Operating at the forefront of significant legislative and regulatory developments, Mayer Brown demonstrates deep industry knowledge of telecoms, privacy, antitrust, financial services, tech, and transportation policy. Key legislative drafting accomplishments include provisions in the CHIPS and Sciences Act, and the team are also closely involved in efforts to develop a model state privacy law. Philip Recht is a stalwart in transportation, tribal gaming, healthcare, trade association, and election law matters, and co-chairs the practice with Howard Waltzman, who focuses on tech and communications law, and privacy compliance. Andrew Olmem has developed expertise in legislative and regulatory impacts on financial services, while Jonathan Becker assists with complex public policy advocacy strategies related to the privacy and antitrust spheres. In Chicago, Mitch Holzrichter advises the range of tech, telecoms, and gaming clients, as well as public agencies, on Illinois legislative matters. Matthew Bernstein, whose extensive experience with the executive branch and Congress is valued by corporations, sovereign governments, and non-profit organizations, and John Merrigan, who specializes in foreign policy, national security, and trade law, joined the firm in November 2023 from Dentons Global Advisors.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Success in government relations comes down to a few key factors: (1) a technical understanding of the policy and political landscape; (2) the depth and breadth of relationships and understanding of how to best position an issue to key stakeholders; (3) excellent judgement. Mayer Brown's GR team has these in spades.’
‘Their team takes a deep understanding of our business, and works as an extension of our team to positively impact our external operating environment. Their key people are best in class. In a city without shortage of lobbyists, Mayer Brown's people differentiate through a keen understanding of the policy landscape, deep personal relations and an unparalleled strategic mindset.’
‘Andrew Olmem is the embodiment of what excellence looks like in government relations and corporate strategy. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the regulatory environment is foundational to why he is so good at what he does - when you couple that with his deep relationships across every key decisionmaker and his strategic thinking capabilities, he's proven out as a secret weapon for us.’

Key clients

Privacy Coalition
GlobalFoundries
Live Nation Entertainment
Big Outdoor LLC
Jacobs Engineering
Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
American Optometric Association (AOA)
Charles Schwab Corporation
Millennium Partners
Lytton Rancheria
CTIA
AT&T
Summit Media
Medline Industries

Work highlights

Advised CTIA on a wide range of new and emerging federal legislative, regulatory and public policy issues that impact the industry, ranging from spectrum policy, wireless infrastructure, and privacy and cybersecurity.
Represented SIFMA’s Asset Management Group with its comment letter on the SEC’s private fund rule, which, if finalized, fundamentally changes the nature of private fund advisers’ relationships with their clients.
Represented the Privacy Coalition in seeking state and federal regulatory schemes workable for the industry, including assisting with CCPA and CPRA work.