Government Relations

Home / Practice Areas / 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.


For more information regarding our Government Relations Practice, please contact:

Kent J. George

kjg@ramlaw.com
304-347-8322

Participating Lawyers

Kent J. George

CEO
Email: kjg@ramlaw.com
Phone: 304-347-8322
Fax: 304-344-9566
Office: Charleston, WV

Team Members

Alison Bibbee Smith

Sr. Government Relations Advisor
Email: as@ramlaw.com
Phone: 304-347-8357
Fax: 304-344-9566
Office: Charleston, WV

News & Media

Robinson & McElwee Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers 2024

Fifteen lawyers from Robinson & McElwee PLLC were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024. The Robinson & McElwee attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 for Charleston, WV include: Craig S. Beeson,...

August 17, 2023

Robinson & McElwee PLLC Recognized by Chambers USA 2023

The newly released edition of Chambers USA 2023 recognized five Robinson & McElwee attorneys as leaders in their field for their practices in West Virginia: Kent George, Real Estate (Band 1) and Corporate/Commercial (Band 2) Heather Harlan, Tax (Band 2) Doug...

June 2, 2023

Robinson & McElwee Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers 2023

Thirteen lawyers from Robinson & McElwee PLLC were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023. The Robinson & McElwee attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 for Charleston, WV include: Joseph S....

August 18, 2022

Robinson & McElwee Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers

Selected from among only five percent of attorneys in the Mountain State, three of Robinson & McElwee’s attorneys were honored with inclusion in the West Virginia 2022 Super Lawyers Magazine. After the completion of a patented selection process in the region,...

June 16, 2022

Robinson & McElwee PLLC Recognized by Chambers USA 2022

The newly released edition of Chambers USA 2022 recognized five Robinson & McElwee attorneys as leaders in their field for their practices in West Virginia: Kent George, Real Estate (Band 1) and Corporate/Commercial (Band 2) Heather Harlan, Tax (Band 2) Doug...

June 1, 2022

Robinson & McElwee Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers 2022

Thirteen lawyers from Robinson & McElwee PLLC were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022.  The Robinson & McElwee attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 for...

August 19, 2021

Robinson & McElwee PLLC Recognized by Chambers USA 2021

The newly released edition of Chambers USA 2021 recognized three Robinson & McElwee attorneys as leaders in their field for their practices in West Virginia: Kent George, Real Estate (Band 1) and Corporate/Commercial (Band 2)Doug McElwee, Real Estate (Band...

May 20, 2021

Mark Hayes joins International Association of Defense Counsel

Robinson & McElwee announced that partner Mark H. Hayes recently joined the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), one of the most prestigious legal organizations in the world. "Mark is an experienced and skillful defense lawyer, as evidenced by...

January 13, 2021