20+ years

Idaho Business Review Lifetime Achievement Award
Best Lawyers in the United States
Idaho Business Review Idaho ICON Award

Extensive and successful relationships with Idaho Governors, Attorneys General, the Idaho Legislature and the Idaho Federal Congressional Delegation

My decades of experience have earned me a reputation as a premier advocate before federal, state and local decision-makers. As the Founder of Eiguren Public Policy Firm, I have an unsurpassed record of successful public issues management, lobbying, regulatory coordination and public policy law outcomes.

I regularly represent clients as a lawyer and lobbyist before departments and agencies of the state and federal governments. I have drafted and lobbied for new legislation, organizing large coalitions supporting passage, and have regularly testified before legislative and administrative committees. I have served as liaison between state and international governments to work out trade and cultural agreements.

I interact often with senior officials in Idaho and the federal government, including the Governor, Legislature, Attorney General, and the Idaho Congressional Delegation. I have also argued several major cases before the Idaho Supreme Court.

Additionally, I have decades of experience as both a Chairman and Director or Member of many public profit and non-profit corporations, including my current role as a Member of the American Red Cross National Philanthropic Board, Chairman of the American Red Cross of Idaho Board of Directors and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Directors of Tolsma USA. I am a former Director of Idaho Independent Bank, Avista Corporation, and Chairman of the Board of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Idaho State Capitol Commission, and the St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center Foundation.

Before entering law practice in 1984, I served in various capacities in several local state and federal agencies, including Deputy Attorney General of Idaho, Special Assistant to the Administrator of a large federal agency, Deputy Secretary of State of Idaho, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Boise, Idaho.

Among other honors, I am the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Leaders in Law Program of the Idaho Business Review, and am listed in Best Lawyers in America.

I graduated from the Executive Management Program of the Dartmouth School of Business Administration and attended Georgetown University College of Law and the University of Idaho College of Law, where I received my Juris Doctorate.

0-5 years

Melinda has significant experience and key relationships with the Idaho Transportation Department, the Idaho Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health & Welfare, the Division of Financial Management and with the Office of the Governor.

Melinda Merrill has more than 25 years of experience managing government relations and crises for clients throughout the Pacific Northwest and provides Eiguren Public Policy clients with media, reputational, and crisis communications counseling as well as advocacy in local, state, and federal government.

Prior to joining Eiguren Public Policy, Merrill was director of Public Affairs for Fred Meyer and QFC Stores - the two Northwest divisions of The Kroger Co. - for more than a decade, where she was media spokesperson and managed government affairs for the company's more than 200 stores in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington as well as at the federal level. She also developed strategy for and implemented Fred Meyer's and QFC's multi-million-dollar donations, sponsorship, community relations, and employee volunteer programs in the four states.

Merrill is adept at assisting clients in developing strategy for and achieving their goals at the local, state, and federal levels of government. She also has experience providing reputational management for clients facing issues including taxes and fees, labor relations issues, real estate siting and planning issues, product recalls and importation of goods.

Merrill also spent eight years in the Portland office of the international public relations and public affairs firm Hill & Knowlton. There she provided reputation, crisis management and government affairs counseling for clients including grocers, cell phone service providers, economic development organizations, convention and visitors bureaus, electric utilities, and the maritime industry.

Merrill earned her M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Kent State University, and a B.A. in Journalism with a broadcast emphasis from the University of Montana. She currently serves on the board of the American Red Cross of Greater Idaho and is chair of the Philanthropy committee and also serves on the Legislative Committee of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry. She has served on the Association of Washington Business Executive Committee; the board of Oregon Food Bank and as chair of its Advocacy Committee; and as president of the Board of the Oregon/SW Washington Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She lives in Meridian, Idaho.

JENNIFER LAZOVICH is a shareholder in the Firm. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Southwestern University. Jennifer primarily practices at the legislative and local level. At the legislative level, she has represented clients with interests in development, property rights, lien matters, redevelopment and transportation issues. At the local level, she handles land use and entitlement matters, development agreements and other business matters. Jennifer has been recognized by Best Lawyers of America in Government Relations Law in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Nevada Business Magazine named her as one of the top 100 attorneys in Southern Nevada in 2009 and 2010.

