs to move effectively through the Texas political landscape.
Other State Jurisdictions
K&L Gates also possesses active state and local public policy practices in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington state and has advised numerous clients regarding state and local public policy priorities in nearly every state, as well as in the state capitals of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Austin, Texas and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Public Policy and Law: Federal Policy
The Policy Group maintains specific practices before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies in a range of specific substantive areas. These include:
Aviation/Airport Policy
We offer a variety of legislative, regulatory, and federal funding experience to our aviation and other transportation clients. We have a significant transportation practice and a long tradition of serving airports, seaports, major and regional airlines, major and regional railroads, cargo vessel owners, passenger vessels, fishing vessels, intermodal operators, commuter rail operators, transit operators, manufacturers and suppliers, and various industry associations and coalitions. K&L Gates offers a wide range of services to its clients, including: legislative representation; federal funding from U.S. Congress and federal agencies; domestic and international regulatory work before U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Authority and the U.S. State Department; counsel on international aviation matters; assistance with corporate and financial transactions; general litigation; government contract counseling and litigation; and environmental compliance counseling and litigation.
Download a more detailed description of the Aviation/Airport Policy practice.
Defense and Homeland Security
Our firm is experienced in representing defense industry clients in federal business development, budget processes and acquisition, government contract law, and litigation. Our team has been successful in creating and implementing plans of action for clients that improve competitive edge, effectively leverage new opportunities, and strengthen and diversify their business base in war fighter technologies including aerospace, information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, logistics, and the full range of national security policy and appropriations matters. Our team includes the former Assistant Secretary, International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as former Army, Navy, and Air Force officers with years of combined experience working with the Armed Services and Defense Appropriations Committees of Congress. Our team also includes the former General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Counselor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, in addition to former members of the U.S. Congress. Our professionals are experienced with the complex government defense inter-agency process which includes the Department of Intelligence, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of State, and the White House.
Download a more detailed description of our Defense and Homeland Security practice.
Environmental Policy
Our lawyers have considerable legislative and administrative experience in the laws governing environmental policy. Our work in this arena includes: issues concerning the cleanup, shipping and handling of hazardous materials; the reauthorization, implementation and enforcement of Superfund, RCRA and federal facility agreements; cleanup of federal sites; and the Safe Drinking Water, Endangered Species, Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. In particular, we have extensive experience with policy issues relating to the storage, disposal, transportation and management at Department of Energy federal sites of nuclear materials, including high-level and low-level radioactive waste and mixed waste.
More information can be found on our Environment and Natural Resources practice page.
Download a more detailed description of our Environmental Policy practice.
Energy
We have a leading energy policy practice focused on the U.S. Congress, the Department of Energy, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The firm serves as principal outside counsel for a prominent investor owned-utility on the full array of federal policy and regulatory issues concerning transmission, rates, and regulatory matters. For a broad range of industry clients, we have been active in successfully lobbying for the inclusion of amendments to most of the major energy statutes enacted over the past 15 years, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Our energy experience includes electricity competition, nuclear power, hydropower licensing, clean coal technology, renewable energy (especially solar and wind), and technology development (e.g., fuels cells, hydrogen, and energy storage).
More information can be found on our Energy and Utilities practice page.
Download a more detailed description of our Energy practice.
Export Compliance
Our lawyers have significant experience in advising clients on issues involving U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Act and the Arms Export Control Act (and detailed implementing regulations, e.g., the Export Administration Regulations and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations), and various economic sanctions laws including the Trading with the Enemy Act. We advise clients about complying with export control laws and assist them in obtaining export licenses.
Download a more detailed description of our Export Compliance practice.
Federal Funding
We have a substantial appropriations and grants practice composed of a bipartisan team of experienced practitioners. Our team includes both a former U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee member and senior staff of House and Senate leadership and Appropriations Committee members who have experience at every level of the budget and appropriations processes. Our team also knows and works with officials in the U.S. Administration, including at the Office of Management and Budget, to ensure that programs of interest to clients are funded within the Administration's budget request and that client projects funded by the U.S. Congress are obligated in a timely manner.
