In 2000, Harris Jones founded Harris Jones & Malone, LLC. To date, she remains the first and only Black woman in the State of Maryland to own and manage a law practice with a focus in lobbying, government relations, procurement, labor negotiations, criminal defense, and administrative trial board representation at both the state and local levels. Harris Jones & Malone proudly serves municipalities and related quasi-public agencies, non-profits, and small and large business enterprises, both publicly and privately held. Currently, Harris Jones & Malone represents clients on issues concerning, but not limited to construction, energy, water, retail sales, education, transportation, public safety, healthcare, gaming, real estate, telecommunications, procurement, corporate law, state funding for public and private development projects, taxation, labor, insurance, public interest, election, and environmental law.

Due to her hard work and tireless advocacy, Harris Jones is widely regarded as a lobbyist with the ability to effect real change in the legislative process, regardless of the size of her client or the perceived power of her opponent. As a result of her successful track record, her clients have enabled her to become the first Black attorney/lobbyist to be consistently ranked in the top five earning lobbyists in Maryland following the conclusion of each legislative session since 2009.

Harris Jones has worked on high profile matters such as the repeal of Maryland's Death Penalty, the enactment of the Civil Marriage Protection Act, and in 2019, the Community Safety and Strengthening Act, which authorizes Johns Hopkins University to establish a university police department.

Among her many legislative accomplishments, Harris Jones lobbied successfully for the passage of a priority lien bill on behalf of the Community Associations Institute Maryland Legislative Action Committee (CAI), an organization representing common ownership communities. For many years, CAI had battled with financial institutions over this critical legislation. In only her second legislative session representing CAI, Harris Jones was able to facilitate an agreement and secure the votes needed to pass the bill. This law allows condominium associations to recover up to four months of association fees at the time of a foreclosure sale. Hard hit by the downturn in the housing market, association fees are vital to the financial stability of all common ownership communities.

Harris Jones is a Member of the Board of Trustees/Directors of three publicly traded companies: Industrial Logistics Properties Trust, Diversified Healthcare Trust, and TravelCenters of America, LLC. She also serves on the Board of Trustees/Directors of Everyman Theatre and Baltimore Museum of Art. In 2021, Harris Jones was listed as one of The Daily Record's Power 100. She was also recognized by Savoy Magazine as one of the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors, an international honor. In 2019 Harris Jones received the Current Leader Award from the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland, Inc. In 2016, Harris Jones received the Friend of Dyslexia Award for Outstanding Dyslexia Advocacy and also received the Maryland Government Relations Association's Community Service Award. Since 2000, Harris Jones has earned the following honors: YWCA Greater Baltimore's Special Leader Award, The Daily Record's Leadership in Law Award, The Baltimore Sun's 50 Women to Watch in 2013, The Daily Records Maryland's Top 100 Women in 2005 and 2009, The Baltimore Business Journal's 40 under 40, The Baltimore Times' Top 25 Young Leaders to Watch, and the Maryland Coalition for Responsive Government's 21st Century Woman distinction.

Experience You Can Count On

Drexwood's core competency is lobbying. Our team's in-depth knowledge of local, state, and federal government enables us to provide our clients with a blueprint for success in the public sector and a unique insight into what hazards to avoid. We use our political knowledge and experience to help our clients understand where they are, see where they need to go, and build a strategy for success here in Illinois. We help identify key public officials best suited to champion our clients' causes as we advocate on their behalf before the state legislature and Illinois's executive agencies. Our job is to get big things done at any level of politics, government, and public life.

Mr. Finseth is the owner and CEO of Carrara Nevada, a medium sized government affairs firm established in the 1990's. The firm works with national and international Fortune 500 firms, along with national and state trade associations and local government clients. Our expertise lies in general business issue, gaming, real estate, health care, environmental and local government fields.

Experience You Can Count On

Drexwood's core competency is lobbying. Our team's in-depth knowledge of local, state, and federal government enables us to provide our clients with a blueprint for success in the public sector and a unique insight into what hazards to avoid. We use our political knowledge and experience to help our clients understand where they are, see where they need to go, and build a strategy for success here in Illinois. We help identify key public officials best suited to champion our clients' causes as we advocate on their behalf before the state legislature and Illinois's executive agencies. Our job is to get big things done at any level of politics, government, and public life.