Best Lawyers in America for Government Relations Practice
State
David Ross chairs WilmerHale’s International Trade, Investment and Market Access Practice. Drawing on his experience at the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) and on Capitol Hill, Mr. Ross advises companies on the use of domestic and international trade rules to eliminate regulatory barriers and other impediments to their businesses and investments around the world, with a particular focus on the technology, services/financial services, and aviation/aerospace sectors. Mr. Ross...
Chris Smith is a Shareholder and co-Chair of the Real Estate Section at von Briesen & Roper, s.c. He focuses his practice on real estate development, eminent domain and property tax. He has significant experience in all phases of real estate development with a particular emphasis on drafting and negotiating development agreements, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and public-private partnerships. He represents both public and private entities on eminent domain matters and property tax assessm...
John J. Cranley is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Government Relations Practice. John J. practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized John J. Cranley since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which John J. Cranley is held by other lawyers.
Bill is a partner with Beers Mallers, LLP whose practice is devoted to municipal law, municipal finance law, construction law, and labor law. Bill served as a Chief Deputy County Attorney from 1977 through 1984 and as the Allen County Attorney from 1984 to the present. He is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and ABA Forum on The Construction Industry. Bill was selected by his peers as one of Indiana’s Best Lawyers for Construction Law from 2008-2019.
David C. Ashburn represents a diverse array of clients in their dealings with numerous state and federal regulatory agencies. David’s understanding of governmental regulatory processes has also enabled him to provide counsel to buyers and sellers of health care related businesses, and to lenders and private equity groups that finance those transactions. The many types of health care, managed care and insurance related clients David has represented include the following: Ambulatory surge...
Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice is recognized as a skillful and innovative negotiator of complex litigation settlements, having served as the lead negotiator in some of the largest civil actions our courts have seen in the last 35 years. In 2023, his law school alma mater renamed the school the USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law. Corporate Legal Times reported that defense counsel and legal scholars described Joe as one of the nation's “five most feared and respected plaintiffs’ law...
Henry Walker focuses his practice on state utility regulation with emphasis in the fields of telecommunications, wastewater services, pipelines and natural gas. He represents utility clients in proceedings before state public service commission throughout the southeast. Prior to joining Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Henry was the General Counsel for the Tennessee Public Service Commission for 13 years. He also worked for the United States Department of Justice and as an Assistant District Att...
Jacob focuses his legal practice on state government services and municipal funding matters for counties, cities and towns across Indiana. His duties for local government clients range from general counsel services for county government to economic development strategy for redevelopment commissions. Jacob also structures municipal bond deals for government entities. In addition, he helps clients navigate Access to Public Records requests and the Open Door Law, community corrections and jail m...
Ruth Ruggero Hughs, former Texas Secretary of State, is a partner at Kelly Hart’s Austin office and co-chair’s the firm’s Public Law group. Her practice is focused on Public Law, assisting businesses to manage the intersection of law, policy and government, including advising on international transactions and trade matters, government procurement, energy regulatory and policy matters, corporate governance and crisis counseling, federal and state regulatory matters, and publi...
Derrick Smith is an experienced strategic advisor and advocate assisting national and regional clients in insurance regulatory law, compliance, investigative, and legislative matters. He represents insurance clients in their interactions with state insurance departments throughout the United States providing counsel on insurance law and regulatory compliance. He has substantial experience representing regulated businesses and entities in all aspects of government relations including legislati...
Bob Enten is one of Maryland’s best known lobbyists and concentrates his practice in the area of government relations. He is general counsel to the Maryland Bankers Association and is Maryland local counsel to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. He is closely involved in legislative and regulatory issues affecting banks, health care organizations and insurance-related entities. Bob also represents a wide range of other business interests before the Maryland General As...
Sarah M. Mercer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Government Relations Practice. Sarah M. practices law in Denver, Colorado Best Lawyers has recognized Sarah M. Mercer since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Sarah M. Mercer is held by other lawyers.
E. Bart Daniel is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Government Relations Practice. E. Bart practices law in Charleston, South Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized E. Bart Daniel since 2014. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which E. Bart Daniel is hel...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
