Government Relations

From a one-man shop in 1995 to the nation’s No. 1 federal lobbying firm based on revenue —our federal government relations team just keeps getting bigger and better. In a time when playing an active role in policy formation has become essential to organizations everywhere, it’s an unprecedented achievement for a Denver-based firm like our own. So, how did we get here? Driven by an experienced, bipartisan government relations team, our team has held heavy-hitting roles, from Capitol Hill to the Executive Branch to the Department of Justice, across both sides of the aisle—keeping us on the cutting edge in Washington. And with this talent and expertise on our side, we’ll only continue to grow: working on the most high-impact issues affecting businesses across the country.

Brownstein’s Wyoming Government Relations team secured the passage of amendments to a bill that will create hundreds of jobs, income for landowners and millions in tax revenue for both counties and the state. Working with a coalition of stakeholders—landowners, the oil and gas industry, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality—Brownstein succeeded in amending language in HB0032 to help carbon storage developers and landowners build out projects for permanent carbon sequestration. Beyond clarifications around pore space utilization and landowner protections, the updated bill also provides new opportunities for the medical and food and beverage industries needing access to industrial grade CO2 to co-locate near storage fields.

Strong, lasting relationships are a cornerstone of our firm. For example, for nearly a decade, we’ve worked with the Blackfeet Nation providing federal government relations advocacy with a focus on securing and maintaining safe water resources for the tribe. Our successful representation in the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act in 2016 authorized over $420 million in federal funding for the tribe’s water-related infrastructure projects. We continue to advocate on behalf of Blackfeet Nation in connection with the implementation of its water settlement with the United States and state of Montana. Our work also includes providing counsel on the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act for its public water system infrastructure.

Nearly 40 percent of the Navajo Nation lacks running water or adequate sanitation in their homes. For years, the Navajo Nation fought for their water rights claims and for clean drinking water infrastructure, to advance public health for the Navajo Nation and ensure its members are not more susceptible to severe illnesses such as COVID-19. To begin to address this issue, our Government Relations and Natural Resources teams worked on behalf of the Navajo Nation and alongside the State of Utah for several years to secure passage of the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement act, which Congress passed in 2020. The federal legislation provides over $220 million in federal and state funding for drinking water projects on the Navajo Reservation in Utah and resolves the Nation’s water rights claims against the United States and State of Utah.

Following the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, an electric vehicle (EV) start-up sought to utilize the funds made available by the federal government to build-out electric vehicle charging stations across the nation. They brought the Brownstein team on to provide strategic guidance on how to make this happen. From relationship-building with local, state and federal stakeholders to helping sift through complicated rules and laws related to land-use code, tax policy and zoning, our team drew on its expansive policy knowledge and 50-state approach to inform the company’s business decisions. This included working through challenging issues as municipalities considered the impact an EV charging station would have on their local communities.

The Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act (EMSC) is the only federal program exclusively focused on improving emergency care for children and adolescents. Since its enactment in 1984, the EMSC has decreased pediatric injury-related deaths by 40%. That’s why the Emergency Nurses Association made it a key legislative priority for 2024. Our Government Relations team provided strategic guidance to the ENA and worked diligently to move this bill through the legislative process getting it signed into law during a time when very few measures were making it across the finish line. As a result, pediatric patients will continue to receive the appropriate treated in emergency situations.

As states began to ban PFAS from consumer products, the outdoor apparel industry was hugely impacted as PFAS are often used to achieve water-repellency. Leading outdoor brands are committed to eliminating PFAS from products, but making the switch from long-used chemicals to innovative, safe and sustainable chemicals takes time. That’s where Brownstein came in. Working with local and federal government officials, our team helped obtain additional time to comply with regulations. This meant products already produced could be sold and the company had until 2025 to find alternative solutions to PFAS. We continue to track environmental policy issues that could impact the apparel industry across the country.