DAVID A. SMITH is a partner in the Princeton Public Affairs Group, is a veteran of the public affairs arena and has successfully managed public affairs campaigns impacting auto insurance, life insurance, tort reform and environmental legislative initiatives. Mr. Smith received national acclaim when he was honored with a ""Pollie Award"" by the American Association of Political Consultants and named to their United States ""Public Affairs Team of the Year." Mr. Smith was also named one of the most influential players in New Jersey's Healthcare arena by the Annual HealthSense Listing. Since 2005, Mr. Smith has been a Commissioner on the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (nominated by the Governor for two separate four year terms and confirmed by the NJ Senate) and currently serves as an Officer on the Commission (Secretary). Mr. Smith serves on the National Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council, and was one of the few contract lobbyists in the Country to be appointed to a National Task Force charged with creating ethical standard for lobbyists throughout the United States. Mr. Smith is a founder and member of the Board of Directors of ProtectingAmerica.org, an advocacy organization Co-chaired by James Lee Witt, former Cabinet member under President Clinton and Admiral James Loy, Deputy Director of Homeland Security under President Bush. Mr. Smith also serves as an Officer (1st Vice President) of the New Jersey Hall of Fame Foundation Board of Directors and also serves on the Executive Committee (Secretary) of The Advocacy Group (TAG). Finally, Mr. Smith serves on the Board of Directors as an officer (Treasurer) of the State Capitol Insurance Company RRG, the first professional liability company for lobbyists headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mr. Smith has appeared on television and radio stations representing clients' interests, authored dozens of articles on politics/policy issues in New Jersey and is a frequent guest speaker/lecturer at national and state conferences, legislative hearings, meetings and seminars. He has been a consultant to statewide and legislative political campaigns and is a member of the Executive Finance Committee of the Assembly Democratic Leadership Committee as well as the New Jersey State Democratic Committee. Prior to joining the firm in 1995, Mr. Smith served as Director of Policy and Planning for the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Office. In that capacity, Mr. Smith supervised the partisan staff of all Assembly Committees and Task Forces while serving as senior staff aide to the insurance and commerce legislative committees. He was a Director with the New Jersey Dental Association from 1985 to 1990 and served on several national and state health care and insurance advisory committees.

Mr. Smith was awarded a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) Degree from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of The American College. He is a Graduate Fellow of the Public Affairs Institute, a three year educational program of the Public Affairs Council located in Washington, DC. Mr. Smith also graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from Gettysburg College.

20+ years

Member, Board of Directors, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, 2019-present

Member, RVA-Hampton Roads Collaborative, 2019-present

Member, Virginia Early Childhood Foundation Advisors Council, 2019-present

Member, Transatlantic Business Investment Council Advisory Board, 2019-present

Member, Chamber RVA Richmond Marine Terminal Task Force, 2016-2017

Member, 1999-present; Legislative Chair, 2000-present; Board of Directors, 2002-2004, Virginia Economic Developers Association

Member, 2008-present; Vice President of Membership, 2012, National Council for Public Private Partnerships

Member, International Economic Development Council, 2008-present

Member, 2014-present; Chairman, Marketing Committee, 2015; Board Advisor, 2016, Site Selectors Guild

Member, 2015-present; Business Facilities LiveXchange Advisory Board

Member, Working Group on Revisions to the Model PPEA Guidelines, 2005-present

Member, Infrastructure Working Group, Attorney General's Regulatory Reform Commission, 2008-2009

Board of Directors, Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2003-2009

Co-Chair; 10th Reunion Gift Committee Member, 2002-2003; 15th Reunion Gift Committee Member, 2008; 20th Reunion Gift Committee Co-chair, 2012-2013, The Fund for William and Mary

Member, PPEA Ethical and Conflicts Working Group to the HJR 186 Subcommittee, 2005

Associate Member, Virginia Road and Transportation Builders Association, 2001-2005

Board of Directors, Oaks at Crossridge Homeowners Association, 2004-2005

Member, 1993-1998; Vice Chair, 1997, Young Guarde Council of the Society of the Alumni of the College of William and Mary

