Our experience in legislative and regulatory matters, combined with our knowledge of applicable substantive law, affords Lewis, Rice clients a level of service that is not generally available from traditional lobbying firms. By offering full-service legislative and administrative law representation, we actually participate in the development and furtherance of our clients' strategic organizational and operational objectives rather than simply guiding clients through the traditional legislative or political process.

Lewis, Rice offers legislative and regulatory advice and representation to clients on the federal, state and local levels. Our lawyers and other professionals work with a wide range of national, state and local decision-makers (both Democrats and Republicans), who are frequently involved in major policy issues. In our Government Affairs and Administrative Law Practice, we regularly represent clients' interests before the United States Congress, federal departments and agencies, the Missouri, Illinois and Kansas General Assemblies, and numerous other state and local government agencies.

In this capacity, we help our clients draft proposed legislation, develop legislative strategies and policy positions and prepare witnesses for appearances before congressional and legislative committees. Our lawyers have experience in organizing and managing coalitions, contacting identified public officials and their staffs to seek support for our clients' governmental affairs and business agenda and generally assisting clients through all phases of the legislative and administrative process. In addition, we participate in the policymaking process of the executive branch at all levels of government and represent clients in a wide range of rulemaking and regulatory proceedings.

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PRACTICE

As mentioned above, Lewis, Rice is uniquely situated to deliver invaluable service to clients in the area of government and regulatory affairs. The breadth of our many substantive law practice areas, combined with our significant physical presence in both major metropolitan areas of the state, affords us a level of information, experience and sophistication crucial to successfully representing our clients before governmental bodies.

LOBBYING

As an integral part of our government affairs practice, Lewis, Rice maintains regular and ongoing contact with all Members of the Missouri General Assembly, statewide and local officeholders and other public officials who impact our clients' interests. We are honored to have significant working relationships with all members of Republican and Democratic leadership in both the Missouri House of Representatives and the Senate. Similarly, we are very close to the Administration in Missouri and interact regularly with the Governor, his staff and cabinet members.

Whenever the General Assembly is in session (and often during the interim), we are fully engaged in advancing our clients' legislative agenda and strategic business objectives by working with numerous public officials, legislative committees, political caucuses and gubernatorial commissions.

AGENCY AND REGULATORY WORK

Beyond practicing before state and local legislative bodies, which is the core of our government affairs practice, we also work closely with many state and local government agencies and regulatory entities. Significantly, in Missouri we have substantial experience working with the Department of Economic Development (including many bonding authorities, development agencies, the Division of Professional Registration, State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts and other advisory boards and commissions), the Department of Health and Senior Services (including various licensure and reimbursement divisions, as well as the Health Facilities Review Committee and Certificate of Need Program Staff), the Department of Insurance, the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Labor, the Department of Revenue, the Office of the Missouri Secretary of State, the Office of the Missouri State Auditor and the Office of Administration. We routinely advise and assist clients with regulatory issues before these and other agencies, often working with policymakers to address problematic regulations and/or enforcement situations. Additionally, we maintain a close relationship with the Attorney General of the State of Missouri and the many attorneys in that office who handle matters impacting our clients.

TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATION

While much of our legislative representation involves the particular interests of our individual clients, we are proud to serve as general counsel for several state-wide associations and trade groups. For example, we serve as general counsel for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Missouri Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, the Missouri Securities Industry Association, the Southeast Communities United for Regional Advancement, the Alliance for Senior Care, among others. Often in this capacity, we manage all of the organizational and business affairs for our client, providing seamless service across multiple areas, including tax, legal, educational and regulatory matters.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW

Another significant aspect of our governmental affairs practice concerns advising clients on campaign finance and ethics laws. In this regard, we assist clients in establishing appropriate fundraising, contribution and political spending practices, along with proper reporting procedures. We have organized numerous political action committees and serve as counsel to such committees on a regular and ongoing basis. Moreover, we serve as treasurer to various continuing committees, advancing state and local issue campaigns, where we advise our clients on in-depth campaign finance law issues.

Given the increased scrutiny by enforcement agencies in this area, federal and state election law advice is rapidly becoming an important aspect to our legislative representation. In that regard, we work with the Federal Election Commission, the Missouri Ethics Commission, local election boards and other such regulatory and adjudicatory bodies. In fact, we appear before such agencies in matters of controversy involving the interests of our clients, as well as advising our clients on compliance issues.

CONCLUSION

Beneficial to our lobbying practice, Lewis, Rice attorneys are extremely active in their respective communities, often assuming prominent and leading roles on policy and public service matters. In this capacity and through providing top-quality legal service to major institutions and organizations, we have established relationships with key decision-makers at all levels of government and the community. Our clients are afforded a degree of experience and involvement that is generally not available through less diverse service providers. Our commitment to the community has earned Lewis, Rice the high level of respect and credibility that is critical to achieving our clients' goals.

Thank you for considering our Firm and how we may be of service to your organization.