Government & Election Law

Government & Election Law

The bustling intersection of law, public policy, and government action can create opportunities – or cause challenges – for a wide range of clients. Hemenway & Barnes provides counsel on how to navigate that ever-changing terrain.

Our government and administrative law practice includes the representation of businesses, nonprofits, and private clients who are affected by a host of regulatory and land use issues. We also have represented state, municipal, and quasi-governmental entities as they craft, and later defend, their respective approaches to a variety of governance issues. And we advise candidates and elected officials on ethics, campaign finance, and election-related issues. In addition, our lawyers have extensive appellate expertise. They appear regularly – either as a party or as amici – before state and federal appellate courts, often in cases requiring deep knowledge of cutting-edge constitutional issues.

Our clients rely on our counsel to:

• Understand state and federal government and the norms that shape executive, legislative and judicial decision-making.
• Comply with federal and state laws concerning elections, campaign finance, ethics and disclosure.
• Defend or challenge government agency action in judicial and administrative proceedings, including eligibility and licensing determinations.
• Execute persuasive appellate strategies.
• Evaluate and respond to unfair or discriminatory taxes and fees.
• Address zoning, permitting, and land-use issues.
• Participate effectively in the biennial state ballot initiative process.
• Advise nonprofits on political participation, lobbying, and state ballot initiatives.
  
• Navigate governmental programs, grants, and incentives, including public-private partnerships.
• Understand the unique aspects of interacting with government agencies, including public records and freedom of information laws.

It is our general philosophy that matters involving the public sector benefit from a constructive, problem-solving approach. Nevertheless, we are always prepared to advocate persuasively in a court or administrative forum should the need arise.

Because the practice of government law is so dependent on the needs of our clients and the circumstances in which they operate, we work closely with them to develop a finely tailored approach.