Member, Advisory Committee on the Center of Innovative Technology to the Joint Commission on Technology and Science, 2002-2003

Chris Lloyd leads the McGuireWoods Consulting infrastructure and economic development team where he specializes in site selection and economic development incentives negotiations. Since 1998, Chris has worked on dozens of high profile, corporate expansions and relocations across the country. Chris has also worked closely with clients on numerous public-private partnership projects for transportation and other infrastructure, and played a leading role in the development and passage of Virginia's public-private partnership laws, which have since become model legislation for use in other states.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Chris served for nearly five years in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade under Virginia Governors Allen and Wilder. In this position, he was responsible for legislative, budgetary, and regulatory coordination and development within that Secretariat which managed the state's economic development programs.

Chris graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1993. He lives in Richmond with his wife, Megan, and children, Ryan and Meredith.

6-10 years

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Massachusetts State Senate, Legislative Aide
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Legislative Director
Sullivan & McLaughlin Companies, Project Manager

EDUCATION
Middlebury College, B.A. 1992

The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, New Jersey, 2024?2027
ROI-NJ, Influencers Power List: Government Affairs, 2021-2024
NJBIZ, "Law Power 50" 2019-2021
NJBIZ, "100 Most Powerful People in New Jersey Business," 2011-2017
John J. Heldrich Distinguished Leadership Award from Rutgers University's Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
The Christie Institute for Public Policy, Inc., Chair
Republican National Committeeman for New Jersey
University of Phoenix Board of Trustees, Jersey City, NJ campus, Chair
Seton Hall University School of Law, Board of Visitors
John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, National Advisory Board Member
Turning Point, Inc., Board of Trustees

Bill has earned a reputation as a trusted business counselor to clients, delivering strategic advice on complex public policy, economic and communication initiatives. Bill has extensive experience with legal and legislative issues that impact private and public sector clients at both the federal and state levels. He has deep knowledge of how public policy decisions may impact clients' businesses. Bill counsels clients in a wide range of industries, often focusing on the regulatory aspects of transactions, land use matters or state licensing requirements. He continues to be a trusted advisor to New Jersey policymakers on issues including health care, gaming, public utilities, and education law.

Over the course of his career, Bill has served in various general counsel roles and supported numerous elected officials and the Republican Party. He was elected as New Jersey's Republican National Committeeman, a position he has held since 2010. In 2016, Bill served as general counsel to the Trump Transition Committee; he also served as general counsel to Governor Chris Christie's presidential campaign. Bill has been involved in many federal and state elections, with roles in the political campaigns of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump, along with New Jersey Governors Tom Kean, Christine Todd Whitman, and Chris Christie.

Prior to joining McCarter, Bill spent almost eight years at Gibbons, P.C. in the firm's Corporate Practice. He also served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Public Affairs at Community Education Centers. In 2005, Bill earned an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Talk Program series in the Mid-Atlantic region for "The Battling Bills," a program he created with Bill Pascrell, III.

Active in the community, Bill currently serves as a member of the Seton Hall Law School Board of Visitors, as well as a member of the National Advisory Board for the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, and Chair of the University of Phoenix Board of Trustees for its Jersey City, NJ campus.

Bill and his wife, Laura, have been married for 40 years and together have raised three adult daughters.

Jay Williamson advocates on behalf of clients at the state and local levels. He is experienced in developing effective legislative strategies, navigating complex policy needs, analyzing policy, and supporting appropriations initiatives.

Jay has represented clients across a diverse range of issues, including telecommunications, county government, voting rights, business liability, tort reform, appropriations, public safety, and workforce development. He has helped clients navigate Texas state government and Austin City Hall while serving as a policy analyst for a Central Texas-based public safety 501(c)(3) organization.

Before joining Grace & McEwan Consulting, Jay spent five years as an associate at a boutique government relations firm in Austin and served as a legislative aide for Rep. Travis Clardy.

Jay is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a McCombs Business Honors Degree and a minor in business and public policy.