Download a more detailed description of our Federal Funding practice.
Fisheries
Our firm represents a wide range of U.S. and international fishing industry enterprises, as well as lenders and others involved with the fishing industry. We provide general counseling and assistance to resolve issues of fisheries policy before administrative and legislative bodies. In addition, we have comprehensive experience in vessel-related matters as well as trade issues affecting the fishing industry.
Download a more detailed description of our Fisheries practice.
Government Contracts and Procurement
The firm works on a regular basis with the various congressional committees and members of Congress that shape federal procurement law and regulations. As counsel to the industry association Commercial Product Acquisition Team (COMPACT), we were involved in supporting the legislation that eventually became the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994. Our experience extends to helping our clients with state and local procurement, from identification of opportunities through post-award matters.
Our team recognizes that the most efficient solutions for individual clients – either in providing assistance in obtaining government contracts or resolving contract issues that arise after award – may not always require litigation. We are able to utilize our extensive lobbying experience to work with clients and members of Congress or state and local officials toward arriving at equitable results.
More information can be found on our Government Contracts and Procurement Policy practice page.
Download a more detailed description of our Government Contracts and Procurement practice.
Government Ethics and Election Law
Our firm has provided guidance to clients on campaign finance, lobbying disclosure and other political ethics matters. We also have worked to ensure that the pertinent rules are kept in mind throughout the planning and implementation of policy projects to avoid any embarrassments for clients or government decision-makers. We routinely advise clients and conduct ethics audits on compliance with the laws regulating political activity, fundraising and contributions, and lobbying registration and disclosure. We also advise clients on all ethical aspects of interacting with the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch regarding gifts, travel, honoraria and past employment restrictions, as well as the growing web of state and local ethics and campaign finance regulations including “pay-to-play” restrictions affecting companies in often unexpected ways. Download a copy of the K&L Gates “Guide to Political and Lobbying Activities.
Download a more detailed description of our Government Ethics and Election Law practice.
Health Care
Our firm has helped clients win major health care policy debates; federally appropriated funds; favorable decisions from federal administrative department and agencies; and funding from executive departments and agencies. Our firm has very strong relationships with numerous Members of the U.S. Congress, including the leadership of both political parties, chairmen and ranking members of key committees and congressional staff. In addition, several members of our team enjoy long-term relationships with key individuals in the Department of Health and Human Services, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes of Health. Members of the firm also enjoy equally close, long-term relationships with White House staff.
More information on our firmwide practice representing the health care industry can be found on our Health Care practice page.
Download a more detailed description of our Health Care practice.
Higher Education
We represent higher education institutions across the United States on a broad range of funding and appropriation matters. We assist clients to identify and develop federal priorities to achieve their organization's strategic goals. Whether your institution has interest in federal public policy, competitive grant funding, the congressional appropriations process or building relationships with federal administrative agencies, K&L Gates understands the legislative and political process from beginning to end, and will use that knowledge to garner support for your institution.
Download a more detailed description of our Higher Education practice.
Information Technology Policy
Our firm has been deeply involved in advancing information technology issues in Washington, D.C., on Capitol Hill, before the executive branch, at the regulatory agencies and in the courts. Our lawyers and professionals are on the leading edge of the revolutionary changes in technology that are creating unprecedented challenges to traditional laws and public policies. Our successes have required creative strategy and the successful integration of lobbying, regulatory implementation, coalition building, political assistance, grassroots, and practical skills in day-to-day "blocking and tackling." We have helped ensure that: the Internet is not regulated; cybersecurity is market driven and industry led; intellectual property rights are protected while preventing government mandates; privacy is guarded; government contracts are available; innovative mergers are preserved; access to content is maintained; and traditional "bricks and mortar" companies fully understand and can operate in the "clicks and mortar" world. More information can be found on our firmwide Telecom, Media and Technology practice page.
