Our services, which leverage our substantial subject matter knowledge, as well as our extensive experience in the formation of law and public policy, extend well beyond those of traditional law firms or lobbying firms. Sidley possesses the best tools of both worlds to advance our clients’ objectives: the substantive and traditional legal counseling and advocacy of an elite law firm and the influential lobby firm’s ability to navigate the political and procedural landscape in which policy is made. Our unique insider’s perspective, informed by prior service across Congress and government agencies, enables us to implement strategies that serve our clients’ business interests and to advocate successfully on their behalf.
Congressional Investigations – We advise clients on how to respond effectively to Congressional inquiries. We prepare and represent witnesses in connection with Congressional testimony, interact with the investigating committee and help to manage the legal, policy, political or public relations considerations.
Legislative Lobbying – We are dedicated to ensuring that our clients’ positions are well understood by the key members of Congress who will have a major role in deciding the fate of any bill that may affect their businesses. To that end, we monitor issues, lobby on our clients’ behalf and include them in relevant existing coalitions that address their particular issues. We also help them create alliances of stakeholders with common interests. We take advantage of every possible opportunity to campaign for our clients’ positions and achieve a positive outcome.
Regulatory Policy Guidance and Formulation – Our experience in and institutional knowledge of the federal agencies enables our team to intervene on behalf of our clients at the agency policymaker level. We bring to the attention of agency administrators suggestions for outcomes that simultaneously meet the regulatory needs of the agency and the business goals of our clients. We possess an insider’s view of the political trends that influence policy development, and we advise our clients on the potential outcomes of legislative debates and agency decisions. Our approach may involve coordination with members of Congress serving on committees with jurisdiction over specific federal agencies or other private sector stakeholders with whom we share common concerns.
Issue Monitoring/Due Diligence – We vigilantly monitor developments in relevant areas of legislative and administration policy and ensure that our clients are aware not only of policy changes as they occur, but also the trends in thinking among policy makers that precede policy changes.
Our Team
The Government Strategies group is composed of professionals who are intimately familiar with how policy is made. A number of our professionals have played major roles in the drafting, enactment and regulatory implementation of landmark laws from senior-level positions in the Executive Branch, Congress and regulatory and administrative agencies. Several are also alumni of Congressional investigative committee staffs who have participated in many Congressional investigations, including Executive Branch veterans who have dealt with Congress on behalf of the White House and other federal agencies. We also have lawyers who hold the highest levels of security clearance. This rare mix of leadership and experience translates to an unusually high level of value for our clients.
