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BRIAN FLYNN

  • 803-920-6797

  • 1301 Gervais St. Suite 1050, Columbia, SC, 29201, 

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website

"Brian is who you want in the trenches with you." - Travis Bussey, Community Choice Financial

15-20 years

Brian Flynn is senior vice president and director of McGuireWoods Consulting's South Carolina government relations group. He advises a diverse group of clients on government affairs strategies at both the state and national levels. Through his national practice, Brian works with Fortune 500 companies and leading trade associations to navigate complex legislative, regulatory and public policy issues.

In South Carolina, Brian represents clients before the General Assembly, executive branch agencies and local governments across a wide range of industries and policy areas.

His experience includes work in energy, health care, transportation, pharmaceuticals, alcohol beverage regulation, retail and nonprofit advocacy. Brian has extensive experience developing and implementing integrated government affairs, grassroots advocacy and public affairs strategies for clients.

An Eagle Scout, Brian graduated from The Citadel and was commissioned as a military intelligence officer in the United States Army. In 2010, he deployed to Afghanistan with the 1-178th Field Artillery Battalion, where he served as the unit's tactical intelligence officer. After 22 years of military service, Brian retired from the South Carolina Army National Guard, where he most recently served as a legislative liaison.

Before joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Brian worked on numerous political and grassroots campaigns throughout South Carolina. He has been recognized in the Columbia Regional Business Report Book of Lists as one of the state's top lobbyists for three consecutive years (2024 - 2026).

Brian lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with his wife, Rachel, and their two daughters.

AMBER BARNES

15-20 years

Has been named to the Columbia Regional Business Report Book of Lists as a top lobbyist for three consecutive years (2024 - 2026).

South Carolina General Assembly, Governor's Office and state agencies

Amber is a senior vice president of state government relations, assisting clients with traditional advocacy, lobbying and government relations services in matters before the South Carolina General Assembly and regulatory agencies. She has experience working with clients across industry sectors, including education, financial services, healthcare and energy. She assists clients with a variety of issues and has particular depth in the areas of non-profit advocacy and state budget requests. In addition, Amber works with multiple trade and business associations, managing programs, events, communications, membership, among other services.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Amber served as the director of government relations for the South Carolina Bankers Association. In that capacity, she was responsible for coordinating the organization's lobbying and legislative efforts at the state and federal level. Before that, Amber served as a leadership consultant for Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and traveled the country working with collegiate women on leadership and organizational management. She is a former intern of the Hodges Consulting Group, which was headed by former South Carolina governor and MWC president Jim Hodges.

Amber serves as the vice president of the South Carolina Girls State Foundation Board. She has been named to the Columbia Regional Business Report Book of Lists as a top lobbyist for three consecutive years (2024 - 2026).

JAMES SHERWOOD

6-10 years

James Sherwood is a senior vice president with McGuireWoods Consulting, and counsel with McGuireWoods LLP. Prior to joining the firm, he served as deputy legal counsel and ethics officer in the Illinois House of Representatives. James assists clients on a range of issues, including data privacy and security, worker classification and the gig economy, electrification of the transportation sector and the affordable housing crisis. He also counsels clients on various tax incentive programs. Most recently, he assisted an international data center client in obtaining a tax incentive for data centers located in Illinois.

As deputy legal counsel, James advised legislators on a variety of matters, including legislation that overhauled the state's energy policies, transitioned Illinois to a statewide 9-1-1 system and dealt with the increase in heroin and opiate abuse. In his role as ethics officer, James ensured members were apprised of their duties under Illinois ethics laws and regulations, and advised members to ensure compliance therewith.

James also serves as a board member on the Public Policy Committee for the Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

WILLIAM BYERS, IV

(Ohio, )
Clients:

1) AAA Club Alliance Inc

2) AAA East Central

3) AAA Mid States

4) AAA Shelby County

5) Acadia Healthcare, Inc.

6) Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio

7) Alliance for Safety and Justice Action Fund

8) Alsos Behavioral Health

9) Alvis, Inc.

10) American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.

11) American Electric Power

12) Anduril Industries, Inc.

13) Apple Inc.

14) Battelle Memorial Institute

15) Byers Minton & Assocaites

16) Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corp

17) Cardinal Health, Inc

18) Carvana

19) Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)

20) CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc

21) Charter Communications Operating, LLC

22) Chubb INA Holdings, Inc.

23) City of Columbus

24) Cleveland Browns

25) Coalition for Community Solar Access

26) Coalition For Ticket Fairness

27) College Board

28) Columbus Crew SC

29) Columbus Metropolitan Library

30) Columbus State Community College

31) Columbus Urban League

32) Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

33) Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority

34) Community Shelter Board

35) Consumer Safety Technology

36) CSL Behring

37) Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

38) DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc.

39) Delaware County Board of Commissioners

40) Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association

41) Entertainment Software Association (ESA)

42) Ergon, Inc.

43) Evolution Malta Holdings Limited

44) Experience Columbus

45) Future Ready 5

46) Gen4, LLC

47) Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland

48) Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley

49) Greater Cleveland Funders Collaborative (GCFC)

50) Greater Common Good

51) Integrated Services for Behavioral Health

  • 480-318-4510

Clients:

MEGAN MERCER

(Georgia, )
Clients:

SAMUEL OLENS

(Georgia, )

DANIEL PUNALES

(Federal, )

ERIC TANENBLATT

(Georgia, )