Download a more detailed description of our Information Technology Policy practice.
International Trade
We represent private and public clients, foreign governments, and trade associations from various countries in international trade matters before the U.S. Congress, the Office of U.S. Trade Representative and other U.S. agencies and courts, foreign tribunals and multilateral institutions. We have extensive experience in both the legal and political elements of World Trade Organization and regional and bilateral free trade agreements, and can provide governments and private clients with comprehensive counsel in all aspects of negotiations and implementation. Our team integrates lobbying and regulatory implementation, thus providing clients with a full perspective on the political and legal implications of existing and pending trade legislation and assisting them in developing successful strategies to address these implications. Our methodology is flexible and tailored to the business goals and challenges of each client.
Download a more detailed description of our International Trade practice.
Maritime
Our practice has many lawyers with wide-ranging maritime-related experience, offering the maritime industry in the U.S. and internationally significant legal, transactional, legislative and regulatory capabilities. We represent owners and operators in all major sectors of the maritime industry - break-bulk, containerships, liquid and dry bulk cargo vessels, passenger cruise vessels, and specialized vessels such as power generating barges, tugs, mobile offshore drilling units, offshore supply vessels, dive support vessels, pipe and cable laying vessels, fishing, dredging, and recreational boats. Our maritime clients also include ports, marinas, shipyards, and a variety of industry associations and coalitions, as well as shippers or other industries with maritime-related needs.
Because the complex issues that affect the maritime industry in the U.S. and internationally often touch more than one branch of government, from its earliest roots our group has developed extensive knowledge and experience working with every branch of government and is able to provide its clients with effective and creative solutions to legislative, administrative, or judicial issues. On behalf of our clients we have been actively involved in every significant piece of maritime-related legislation over the last 35 years. More information can be found on our Maritime practice page.
Download a more detailed description of our Maritime practice.
Michigan
K&L Gates is the rare firm that combines the clout of a top-ranked lobbying firm with a significant focus on Michigan. Members of our Michigan team hail from cities and towns across the state, hold degrees from Michigan universities, worked on Capitol Hill for Michigan members of Congress and have an unbreakable commitment to the state. Each of these factors provides our Michigan team members with an intimate understanding of issues important to the state of Michigan.
Download a more detailed description of our Michigan practice.
Nanotechnology
Having been heavily involved in advancing and shaping nanotechnology issues, our firm is familiar with the landscape of opportunities and challenges facing nanotechnology companies. We work with a number of nanotechnology companies to secure federal funding for nanotechnology R&D, managing government contracts, securing capital, handling intellectual property, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
In addition, we are proud to represent the NanoBusiness Alliance, the nanotechnology industry association. Working with the Alliance, our nanotechnology policy team helped pass the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, which authorized $3.7 billion in federal support for nanotechnology. Our team was instrumental in ensuring that the bill would pass with broad bipartisan support, and that it would do as much as possible to help nanotechnology companies develop. Our team works with the Alliance to promote legislation that develops the nation's nanotechnology infrastructure and provides incentives for nanotechnology commercialization. We help the Alliance bring a reasonable industry perspective to policy discussions about environmental, health, and safety issues associated with nanotechnology, and we assist industry representatives in preparing testimony before Congress on these issues. We also put together an annual Public Policy Tour that brings dozens of nanotechnology industry leaders to Washington, D.C. for high-level meetings with lawmakers.
Download a more detailed description of our Nanotechnology practice.
Pacific Northwest
K&L Gates has a long-lasting and cherished tradition of representing Pacific Northwest businesses, associations, public utilities, ports, cities, universities, and other public and private institutions in our nation’s capital. Founded more than a century ago with the mission of providing the highest quality work for people and businesses in the Pacific Northwest, K&L Gates now has, by far, the largest Public Policy practice of any firm with a significant presence in the Pacific Northwest.
Download a more detailed description of our Pacific Northwest practice.
