Eagle Scout

Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division - President's Special Recognition Award (2019)

Ross Smith advises clients before the Tennessee General Assembly and the various branches, departments, agencies and commissions of state government. In this role, he represents companies, organizations and associations related to regulatory issues and to advocate for their business interests within the state of Tennessee.

Prior to joining the firm, Ross was an attorney and lobbyist at Farrar Bates Berexa, LLP, where he created and executed state and local government affairs objectives on behalf of cities, professional associations, and private business groups. He also litigated matters related to municipal liability, civil rights, police liability, and governmental tort liability. After law school, Ross clerked for the Honorable Jimmy L. Croom in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Western District of Tennessee.

20+ years

With decades worth of hands-on experience in Texas government and politics, Sabrina Brown offers valuable strategic counsel, as well as access to a vast network of key associates and decision-makers to a broad spectrum of clients.

Brown's extensive expertise in the state's legislative, regulatory, public affairs and appropriations arenas - combined with her strong bipartisan relationships - provides businesses and organizations with vital political and governmental guidance. Utilizing her many contacts within the Texas House and Senate, Executive Office and state agencies, Sabrina has effectively achieved the public policy goals of a wide variety of clients, from aeronautics giants to groundwater districts to Fortune 100 companies.

Prior to opening her own consulting firm, Sabrina was a highly successful lobbyist for an Austin-based law firm, and previously spent a half-dozen years at the Capitol working for the Texas House of Representatives. Her first-hand experience has given her a detailed familiarity with the legislative process and an in-depth understanding of state lawmakers' perspectives. With these insights, Sabrina creates effective messages and uses her firm's resources to efficiently communicate a client's position to busy legislators.

Brown earned her Masters in Public Affairs at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas, and her bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University.

Brown currently serves on the boards of Dell Children's Medical Center Foundation, West Austin Youth Association, Beyond Batten Disease Foundation, Friends of the Governor's Mansion, Texas Conference for Women, and the Seton Development Board.

20+ years

Best Lawyers in America, Government Relations Law, 2009 to present Great Plains Super Lawyer, Government Relations Law, 2009 to present America's Top 100 Attorneys
U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms in Nebraska

Fellow Mueller Robak LLC partner, Kim M. Robak, is a former Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska.

William J. Mueller is senior partner and co-founder of Mueller Robak LLC. Mr. Mueller has succeeded in combining a strong legal and political background to be-come one of the state's leading lobbyists. He advises clients on a broad range of legislative and government relations matters. Mr. Mueller is a graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law and began lobbying in 1984. He will be President of the Nebraska State Bar Association in 2021. He is one of three firm members who were elected President of the student body of the University of Nebraska while in college. Mueller has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America and a Great Plains Super Lawyer in Government Relations Law since 2009. He has been selected for Lifetime Membership in America's Top 100 Attorneys. In 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2021, Mueller was selected as the Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year in Government Relations practice. His is a Fellow of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation and is a Patron Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Mr. Mueller is a past President of the University of Nebraska Alumni Association. Mueller is the President of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County. He and his spouse, fellow Mueller Robak partner, Kim M. Robak, chaired the campaign of the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County in 2015. Mueller, an Ogallala, Nebraska native, and Kim M. Robak, a Columbus, Nebraska native, have two daughters, Katherine and Claire. Katherine is an honors graduate of Vanderbilt University and resides in New York City where she works for a financial services firm in their global payments area. Claire M. Mueller, MD is a graduate of Pomona College in Claremont, California, and graduated with High Honors from Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Mueller is in her second year of medical residency in ophthalmology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon.

11-15 years

Innocent's Society, University of Nebraska - Lincoln Chancellor's Senior Honorary

CALI Awards for Excellence - Individual Income Tax; Farm and Ranch Tax

Fellow Mueller Robak LLC partner, Kim M. Robak, is a former Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska.

