Effective government relations for companies and organizations demands an aggressive, focused approach.  Success involves forceful advocacy that shapes public policy, rather than merely reacting to it.  Lobbying based exclusively on “contacts” at the administrative or legislative level is just a start. The sophistication of public policy makers—and their receptiveness to developing practical, cost effective policy alternatives—has never been greater; heightening the need for carefully planned lobbying strategies to achieve desired results.

Manning Fulton has the inside knowledge and public policy experience to help our clients promote and defend their interests by successfully working with every level of local, state and federal government. We work with our clients to define their objectives, then conduct research and develop strategies to work with administrators, legislators and their staffs to achieve those objectives. 

We draft regulations and legislation and pursue their implementation.  In addition, we craft clear messages and communicate with various audiences about the effects of proposed policies. 

Manning Fulton attorneys are experienced in the full range of traditional government relations strategies.  We work with clients to:

• prepare administrative or legislative testimony
• form coalitions that can achieve public policy goals
• monitor proposed rules and regulations. 

Thanks to our practical experience in government (for example, serving as counsel to a former Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, who now is a client of the firm as a private businessman), we understand how the process works—and how to make it work best for our clients.

BROAD INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Much of our government relations work is focused on representing the needs of specific industries before the North Carolina General Assembly and various North Carolina administrative bodies and governing boards.  Among the most significant are:

Health Care
Our clients include:

• The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (an association of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies)
• Talecris Biotherapeutics

For pharmaceutical clients, we provide assistance in their relations with the Department of Health and Human Services, where the state of North Carolina Medicaid office runs a $1.1 billion pharmaceutical program.

Real Estate/Financial Services
We have substantial government relations experience with North Carolina’s real estate industry, representing the 25,000 real estate agents of the North Carolina Association of Realtors, as well as the mortgage broker members of the North Carolina Association of Mortgage Professionals.  We also counsel one of the nation’s largest property and casualty insurance companies, Allstate Insurance, in matters before the General Assembly and the North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance.

Consumer Products
Manning Fulton represents the world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch, before the General Assembly North Carolina’s Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. We also represent Food Lion, Inc. (a large grocery chain) and have counseled several tobacco industry trade associations regarding tobacco growing and export issues.

PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS

In addition to these industry leaders, our government relations client list includes some of the most important public interest organizations in the state of North Carolina:

• Friends of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, the support group for the oldest state museum
• Legal Services Planning Counsel, an affiliation of various legal services programs for the poor
• Nature Conservancy—North Carolina Chapter, the state chapter of the world’s largest conservation organization;
• North Carolina Bar Association, the largest organization in the state serving the diverse professional needs of lawyers (with more than 12,500 members)
• North Carolina Citizens for Business & Industry, the state’s chamber of commerce.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Manning Fulton lawyers also represent real estate developers and property owners before boards of county commissioners and city councils in zoning matters, site plan approvals and other development issues.

Whether our clients’ concern is with governmental advocacy, stakeholder communication, or efficient policy administration, these clients and more turn to us to help them build and keep their futures secure.

Government Industry Contact Lawyer: John B. McMillan