MICHAEL D. HILLERBY is the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Firm. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada Reno. Michael has been lobbying in Nevada since 1991, and has extensive experience with the Nevada Legislature, a variety of regulatory boards and commissions, as well as county and local governments. His practice includes lobbying, strategic guidance, public affairs and procurement processes for clients in the healthcare, insurance, financial services, manufacturing, design and real estate development industries, retail, telecommunications, utility and automotive manufacturing sectors, among others. He served as a cabinet member and Chief of Staff for former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn. Michael is the Vice-Chair of the Western States Arts Federation, former Chairman of the Nevada Museum of Art Board of Trustees, and is on the Friends of the Nevada Governor's Mansion Board. He has been appointed by three different governors to the Nevada Commission of Cultural Affairs.

15-20 years

In addition to 5+ years as an independent lobbyist, Chris led government affairs teams at multiple prominent organizations including the Washington State Hospital Association and Regence BlueShield.

Chris earned a Bachelor's degree in history and political science from Indiana University and a Master's degree in political management from The George Washington University.

6-10 years

Memberships & Associations:

West Des Moines City Council (At-Large) (2019-Present)

BRAVO of Greater Des Moines Board of Directors

ICON Water Trails Co-Chair

Polk County Bar Association Member

Iowa State Bar Association Member; Sections on: Business Law; Litigation; Government Practice Litigation Section Council (2012-present); Committee on Ethics and Practice Guidelines (2013-present)

State Law Resources (SLR) Board of Directors (2022-2023); Site Selection Committee

Republican Legislative Campaign Committee (RLCC) Finance Committee

Professionals for Charity Co-Founder, Director and Secretary

The United Way of Central Iowa Policy Cabinet

Metro Advisory Council

Iowa Legal Aid Foundation Governing Director (2010-2012)

West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Member; Board of Directors and Former Chair (2015-2019)

West Des Moines Due Diligence Committee (2017)

West Des Moines Leadership Academy Graduate (Class of 2012-2013); Alumni Marketing Committee Member

Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute - Graduate (Class of 2014-2015)

West Des Moines Historical Society Board of Directors (2015-2018)

West Des Moines Sister Cities Commission Appointed Member (2014-2016)

Arizona State Bar Association Member (2009-Present)

Arizona Small Business Association Board of Directors and Vice President-Elect (2009-2010)

Maricopa County Bar Association Corporate Counsel Division - Director and Treasurer (2009-2010)

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a certificate in Entrepreneurship from the University of Iowa in 2004. Shortly thereafter, I received my J.D., cum laude, along with certificates of concentration in litigation, and criminal law and procedure from Creighton University School of Law in 2007. I was also the sole recipient of the David A. Svoboda Trial Advocacy award, recognizing excellence in trial advocacy.

I was admitted to the Iowa State Bar in 2007 and the State of Arizona in 2008. Additionally, I am admitted to practice law in Iowa Federal District Court (northern and southern divisions) as well as in Colorado Federal District Court.

It was a privilege to be elected to the West Des Moines City Council, in the at-large position, in 2019. I am an active member of the Iowa and Polk County Bar Associations, in addition to having served as a member of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Board and Executive Committee; the United Way of Central Iowa Policy Cabinet; BRAVO of Greater Des Moines, and the Metro Advisory Council ICON Water Trails. I am also a graduate of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy, the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, and Leadership Iowa. Finally, it was an honor to have Super Lawyers recognize me as a "Rising Star" in the area of Government Relations from 2017 - 2021.

20+ years

6-10 years

R.G. led the redistricting analysis of Iowa congressional and legislative districts following the 2010 U.S. Census.

R.G. Schwarm is a member of BrownWinick's Government Relations team. R.G. maintains a full-time presence at the Iowa Capitol during the legislative session, representing multiple businesses and interests before the Iowa General Assembly, the Governor's Office, and state agencies.

R.G. previously served BrownWinick's lobbying team as the Public Affairs Manager from 2014-2017. Prior to joining BrownWinick, he worked in a variety of political positions at the local and state level, including managing a multi- million dollar casino referendum resulting in a landslide electoral victory and record voter turnout. His campaign organization experience includes developing winning strategies, executing multifaceted communication plans, coordinating public and media relations, and organizing volunteer efforts. In addition to serving as a campaign consultant, R.G. led the redistricting analysis of Iowa congressional and legislative districts following the 2010 U.S. Census.

R.G. graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, earning a double major in Business Management and International business along with a minor in Political Science. While at Drake University Law School, R.G. served as a legal intern for the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board where he assisted in drafting the board's advisory opinions, conducted legal research on state and local compliance policies, and investigated complaints of ethical violations by campaigns and elected officials. In 2020, R.G. received his Juris Doctor while earning a certificate in legislative practice.