Kristen J. Hassebrook initially joined Mueller Robak in November of 2022. She brings a distinctive skillset of membership and trade association lobbying to the firm. Building and coordinating coalitions to effect strategic policy initiatives and a reputation for providing results driven advocacy are at the core of Kristen's work experience. Most recently Kristen served as Associate Vice President for Government Relations for the University of Nebraska where she led a team that advocated on behalf of the interests of the University at the capitol in Lincoln, in Washington, D.C., and across the state. This experience gave Kristen expertise in understanding the state and federal financial needs of higher education. In addition, this role required Kristen to work to support the success of Nebraska students, faculty, researchers, and constituents on a variety of policy issues impacting higher education at the state and national level. As the Executive Vice President for Legislation and Policy for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, she lobbied for four years at both the state and federal level and engaged in issues management with regulatory agencies on behalf of Nebraska businesses. During this time Kristen developed an expertise in taxation, business incentives, labor and employment law, as well as issues facing manufacturing. She also spent five and a half years as Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs for the Nebraska Cattlemen where she lobbied and provided regulatory assistance on behalf of beef producers. This experience helped Kristen develop a deep understanding of the regulatory and legal world surrounding agriculture, natural resources, and the environment.

6-10 years

George Peach Taylor Trial Advocacy Award

Mallorie Kerby represents clients before the Tennessee General Assembly and the various departments, agencies and commissions of state government. In this capacity, she works with clients to advocate for their business interests related to new legislation and policies within the state. Mallorie also advises clients on range of compliance, litigation, and regulatory issues related to state and federal environmental laws.

Prior to joining the firm, Mallorie was the Associate Vice President for Environment & Energy Affairs at the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry where she represented businesses and industry groups as a registered lobbyist before the Tennessee General Assembly and state regulators. She previously served as a Legislative Liaison at both the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. During law school, she served as an intern at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and for the Honorable L. Scott Coogler of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

0-5 years

Student Body President and Student Regent - University of Nebraska at Kearney

Nebraska Moot Court Board - Member

Winning Team and Best Oral Advocate - Henry R. Grether Moot Court Competition, University of Nebraska College of Law

CALI Awards for Excellence - Trial Advocacy, Pre-Trial Litigation, Land Use Planning

2009 Nester University Student Leadership Award - University of Nebraska Kearney

2014 Grand Island Chamber of Commerce Top 35 Under 35

Fellow Mueller Robak LLC partner, Kim M. Robak, is a former Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska.

Tim Hruza joined the team at Mueller Robak after having earned experience practicing law in a variety of contexts.

After graduating from law school, Tim spent three years in private practice at a mid-sized firm in Grand Island, Nebraska, where he worked with clients on a number of different legal issues, from litigating contract and property boundary disputes, to developing estate plans and managing business transactions. Following his time in private practice, Tim worked as legal counsel to a Lincoln business association, providing advice and counsel to local business owners and advocating for their interests before elected officials on both local and state levels. Most recently, Tim served as legal counsel to the Nebraska Legislature's Judiciary Committee, where he advised Senators on the legal aspects of bills presented to them for consideration.

Tim also brings to the firm experience working with local media outlets. He is a regular contributor on Lincoln's news and talk radio station 1400 KLIN where he provides commentary and insight on national, state, and local political and sports news. Tim has worked as on-air talent and as a behind-the- scenes producer for both morning and afternoon talk radio programs and through this experience has built strong relationships with elected officials and media partners in Nebraska on all levels.

Tim received his juris doctor degree with distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2012, where he was a member of the Moot Court Board and received awards for his oral advocacy skills. Before attending law school, Tim was an honors graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree cum laude. During his time at UNK, Tim was elected to serve a term as the University's Student Body President and Student Regent.

20+ years

Best Lawyers in America, Government Relations Law, 2009 to present Great Plains Super Lawyer, Government Relations Law, 2009 to present America's Top 100 Attorneys
U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms in Nebraska

Kim M. Robak served as Lieutenant Governor with Governor Nelson from October 1993 to January 1999.