Shalamar Parham joined Cornerstone in January 2025 after serving as a Senior Policy Analyst with GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group, where she lobbied and advocated on client issues and analyzed legislation to support client needs.

Prior to that, Shalamar served as Policy Manager/Legal Counsel for the Georgia House Democratic Caucus, where she provided policy advice, drafted legislation, and led a team of nine in summarizing over 1,000 bills. Her experience also includes serving as Chief of Staff for former Georgia State Representative Erick Allen (D-GA), overseeing legislative strategies, managing staff, and coordinating with leadership.

In addition to her public policy expertise, Shalamar has an extensive legal background. She worked as the Managing Attorney at her own firm - Parham Law Firm, LLC, where she managed active cases, recruited and developed legal teams, and handled firm operations for more than a decade.

She holds a Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Valdosta State University.

20+ years

Jim Grace advises and advocates for a wide variety of clients on federal, state, and local public policy matters. His deep knowledge of and experience with governments and political campaigns at virtually all levels allow him to assist with complex government relations matters. Jim enhances and protects his clients' business opportunities by monitoring political developments and formulating and implementing strategies to help clients achieve their government relations objectives.

In addition to operating Grace & McEwan, in 2019, Jim and Jennifer McEwan were co-founders of Datum Tech, Inc., a mobile data advertising company. Datum ingested the location data from mobile devices at scale from around the United States and organized that data at the household level using parcel data. Once sorted, the location data could be matched to voter files and other address lists and utilized for highly targeted multiplatform advertising. Jim and Jennifer grew Datum to sixteen employees and yearly revenues of $9 million. They successfully exited in 2024 when Datum was acquired by a publicly traded gaming company.

Prior to forming Grace & McEwan Consulting, Jim chaired the Texas government relations practice at Baker Botts L.L.P. and served as director of Texas state relations and senior counsel at CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Before serving in an in-house counsel capacity, he was a member of a Houston-based international law firm where his practice concentrated on merger and acquisition transactions, securities offerings and general corporate matters for companies involved in oil and gas exploration and production; oil field and energy services; natural gas liquid processing; propane and heating oil and chemical production and distribution.

Jim holds a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center and a B.A. in History from the University of Notre Dame. In 2020, Jim received the University of Houston Law Alumni Association's Pro Bono/Community Service and Leadership Award for his pro bono efforts to secure $45 million in funding for a new building for the Law Center.

From 2016-2019, Jim was the Chair of the Board of Directors for Undies for Everyone, a charity that provides new underwear to underprivileged children, and he continues to serve on that organization's Board. He also currently is on the Board of Directors of the Houston Area Women's Center.

In 2007, the day before he turned 40, Jim took a commission in the United States Navy Reserve, and in 2011-12, he deployed to Afghanistan for nine months, where he served as an intelligence officer with a unit that conducted counterinsurgency operations.

6-10 years

RWL is the go-to firm when businesses and individuals have a complex legal problem, with a team of attorneys that thrive on pursuing the most challenging cases on behalf of its clients. Our attorneys have represented scores of clients, including: major-league sports franchises; name-brand companies such as Google, Uber, Facebook and FedEx; whistleblowers in false claims cases; and millions of consumers in national class action suits.

With offices located in Baltimore, the state capital of Annapolis and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC (RWL) provides an important link to Maryland's principal business, commercial and government centers.

Matthew has been an advocate for over five years as a registered lobbyist in Maryland at RWL Law and has represented a variety of clients, including trade associations, businesses, non-profits and other entities on tax issues, business regulatory matters, capital budget requests and a variety of other matters. Additional experience includes managing numerous Maryland State and Local political campaigns including time at the Maryland Senate and House Democratic Caucuses and serving as a Senate staffer for the Maryland Senate Majority Leader for several years.

Stephen Ledet joined Cornerstone Government Affairs' Baton Rouge, Louisiana office in July 2018. Stephen has nearly 20 years' experience working in government affairs in Baton Rouge.

