STATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: DESCRIPTION

The successful management of public policy issues at the state level begins with our strong presence in California, Colorado, Georgia and New York. Through our national network and management of on-the-ground government affairs practitioners in other states, we create solutions for our clients in state legislatures and government agencies across the nation.

The development and implementation of successful public policy strategies at the state level often includes representation on procurement issues, state regulations, crisis management and media relations, environmental and economic development, health care issues, energy policy, political law, and legislative matters.

Our team represent clients in real estate matters before state agencies in connection with the financing and development of projects such as residential apartment complexes, affordable housing projects, landfills, recycling facilities, mines, golf courses, office buildings, shopping centers and land claim negotiations for Indian tribes.

In the environmental field, we help navigate the framework of environmental laws and regulations at the state level, which can be among the most challenging in the nation and often more restrictive than federal requirements. This includes managing all aspects of environmental reviews in major and minor projects, representing clients before state agencies, handling historic preservation and review components, assisting with regulatory reviews, and handling permitting for generation facilities.

Representative Matters

• We have been appointed special assistant attorney general for the State of Georgia in its water allocation negotiations and litigation with Alabama and Florida.
• We have represented potentially responsible parties in environmental matters with regard to state and federal Superfund sites in states throughout the country. 
• We have provided government affairs and administrative law counsel to clients in many high-profile matters in New York, such as representation in the post-9/11 World Trade Center reconstruction efforts.
• We have extensive experience in Atlanta and in Georgia on land use and zoning.  Our work on tax allocation district financing and other specialized measures has helped accomplish both urban and industrial goals for clients.
• We represent clients in New York real estate matters before state agencies in connection with the financing and development of projects such as residential apartment complexes, affordable housing projects, landfills, recycling facilities, mines, golf courses, office buildings, shopping centers and land claim negotiations for Indian tribes.
• We have assisted numerous clients in working within New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act and have provided strategic advice and counsel on two major environmental remediations in New York.
• In the area of regulated industries, we have represented natural gas and telecommunications companies before the Georgia Public Service Commission and other regulatory and government bodies in Georgia and the Southeast.
• We counsel tax-exempt organizations in the state of New York, including acting as bond counsel and borrower’s counsel on tax-exempt financings.
• We have supported several privatization efforts, including reshaping the rules and regulations associated with the lease and sublease of publicly-owned Lake Lanier Islands in Georgia in order to fit the criteria for commercial success. 
• MLA was selected as the sole Georgia representative of State Law Resources, Inc., which is a national network of independent law firms that helps businesses, trade associations and public policy coalitions navigate the complex and time-consuming process of managing both legal issues and state government relations.
• We have advised a range of clients from state-regulated utilities to renewable energy companies in the state of New York. Representations include assistance with permitting and financing of new generation facilities and electric transmission lines, handling regulators proceedings involving rate making, divesture of nuclear power plants, the sale and purchase of assets, and other issues before the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Public Service Commission.
• We advise clients regarding compliance with the New York State Lobbying Act and the creation of political action committees.
• Our New York attorneys work with clients in connection with various legislative initiatives, developing and implementing strategies to achieve public policy objectives, including drafting and monitoring legislation, and proposed regulations and agency guidelines.