Government Relations

Robinson & McElwee  PLLC government relations practice group represents national and international businesses and trade associations, as well as statewide businesses, trade associations, and individuals seeking to accomplish a myriad of legislative and regulatory goals.

Our West Virginia government relations practice team provides the following services:

• Issue Advocacy on behalf of and in support of client goals
• Lobbying, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on state and federal legislation
• Developing strategic plans to promote political and legislative goals
• Drafting legislation and administrative regulations
• Formal commenting on proposed regulations
• Testifying before legislative Committees
• Preparing public hearing testimony

We also represents clients in government contract, regulation compliance, and permitting matters, as well as public utilities, including the solid waste landfill, transfer, hauling and recycling industries; oil & gas companies; beverage alcohol manufacturers (including spirits and wine manufacturers, distributors and importers); contractors; physicians; various trade associations; and real estate developers.  

The firm played an important role in the following West Virginia laws:

• Solid Waste Management Act, related statutes and enabling regulations
• Limited Video Lottery Act
• Retail Liquor Act
• Sale of Wines Act
• Medical Professional Liability Act
• Whitewater Responsibility Act
• Underground Storage Tank Act
• Hazardous Waste Emergency Response Fund Act and
• Groundwater Protection Act

Our firm has played a significant role in advocating for and the eventual adoption of numerous environmental standards and regulations, and  have handled complex negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Environmental Protections Agency, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the West Virginia Department of Transportation.

We have extensive experience advising clients on election laws and campaign finance disclosure and experience working with PACs and Super PACs on First Amendment/free speech lawsuits. We regularly advise corporations and trade associations on how to comply with election laws within the framework of their organizational structure. We have also successfully challenged state agencies in their attempts to restrict operation of charities in the state.

Our lawyers are experienced issue advocates and have appeared before committees of the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates; executive branch boards and commissions; the Nuclear Regulatory Agency; the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration; the West Virginia Public Service Commission; the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and the West Virginia Investment Management Board.

Robinson & McElwee is a member of the National Association of State Lobbyists, the leading national association of government relations and lobbyist professionals.

News & Media