Stephen previously served as the director of public affairs for Entergy Louisiana, where he led and implemented their legislative strategy. Much of his time at Entergy was spent relationship building with legislators, leadership, and their staff. Stephen was also involved in the management of Entergy's political action committee (PAC) contributions and recruiting PAC membership.

Prior to his five years at Entergy, Stephen spent nearly 12 years on staff with the Louisiana Association for Justice, where he managed the Association's contract lobbyists and lobbying team. Stephen advised the Association's executive director and committee on legislative strategies and directed its legislative fundraising efforts.

Stephen serves on the board for the Salvation Army and is a member of the St. Aloysius Church Men's Club.

Stephen received his B.B.A in marketing from Mississippi State University. He resides in Baton Rouge with his wife Mackenzie, and their twins, Henry and Willis.

Sally Kilpatrick advises a diverse set of clients on state legislative and regulatory issues with a focus on healthcare, energy, education and economic development policy. Sally joined Cornerstone's Atlanta, Georgia office in September 2015 and has more than 10 years of experience providing strategic advice to the private sector.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, Sally served as vice president of government affairs at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the state's largest business advocacy organization. Through her seven-year tenure at the Chamber, Sally developed an extensive background managing legislative and regulatory issues in the policy areas of water, energy, education, economic development and health care. While at the Chamber, Sally served on the Technology Association of Georgia's Government Affairs Taskforce and the Georgia Water Alliance. She managed the Georgia Chamber's Local Chamber Legislative Ad Hoc Committee and legislative affairs for Chamber's Small Business Advisory Council.

She has established strong, bipartisan working relationships with House and Senate members of the Georgia General Assembly and state agency officials. Her industry specific knowledge and key relationships have been valuable in assisting clients to successfully achieve their legislative and regulatory objectives at the state Capitol.

Sally is a current board member of Atlanta Moms Making A Difference and serves on the executive committee of the Georgia Chamber's Government Affairs Council.

Sally earned her B.S. in Journalism at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. She and her husband Trey reside in Atlanta with their daughter, Phen, and son, Clark.

Charlene Puchalla serves as an Assistant Vice President in Cornerstone's Atlanta, GA office, assisting the firm's government relations team with client service activities including conducting research and providing updates on state legislative matters and diverse regulatory issues.

Charlene joins Cornerstone following her time at Wellstar Health System, where she held multiple positions, most recently serving as a Government Relations Specialist. In this role, she developed and managed relationships with elected officials and key staff in Georgia at the local, state and federal levels, while assisting in developing and recommending legislative priorities and goals. Charlene gained invaluable experience summarizing and interpreting the impact of legislation and preparing legislative summaries, regular communications and presentations. She also served as a Legal Assistant of Government Relations at Wellstar.

Prior to Wellstar, Charlene served as a scheduler and field representative for Representative Tom Price (R-GA) for more than seven years. She began her career as a legislative and research aid in the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Charlene earned her bachelor's with a concentration in public administration from Shippensburg University.

Andrea Chavez advises clients on state and local public policy matters. She is experienced in devising effective policy strategies, drafting, analyzing, and monitoring legislation, and navigating clients through the legislative process and government agencies. Andrea has lived in Brazil, London, and Mexico and is deeply invested in furthering Texas-Mexico commercial ties by locating and helping develop beneficial projects for Grace & McEwan Consulting's clients.

Prior to joining Grace & McEwan Consulting, Andrea was a member of the government relations sections at both Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and Baker Botts L.L.P. and began her career as a legislative aide to Rep. David M. Leibowitz (D-San Antonio). During the 87th legislative session, she served as policy advisor to the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), her areas of expertise included county affairs, local government, transportation, and urban affairs. Andrea also has deep political campaign experience, having served as a Bexar County field representative for the Republican Party of Texas during the 2014 election cycle.

Andrea holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from St. Mary's University, and she is fluent in Spanish and French.

Lawrence Bell joined Cornerstone in February 2023 from Sen. Warnock's (D-GA) office where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor. Lawrence joined the Senator's office after serving as an Advisor and Chief of Staff for the Warnock for Georgia Senatorial campaign in the 2020 special election. His leadership role on that campaign led to a historic victory electing the state's first Black United States senator.