Political and Legal Intelligence
Our team of lawyers and policy professionals is regularly called on not only to advocate for changes, but also to provide customized intelligence on what's going on in Washington, D.C. Our clients include major Wall Street investment firms and hedge funds. We are a leader in providing sophisticated analysis and intelligence on proposed legislation, regulatory activities, and court proceedings.
Download a more detailed description of our Political and Legal Intelligence practice.
Postal Industry
Our postal team can help you take full advantage of the opportunities and avoid the pitfalls of the new postal reform laws and the transition to the new rate making system. We have deep experience with the unique legal and economic issues facing the mailing industry. We have an active rate litigation practice before the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), established relationships with senior management and the legal and technical staffs at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), and years of experience working with Congressional postal committees.
Download a more detailed description of our Postal Industry practice.
Tax
Led by the most recent chief counsel for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, we provide legislative tax policy representation on a variety of matters, including provisions that are being considered as part of the budget, the energy tax bill and the charitable incentives bill. Our tax policy team assists clients with forming and implementing complex legislative strategies; preparing background and briefing materials for the U.S. Congress, the administration and news media; drafting legislative and committee report language; drafting testimony for witnesses; assisting members of the U.S. Congress in preparing floor and hearing statements; and achieving goals through the administrative/ regulatory process and the courts. Additionally, the firm's tax lawyers in each office are regularly involved in the legislative process through which state tax laws are formulated. More information can be found on our Tax practice page.
Download a more detailed description of our Tax practice.
Tax-Exempt Organizations
We maintain an extensive practice providing public policy assistance to tax-exempt organizations. Our clients are private foundations, public charities, and universities, trade associations, research institutes and other tax-exempt organizations with a wide array of federal needs. Working with nonprofit organizations is a major part of the firm's culture, and many of our lawyers sit on the boards of 501(c)(3) organizations and foundations.
Download a more detailed description of our Tax-Exempt Organizations practice.
Telecom, Media and Technology (TMT)
For over a decade, we have been a leader in advancing TMT-related issues before the executive and legislative branches of government and the courts. Our attorneys and professionals are on the cutting edge of the advances and convergence in these sectors that are creating new challenges to traditional laws and public policies, working at the fulcrum of law, policy, economics, and technology. As one of the top public policy/lobbying practices in the U.S., our federal policy team works on a regular basis with various congressional committees, members of Congress, trade associations, coalitions, and think tank groups that shape federal telecommunications law and policy. Our lawyers were actively involved in the enactment and implementation of the landmark Telecommunications Act of 1996, and are now working on a number of issues related to Telecom Act reform. As examples, we handle coalition support, lobbying and regulatory counseling for an organization of firms that provide bundled offerings of cable television, telephone, and high speed Internet access, and we are also actively involved in the broad range of Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) issues pending before Congress and the FCC. We also provide regulatory counseling for one of the leading wireless service operators in the U.S. and a leading Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). On the deployment side, we are currently providing strategic advice on wireless broadband infrastructure deployment policy, and served as lead counsel on the "Broadband Infrastructure Policy Initiative" of a major wireline telecommunications provider. We also do work for leading programmers and other content developers, including legislative and regulatory issues involving the transition to digital television, opposing mandates to require cable and satellite programming to be made available on an a la carte basis as well as new penalties and restrictions on programming deemed indecent. More information can be found on our Telecom, Media and Technology practice page.
Download a more detailed description of our Telecom, Media and Technology practice.
Transportation
Our firm offers a variety of legal and legislative capabilities to the transportation industry. Building on our long history of service to maritime clients, we have expanded our transportation practice to include aviation, rail, and intermodal clients. We represent major and regional airlines, U.S. airports and seaports, major and regional railroads, intermodal operators, commuter rail operations, and transportation industry manufacturers and suppliers. We recognize that issues affecting the transportation industry often involve more than one branch of government, and our team offers considerable knowledge and experience working with every branch of government to provide our clients with effective and creative solutions to problems, whether they are legislative, regulatory, administrative, or judicial. More information can be found on our Transportation practice page.
Download a more detailed description of our Transportation practice.