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Former senior legal counsel in the Illinois Senate President's office

Member of the State Bar of Illinois

Mandy Drendel joined the Cornerstone Illinois team as a vice president in January 2021. She is an attorney and registered lobbyist with experience advocating on behalf of clients before the Illinois General Assembly and Executive Branch. As a contract lobbyist, Mandy's worked on behalf of industries including telecommunications, energy, gaming, healthcare, insurance, education and cannabis.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, she served as senior legal counsel in the Illinois Senate President's office where she worked on telecommunications, insurance, tax, and pension issues. During her tenure, Mandy helped lead major legislative initiatives including a telecommunications rewrite, small cell wireless deployment, major insurance legislations, revenue packages, property tax relief and pension reform.

Before that, Mandy served on the Senate Democratic legal team, and acted as the caucus's key regulatory and administrative rule specialist where she staffed the General Assembly's administrative rulemaking committee. This experience provided her direct access and insight into the regulatory arm of Illinois state government.

Mandy received a Juris Doctorate from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website

Longest serving political director to Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and the Democratic Caucus of the Illinois House of Representatives

Involved in the strategic development and passage of most major legislative initiatives over the past 10 years

Maintained and grew House Democratic majority as political director over four campaign cycles

0-5 years

Will Cousineau joined Cornerstone's Springfield, Illinois office in June 2017. Will comes to the firm after nearly 18 years working for Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, including eight years as political director for the Speaker and the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Will was the longest serving political director for Speaker Madigan and most recently served as senior advisor to the Speaker. Over the past 10 years, Will worked directly with Speaker Madigan to shape, develop and implement the strategy and messaging for the Speaker's legislative and political agenda and the agendas of every member of the House Democratic Caucus. He also developed the implementation of political, legislative and outreach strategies for House Democratic Caucus members and all aspects of the Illinois House's political operation.

During his time with the Speaker's office, Will was involved in the major initiatives that moved through the Legislature over the past ten years, including such legislation concerning utilities, conceal and carry, financial institutions, and civil laws. Additionally, Will was intimately involved in the 2010 drawing of legislative districts, including new districts in the suburban region that have helped House Democrats expand and maintain their majority. While many democratic legislative caucuses across the country lost record numbers of seats during his tenure and every legislative chamber in the Midwest outside Illinois became Republican controlled, Will guided the Illinois House caucus and the Democratic Party of Illinois through a period of expansion and maintained a healthy majority for Illinois House Democrats.

Will's long tenure with the House, experience with message development, crisis management, grassroots organizing and input on political campaigns for offices throughout the state, gives Will an ability to understand complex legislative and political problems, easily digest those issues for members and clients and put together a collaborative and detailed action plan for moving forward.

In 2014, Will and his wife, Macy, adopted three sisters from Latvia. This experience has shaped their family, has given them the opportunity to speak with others about adoption and has encouraged their family to assist others who are adopting children both internationally and domestically. In 2016, Will and Macy's family grew with the arrival of their son.

In his spare time, Will is active in his church and serves on the Board of Elders. Will currently resides in Chatham, IL with his wife and four children.

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website

More than 12 years of Illinois legislative political experience

Joined Cornerstone from one of the largest health systems in Illinois

Julia Larkin joined Cornerstone Government Affairs in February 2020 with more than 12 years of legislative experience in the state of Illinois. In her role as vice president, Julia uses her skills to help clients in Illinois advance their advocacy goals. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Julia served as the director of advocacy and government relations at AMITA Health, one of the largest health systems in Illinois. During her time in this role, Julia represented the organization's mission with state and local officials and executive agency staff, while also creating and executing strategies to ensure specific policy goals were met.

Previously, Julia served as legislative coordinator to Speaker of the Illinois House Michael J. Madigan for 10 years, where she assisted in the development of a wide array of policy positions and legislative initiatives. Julia has also supported the Democratic Party of Illinois, where she led state representative campaigns, managed opposition research and oversaw state representative candidate recruitment efforts.

Julia received her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in political science and international studies from Loyola University in Chicago.

DONALD ISAACSON

(Arizona)

Isaacson Law Firm, P.C., is incorporated in Arizona as a professional corporation. The firm represents a broad range of clients before the Arizona Legislature and Arizona state government. Don Isaacson founded the lobbying practice in 1985 and is the shareholder and the director of Isaacson Law Firm, P.C.. Don previously served as Rules Counsel, Majority Counsel and Director of Research for the Arizona House of Representatives.

Marie Isaacson joined the firm in 2018 and has thirty years of experience in Arizona state government. Most recently, Marie served as the Director of Human Resources and the Director of Benefits for the State of Arizona.

The firm has been recognized as the state's "Best Lobbying Firm" for each of the three past years that the award has been granted by the Arizona Capitol Times (2016-2018), the leading source of political news in Arizona. The annual "Best of the Capitol" awards are based on voting by individuals involved in policy-making in Arizona, including elected officials, legislative and executive staff, lobbyist and others actively engaged in the legislative process in Arizona. The Capitol Times noted, "At the state Capitol, Isaacson's work stands out, and colleagues regard him as the consummate professional, the lobbyist who understands that a good lobbyist fights the good fight for his clients but doesn't seek to tear down his opponents."

The firm has appeared consistently in the U.S. News & World Report's ranking of Best Law Firms (Tier 1). It has been rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell for 30 years and is listed in its Bar Register of Preeminent Firms.

Firm Specialties:
For over 35 years, the firm of Isaacson Law Firm, P.C. has provided high level legal and government relations services to a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, small independent businesses, trade and professional associations, and everything in between.

Specific areas of expertise include banking, insurance, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, optometry, higher education, law enforcement, wholesale liquor and various other trades. In addition to a significant amount of representation before the Arizona State Legislature and local governments, the firm represents clients before various Arizona state agencies in regulatory matters, including the Department of Health Services, State Liquor Department, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Department of Insurance, Board of Regents, and others. The firm also serves as general counsel for commercial enterprises having interests within and outside Arizona. Isaacson Law Firm, P.C.'s research-based, non-partisan approach to public policy has helped build lasting working relationships with clients, government officials and even opponents of their lobbying efforts.

DONALD G. ISAACSON received his bachelor's degree from Augustana College, and his law degree from Arizona State University, where he was a member of the editorial board of the Law Journal. Mr. Isaacson has been in private practice primarily in the area of governmental consulting and lobbying. Throughout his career, he has been active on the legislative committees of the State Bar Association and the Arizona and Phoenix Chambers of Commerce. He has served as the Chairman of the State Bar's Professional Liability Committee. He is on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Vice-Chairman of its Water, Energy & Natural Resources Committee. He also chairs the Phoenix Chamber's Health & Insurance Committee.

In nine of the past 10 years (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011 and 2010), Don Isaacson has been recognized as "Best Lobbyist" by the Arizona Capitol Times. He was awarded the "Toughest Lobbyist to Go Up Against" in 2019. He is also consistently ranked by his peers as a top lawyer in the field of government relations in The Best Lawyers in America, one of the most credible and definitive guides to legal expertise in the United States.

MADELEINE COOPER

(California)
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REBECCA CYRUS

(Virginia)
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MICHAEL DELORETO

(New Jersey)
  • 609-394-5300

  • 50 W State St Suite 1104TrentonNJ08608

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MARGARET GLADSTEIN

(California)
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LINDSAY GULLAHORN

(California)
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ALEXANDRA HAYES

(New Jersey)
  • 609-394-5300

  • 50 W State St Suite 1104TrentonNJ08608

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COURTNEY JOHNSON

(New Jersey)
  • 609-394-5300

  • 50 W State St Suite 1104TrentonNJ08608

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ROBERT JOHNSON

(New Jersey)
  • 609-394-5300

  • 50 W State St Suite 1104TrentonNJ08608

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CHERYL MARTEN

(Kansas)
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CHERYL MARTEN

(Missouri)
  • (415) 903-2800

  • 28 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 2815SausalitoCA94965

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MARGARET MILLER

(Georgia)
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BRENDA MOBLEY

(Kansas)
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BRENDA MOBLEY

(Missouri)
  • (415) 903-2800

  • 28 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 2815SausalitoCA94965

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SHELLEY PADGHAM

(Idaho)
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DAVID PASCRELL

(New Jersey)
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KAREN SILLAS

(Utah)
  • (415) 903-2800

  • 28 Liberty Ship WaySuite 2815SausalitoCA94965

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JENNIFER SNYDER

(California)
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PAUL ST ONGE

(New Jersey)
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JODI STEFANICK

(Illinois)
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JODI STEFANICK

(Georgia)
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KATHERINA TINNEY

(Idaho)
  • 28 Liberty Ship Way #2815SausalitoCA94965

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KATHERINA TINNEY

(Texas)
  • (415)9032800

  • c/o 28 Liberty Ship Way Ste. 2815SausalitoCA94965

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JASON UNGER

(Florida)
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