Prior to joining the Warnock campaign, Lawrence worked in the Atlanta office of a large law and lobbying firm. There, he represented some of the country's largest corporations, working with state and local elected officials to help shape public policy and regulations across a variety of industries. His role at the firm also included community engagement, helping the organization develop and implement its philanthropic strategy to maximize the firm's impact in the community.

Lawrence has volunteered with numerous organizations including Big Brother Big Sister, Yes Atlanta and Urban League of Greater Atlanta-Young Professionals, among others. He has served on the advisory board for the Young Adult Guidance Center, and the Atlanta Chapter of National Black MBA. He also served on the board for Groundwork Atlanta, a non-profit focused on environmental sustainability and was a Trustee at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he is still a member. Lawrence was recognized in Southern Journal Magazine as one of their 14 under 40. He received his master's from Georgia State University and his bachelor's from Clark Atlanta University.

Jeff Hamling joined Cornerstone in 2017, bringing a wealth of experience and relationships in Atlanta, Georgia. Jeff came to the firm after two years as a lobbyist in Dentons' Atlanta and Washington offices where he represented a number of corporate, governmental, and non-profit clients.

Prior to Dentons, Jeff worked at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce as vice president for state and federal affairs. Jeff joined the Chamber after serving then-Congressman Tom Price for over five years. Starting as a staff assistant, Jeff was quickly promoted to deputy chief of staff, overseeing the Atlanta office and various aspects of the federal legislative staff.

Jeff has also been recognized by prestigious organizations for professional accomplishments: profiled in Capitol Impact Magazine's People on the Move, "Rookie of the Year" award voted on by his peers in the Georgia lobbying community, and James Magazine's Georgia's Political Influencers in Washington, D.C.

Patrick Love joined Cornerstone in January 2025 after serving as an Attorney Analyst for the Georgia Senate Office of Policy and Legislative Analysis, where he supported standing committees by reviewing all assigned legislation, advising chairs on parliamentary procedures and conducting requested research for senators, leadership and staff.

Prior to that, Patrick served as a Budget and Policy Analyst for the Georgia House Budget and Research Office where he staffed the House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee which oversees the state's universities, colleges and scholarship programs. In that role, he also staffed the House standing committees on Defense and Veteran Affairs and Science and Technology. Patrick's experiences also include serving as a Legal Services Worker for the Georgia Department of Human Services, Legal Extern for the Georgia Department of Law and Legal Extern for Georgia Senate Office of the Democratic Leader.

He holds a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from University of Texas at Dallas.

Adnelis Perez supports Grace & McEwan Consulting and its clients with matters related to government relations, public policy, research, and administration.

Before joining Grace & McEwan Consulting, Adnelis served as a Legislative Aide for State Representative Kronda Thimesch (R-Carrolton), where she managed constituent services and communications, as well as conducted research and policy analysis. She began her career as a Legislative Intern for the Association of Electric Companies of Texas (AECT), where she contributed to advocacy efforts on behalf of the state's electric industry in the legislature.

Ahead of the 89th legislative session, Adnelis was a panelist at UT Austin's 2025 Legislative Internship Seminar to speak on her experience navigating a legislative session to interns and new staff members working in and around the Texas Legislature.

In 2017, she represented the Escuela del Deporte de San Juan at the Federación de Atletismo de Puerto Rico's National Competition and the AAJI Juvenile Championship, in the event of 100-meter hurdles, where she earned an individual third-place national title and won multiple national titles as part of the 100-meter relay team.

Adnelis is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Government and a minor in Law, Justice, and Society. She holds an Associate of Arts Degree with a focus in Political Science and Philosophy from Tarrant County College and is fluent in Spanish.

Chase Everton brings more than a decade of experience as a lobbyist who has worked with federal, state, and local governments.

He has worked for associations, as an in-house lobbyist where he managed multi-state government relations efforts, including working with legislative bodies and attorneys general, and as a contract lobbyist. His government relations clients consist of many Fortune 500 companies and national brands such as 1-800 Contacts, Ancestry, eBay, Expedia Group, and Facebook.