Kim M. Robak, senior partner, has a background and experience in private practice, state government, and university administration that makes her uniquely qualified to handle projects for a multitude of clients. Robak was a partner in private practice before leaving to serve as Legal Counsel and Chief of Staff to then-Governor and former U.S. Senator Ben Nelson. She served as Lieutenant Governor with Nelson from October 1993 to January 1999.

Following her government service, Robak joined the University of Nebraska as Vice President for External Affairs and Corporation Secretary where she was responsible for public and government relations, marketing, and information technology for the University of Nebraska system. Robak joined Mueller Robak LLC as a partner in December of 2004.

Ms. Robak is a Columbus, Nebraska native. She and her husband, fellow Mueller Robak partner William J. Mueller, have two daughters, Katherine and Claire.

15-20 years

The Best Lawyers in America - Government Relations Practice (2025-2026)
Nashville Post "In Charge" - Government/Politics Sector (2021-2024)
Nashville Business Journal - Women of Influence (2019)
Commissioner - Nashville Transportation Licensing Commission (2024-2026)
Law Clerk to the Hon. Diane K. Vescovo, Magistrate Judge, Western District of Tennessee (2003-2004)
Tennessee Law Review - Research Editor
Order of the Coif
Phi Alpha Delta
John F. Schrankel Scholar

Erica Vick Penley is practice leader of the firm's Government Advocacy & Public Policy Practice Group. She has worked on multiple landmark public policy initiatives, including enactment of the Civil Justice Act of 2011, the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017, the repeal of Tennessee's gift and inheritance taxes, and passage of a constitutional amendment resolution regarding judicial selection. Erica is legislative counsel to a number of businesses and trade associations and is a registered lobbyist with extensive experience representing the interests of financial institutions, healthcare providers, utilities, energy sector, pharmaceutical industry, medical cannabis, nuclear industry services, higher education, agricultural services, and distilled spirits before the Tennessee General Assembly and Executive Branch.

Erica's practice includes:

Government Advocacy & Public Affairs - Representing clients concerning new legislation, legal definitions and restrictions, business tax exemptions, rule-making proceedings, public-private partnerships, the needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses, taxpayer-funded grants, elected representative awareness; participates in various administrative rule-making proceedings and appears before state agencies and commissions; manages and coordinates fundraising and campaign contributions for clients and the firm's political action committee.

Business Disputes - Representing companies in an assortment of cases involving breach of contract, defects in title, employment disputes, fraud and misrepresentation, violations of fiduciary duty, and other business torts.

Utilities - Representing and advising electric cooperatives and other utilities in high-profile government relations matters.

With extensive knowledge of Tennessee campaign finance law, Erica co-authored the Tennessee chapter of the Thomson/West Lobbying, PACs and Campaign Finance: 50 State Handbook. She has represented several pro bono clients in cases involving landlord-tenant disputes, consumer fraud, and general legal matters.

11-15 years

Theodore C. Sorensen Fellow
Lincoln Young Professionals Group Four Under Forty Award
University of Nebraska Student Body President

Fellow Mueller Robak LLC partner, Kim M. Robak, is a former Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska.

With over ten years of experience as a lobbyist, Matthew T. Schaefer has extensive experience building stakeholder coalitions and guiding complex legislation through Nebraska's unique one-house legislature. Matt has worked with a broad range of clients ranging from some of Nebraska's most respected homegrown businesses to national technology companies bringing new innovations to the state. Matt also assists hospitals, professional associations, and political subdivision on challenging public policy matters.

Before joining Mueller Robak LLC in 2010, Matt was a Theodore C. Sorensen Fellow at the University of Nebraska College of Law and executive editor of the Nebraska Law Review. Matt is one of three firm members who were elected President of the student body of the University of Nebraska while an undergraduate.