20+ years

Pamela Metz Kasemeyer, the Firm's managing partner, has represented a variety of interests before the Maryland General Assembly and regulatory agencies for more than 30 years. An acknowledged authority on Maryland's environmental and health care laws, she includes amongst her clients dominant trade organizations and corporate interests in the solid waste, energy, transportation, and health care sectors.

Ms. Kasemeyer's background in environmental and health care policy is reflected in her law practice which includes legal counsel to her environmental clients on permitting and enforcement actions and representation of health professionals on licensure and disciplinary matters as well as contractual and practice management concerns.

Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ms. Kasemeyer is a 1980 graduate of Duke University with a B.A. in Public Policy Studies. She received a Masters degree in Health Services Administration from George Washington University in 1984. Before her graduation from the University of Maryland Law School in 1993, she was President of Professional Practice Consultants, a health care management consulting firm; served as the first Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Health Maintenance Organizations, and was the regional Corporate Development Director for a national solid waste management company. In 1996, she joined Jay Schwartz, forming Schwartz and Metz, P.A., a predecessor to the current firm.

15-20 years

Steve Wise joined the Firm in 2002 and became a partner in 2008. Early in his career with the Firm he was recognized by the The Gazette as one of the "Rising Stars" of the State House lobbying corps, and he has consistently ranked among the top earning lobbyists in Annapolis since that time.

Steve represents a diverse group of clients before the General Assembly and State agencies, including trade associations and companies in the alcoholic beverage, insurance, gaming, health care, telecommunications and environmental industries.

Mr. Wise's legal practice focuses on administrative law and regulatory matters. He has appeared before the Liquor Boards in 16 of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions and before the Office of the Comptroller, representing alcoholic beverage licensees on licensing and enforcement matters. Steve also represents health care professionals in licensing and disciplinary proceedings before the Board of Physicians, insurance producers and premium finance companies before the Insurance Administration, and has represented maritime-related industries before the Department of Natural Resources. Steve has appeared in many of the State's Circuit Courts, and litigated cases both before the Court of Special Appeals and Court of Appeals.

Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1991 and his Masters degree in Public Administration in 1994, both from Florida State University. He graduated cum laude from the University Of Baltimore School Of Law in 2001, and he is admitted to the Maryland State Bar as well as the U.S. District Court for Maryland. Mr. Wise was born and raised on Maryland's Eastern Shore in Denton, and now resides in Annapolis with his wife Amy and twin sons.

15-20 years

Danna L. Kauffman, Esq. joined the firm in 2013 and became a partner in 2017. Throughout her career Danna has worked in various levels of State government and in the private sector. She has established a reputation as a problem solver and consensus builder who can handle complicated issues in a trusted and professional manner.

Beginning in 1997, Danna served as Counsel to the then House Environmental Matters Committee, working on complex health care issues, and then spent three years as a senior legislative advisor to Governor Glendening, where she worked on a wide range of issues in the areas of health, environment, civil rights and homeland security. Immediately prior to joining the Firm, Danna served as the Senior Vice President of Public Policy for LifeSpan Network, the leading senior care provider association in Maryland.

Raised in Howard County, Maryland, Danna holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Towson University, where she graduated cum laude. In 1996, she graduated with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she was an editor on the Maryland Law Review. Prior to entering State government service, Danna began her career as a litigation attorney at Smith, Somerville and Case, P.A. Danna resides in Annapolis with her husband and two children.

20+ years

John has drafted, amended and secured passage of more than 100 Pennsylvania laws in areas as diverse as liquor law, dairy products, chemicals, manufacturing, workplace safety, renewable energy and health care/health insurance. He has led coalitions of as many as 350 disparate organizations, and in just one instance, those efforts yielded more than $3.5 billion in funding for conservation, environment, preservation, libraries and zoos.

He served as a spokesman for the Commonwealth during the Three Mile Island nuclear accident and has coordinated national and international news media pools for major events.

With more than 40 years of experience inside and outside state government, John has developed thousands of professional relationships that can be brought to bear for clients. His professional experiences include private and public sectors, businesses and associations, C-level positions and client consulting. Those experiences and relationships cover issues from policy and program development to association management, and from key legislation to state agency regulations.

John Nikoloff has been providing advice, support, and hands on services in public affairs, public relations, politics and government relations since 1972. He is cofounder and President ERG Partners and Pennsylvania Energy Resources Group, serving companies on the East Coast and Washington, DC.

Since 2007, the ERG companies have assisted in development of energy and expansion projects and business development for 32 Pennsylvania companies. In the last five years, ERG secured more than $150 million in government grants, loans and contracts for energy and transportation clients. ERG is focused on providing services, strategic consulting, government relations and project support to firms involved in energy and alternative energy, transportation and manufacturing.

Nikoloff has more than 35 years of experience in energy, environment, economic development, agribusiness, health care public policy and business issues. He served from 2004-2006 as executive vice president and COO of a research and development firm, after 17 years as President and CEO of two Harrisburg-based public affairs and government relations firms. Nikoloff is widely recognized for his experience and unequaled legislative, regulatory, policy and funding successes for agriculture, environmental, energy and business clients.

He has represented more than 50 corporations, including Fortune 100 companies like Kodak, Procter & Gamble, Syngenta, Motorola, UPS and Novartis, as well as state and national business, trade and professional associations. John has also served as executive director of five trade and professional associations and chaired several statewide coalitions on issues.

Before he began strategic and public affairs consulting, Nikoloff served as chief of staff for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. From 1971-1987, John served on communications and legislative staff in the Pennsylvania State House, the State Senate, and in executive positions under three Governors. He served in state agencies as press secretary and director of communications, director of legislative relations, director of policy and planning, director of marketing and chief of economic development.

He serves on the Board of the Penn State Ag Council and recently left the board of the SMC Small Business Council after 12 years. He was a founder of the Pennsylvania Association for Government Relations, and the Pennsylvania chapter of 25 x 25. John is active in the American Council on Renewable Energy, the National Small Business Association, and a member of the American Lobbying Association and the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society.

Throughout his career, John has remained actively involved in politics, managing local and state political and referendum campaigns, and on staff for national campaigns.

He received his B.A. degree in political science from Lebanon Valley College.