Charles W. Hatfield 573.636.6827e-mail| vCard
Government pervades all facets of every business. When approaching government investigations, regulations, economic development incentives, legislation or litigation, it is important to have attorneys with the technical skills, historical perspective and professional contacts necessary to produce a comprehensive solution. Government relations encompasses all aspects of legal representation as well as policy and public relations savvy.
Practice Overview Attorneys on our Government Solutions Team assist clients in finding comprehensive solutions to government challenges. We integrate seamlessly with real estate, public law, tax, environmental, public finance and litigation attorneys in our offices throughout the country. We provide contacts and strategies for dealing with the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. We also help clients navigate the difficult waters of governmental bureaucracy. We can formulate and coordinate the media and public relations aspects of any governmental project. From regulatory compliance to government contracting, investigative subpoenas to legislative proposals, we can get the job done. Scope of Service Our experience includes the following: Legislative Actions We help develop and craft legislative proposals at all stages of the process. Our attorneys have written complex bills, drafted simple amendments, testified before committees and built coalitions to enact major reforms. We also understand the rules of legislative procedure and the strategies used to stop proposals that threaten your business. Administrative Proceedings Administrative agencies often have their own quasi-judicial bodies to adjudicate matters before that agency. The procedures and the practice can vary greatly depending on the agency and the hearing officers. Our attorneys understand the different methods of practice. We have experience with a wide range of administrative proceedings and have a proven record of succeeding before agency tribunals. Economic Development Incentives State agencies promote economic growth by providing financial incentives, tax credits, deductions and exemptions for a variety of ventures, including expanding, starting or relocating a business, redevelopment of blighted or hard-to-develop areas, and encouraging new technologies and science. The attorneys on the Government Solutions Team are knowledgeable about what is in the local and state economic developer’s toolbox. We can identify programs, evaluate proposals and options, and negotiate with the government entities to help get you the best deal. Government Contracting Whether you are attempting to obtain a government contract, keep the one that you have, or just monitor the competition, the Government Solutions Team has the knowledge and experience to help. We are familiar with purchasing statutes, regulations and practices. We scrutinize requests for proposals and analyze winning and losing bids. We know what works when it comes to doing business with the government. Investigations Attorneys on our Government Solutions Team understand that a government investigation must be taken seriously and dealt with effectively. We move quickly to help you identify the issues that are of concern to the government and to control the investigation. We can assist with internal investigations before, or parallel to, government investigations and help you determine the best way to respond to investigative demands. Internal investigations are an important tool to determine the proper posture to assume in response to government demands for information. Rulemaking Sometimes the best time to affect government action is before it even takes place. Our team can monitor proposed rule changes. We alert clients to new proposed rules and help them understand how it can impact their industry. We draft comments, identify coalitions and testify before agencies and legislative committees that oversee rule-making. If we cannot persuade agencies to understand the impact of poorly thought out rules, our seasoned litigators challenge administrative rules in court to stop those that adversely impact our clients. Litigation Our attorneys have a wide range of experience litigating with the government on all types of issues. We handle multi-state consumer fraud and antitrust matters, challenges to statutory schemes, defense of licensing actions, temporary restraining orders, emergency writs, and all forms of litigation with government entities. Of Note Our attorneys have a long and proud tradition of government service. We have held the following positions in state and federal government: United States Congressman Chief of Staff to the Governor General Counsel to the Governor Chief Deputy Attorney General United States Attorney Counsel to US Senate Banking Committee State Senator State Representative Assistant Attorney General Special Assistant Attorney General General Counsel to the Department of Health Chairman of County Election Board Chairman of the State Housing Agency Chief of Staff to the Attorney General Counsel to the Attorney General General Counsel to State University Regional Counsel to the US EPA, Region VII Assistant General Counsel to the FTC Administrative Assistant to a United States Senator General Counsel to the Department of Economic Development Chief of Staff to a Standing Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel to a Standing Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and a Senate Committee
Attorneys on our Government Solutions Team assist clients in finding comprehensive solutions to government challenges. We integrate seamlessly with real estate, public law, tax, environmental, public finance and litigation attorneys in our offices throughout the country. We provide contacts and strategies for dealing with the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. We also help clients navigate the difficult waters of governmental bureaucracy. We can formulate and coordinate the media and public relations aspects of any governmental project. From regulatory compliance to government contracting, investigative subpoenas to legislative proposals, we can get the job done.
Our experience includes the following:
We help develop and craft legislative proposals at all stages of the process. Our attorneys have written complex bills, drafted simple amendments, testified before committees and built coalitions to enact major reforms. We also understand the rules of legislative procedure and the strategies used to stop proposals that threaten your business.
Administrative agencies often have their own quasi-judicial bodies to adjudicate matters before that agency. The procedures and the practice can vary greatly depending on the agency and the hearing officers. Our attorneys understand the different methods of practice. We have experience with a wide range of administrative proceedings and have a proven record of succeeding before agency tribunals.
State agencies promote economic growth by providing financial incentives, tax credits, deductions and exemptions for a variety of ventures, including expanding, starting or relocating a business, redevelopment of blighted or hard-to-develop areas, and encouraging new technologies and science. The attorneys on the Government Solutions Team are knowledgeable about what is in the local and state economic developer’s toolbox. We can identify programs, evaluate proposals and options, and negotiate with the government entities to help get you the best deal.
Whether you are attempting to obtain a government contract, keep the one that you have, or just monitor the competition, the Government Solutions Team has the knowledge and experience to help. We are familiar with purchasing statutes, regulations and practices. We scrutinize requests for proposals and analyze winning and losing bids. We know what works when it comes to doing business with the government.
Attorneys on our Government Solutions Team understand that a government investigation must be taken seriously and dealt with effectively. We move quickly to help you identify the issues that are of concern to the government and to control the investigation. We can assist with internal investigations before, or parallel to, government investigations and help you determine the best way to respond to investigative demands. Internal investigations are an important tool to determine the proper posture to assume in response to government demands for information.
Sometimes the best time to affect government action is before it even takes place. Our team can monitor proposed rule changes. We alert clients to new proposed rules and help them understand how it can impact their industry. We draft comments, identify coalitions and testify before agencies and legislative committees that oversee rule-making. If we cannot persuade agencies to understand the impact of poorly thought out rules, our seasoned litigators challenge administrative rules in court to stop those that adversely impact our clients.
Our attorneys have a wide range of experience litigating with the government on all types of issues. We handle multi-state consumer fraud and antitrust matters, challenges to statutory schemes, defense of licensing actions, temporary restraining orders, emergency writs, and all forms of litigation with government entities.
Our attorneys have a long and proud tradition of government service. We have held the following positions in state and federal government: