Government Affairs and Public Policy
Overview
Our Practice
At Nutter, we understand that client success requires strategic thinking, in-depth understanding of the regulatory, legal and legislative process, and decisive counsel in a crisis. Our Government Affairs and Public Policy practice brings together attorneys with public service and private legal experience to support businesses across all industries. Nutter attorneys serve as strategic partners and crisis managers, building legal, policy and regulatory strategies to limit risks and maximize opportunities. Our practice co-chairs each have more than 30 years of experience and can provide nuanced professional guidance in navigating complex issues to successfully achieve your business goals.
Our Attorneys
Nutter’s Government Affairs and Public Policy team brings to its work a robust network of relationships spanning municipal, state, and federal agencies and legislative bodies. Our team serves as your strategic issue managers, guiding your business, non-profit, or institution through complex legislative and regulatory processes and providing insight and access to public sector decision-makers.
In today’s dynamic landscape of rapid shifts in regulatory oversight, legal requirements, and public priorities, a business challenge can become a critical decision point in an instant. Nutter’s legal counsel offers immediate response tools to address challenges of all types, including security breaches, hostile takeovers, data compromises, government investigations, and natural disasters. Our strategic approach, grounded in legal and regulatory expertise, considers the interplay among legal, regulatory, and business risk. Grounded in smart common and practical sense, we work to minimize short- and long-term impacts.
Collaborating seamlessly with other Nutter practice groups, our team ensures comprehensive support for clients facing any governmental, regulatory, or business-critical challenges. Whether navigating real estate transactions, corporate matters, or non-profit issues, we leverage our collective expertise to deliver optimal outcomes. Nutter attorneys actively engage with a broad range of civic and charitable organizations and initiatives, fostering relationships throughout the business, legal, and political communities.
Co-chair Dan Mulhern draws on more than 30 years of government service and litigation experience to counsel clients in government investigations, internal investigations, dispute resolution, crisis management, and strategic decisions. Dan advises public and privately held companies on government relations, constituency building, and strategic planning. He helps clients navigate a wide range of legislative and regulatory affairs and advises on public-private partnership opportunities to enhance corporate responsibility priorities.
As an active member of the business, legal, political, and civic communities, co-chair Bill Kennedy represents clients in legislative, fiscal, and regulatory matters before all levels of government. Bill’s public service experience gives him deep insight that enables him to develop proactive strategies to advise and guide clients as they navigate the public policy landscape. Bill’s breadth of experience, reputation, and longstanding relationships support him in effectively representing clients’ interests. Specific issues and sectors in which he has worked include tax policy health care reform, transportation, pharma, gaming, non-competition agreements, equal pay for women, bond financing, Airbnb regulation, the Central Artery/Tunnel project and Rose Kennedy Greenway, and the creation and expansion of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. He connects clients in financial services, business, real estate, higher educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and other sectors with Nutter partners and associates to comprehensively address their legal needs.
Dan and Bill work together to lead our team and use their knowledge, experience, and relationships to serve clients and to achieve their desired results. Their collaborative approach–enabling them to expand their reach and influence–provides the added value for clients that is crucial to success.
Who We Represent
The Government Affairs and Public Policy group works with clients from across Nutter’s different areas of expertise. Nutter’s Government Affairs and Public Policy team regularly advise:
- Real estate developers
- Financial institutions
- Higher education institutions
- Public and private companies
- Credit unions
- Insurance companies
- Nonprofit institutions
- Health care providers
- Trade associations
- Emerging companies
- Telecommunication companies
- Individuals
What We Do
- Engage with public officials on behalf of clients to draft, create, and apply public policy
- Engage with regulatory agencies on behalf of clients subject to an agency's jurisdiction (telecommunications, labor, and economic development)
- Interact with public authorities on behalf of clients (MBRA, Massport, MassDOT)
- Engage with attorney general offices on behalf of clients (higher ed, health care, nonprofits, telecommunications, labor, among others)
- Draft and interpret legislation and regulations
- Assist in the legislative process on behalf of clients
- Appear before state and federal agencies
- Guide clients through the regulatory process
- Represent clients before local and state regulatory boards, commissions, and agencies
- Serve as underwriters' counsel in bond transactions for financial institutions with public authorities
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