Chase specializes in disruptive technologies, tax policy, and economic development. Over the past few years, he has secured millions of dollars in appropriations for his clients. Additionally, Chase has managed numerous public affairs projects for Fortune 500 mergers, local governments, and nonprofits.

Chase received a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Utah. When not at the Capitol, you will find Chase golfing and fly fishing in Utah's beautiful rivers.

6-10 years

The Daily Record's Top 100 Women 2021
The Daily's Record's 2017 VIP List (Very Important Professional)
2017 Maryland Rising Star - Legislative & Governmental Affairs
2016 Maryland Rising Star - Legislative & Governmental Affairs
2015 Maryland Rising Star - Legislative & Governmental Affairs
2014 Maryland Rising Star

RWL is the go-to firm when businesses and individuals have a complex legal problem, with a team of attorneys that thrive on pursuing the most challenging cases on behalf of its clients. Our attorneys have represented scores of clients, including: major-league sports franchises; name-brand companies such as Google, Uber, Facebook and FedEx; whistleblowers in false claims cases; and millions of consumers in national class action suits.

With offices located in Baltimore, the state capital of Annapolis and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC (RWL) provides an important link to Maryland's principal business, commercial and government centers.

Nial Patel joined Cornerstone Government Affairs in 2011 after more than seven years of service to Governor Bobby Jindal, dating back to his first run for governor in 2003. As one of the longest serving senior staff members for the Governor, Nial worked as the director of scheduling. Additionally, when Governor Jindal was elected to Congress, Nial served as his executive assistant. During his tenure with Jindal, Nial's duties varied from campaigning to research and outreach, working with elected politicians, stakeholders, and government officials from Washington, D.C. and across the state of Louisiana.

Nial holds a Masters in Economics from the Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University (LSU), and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from LSU, where he also minored Political Science and Business Administration.

Originally from New Orleans, Nial attended Holy Cross High School and the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts. In 2014, he was recognized as one of the top forty under 40 leaders in the community, and is alum of the Baton Rouge Leadership and Louisiana Leadership programs. Nial serves on the Southeast Super Region Committee, Greater New Orleans Inc.'s Next Gen Council, New Schools for Baton Rouge Board, Teach for America Board, and is Chairman of Louisiana Association of Business and Industry's Emerging Leaders Council. He has helped raised money for the American Cancer Society, Republican Governor's Association, and several elected officials. Nial currently resides in Baton Rouge.

CHRISTOPHER DURYEA serves as Managing Partner of Statewide Public Affairs. Certainly New York has experienced an unprecedented level of political upheaval over the past several years. As a result, partnering with government has become more challenging. In founding Statewide Public Affairs, Mr. Duryea's vision is to manage a dynamic, experienced and trusted team who excels for our client's government affairs needs within the context of today's challenging environment.

With over two decades of experience working in and around New York politics, Mr. Duryea has well-recognized expertise in assisting clients navigate the complexities of New York state and local government. As Managing Partner, Mr. Duryea is responsible for the continued success of Statewide's clients.

Most recently, Mr. Duryea was a Partner at Marsh, Duryea & Associates where he represented numerous clients and developed a particular expertise on corporate, taxation, economic development, telecommunications and energy matters. Mr. Duryea also previously served as Vice President of the Cable Telecommunications Association of New York, charged with overseeing day-to-day operations and leading government affairs efforts. Here he developed a keen understanding of telecommunications policy issues and trade association management skills.

Mr. Duryea first began building his vast understanding of New York politics as Office Manager for the Onondaga County Democratic Committee, where he worked on numerous Central New York political campaigns. Subsequently he became an expert on the inner workings of Albany, serving as Legislative Director for the Chairman of the New York State Assembly Corporations, Authorities & Commissions and Environmental Conservation Committees.

In May 2012, City & State News named Mr. Duryea as one of "Albany's Rising Stars" noting, "Duryea is a key player." Mr. Duryea is a veteran of the U.S. Navy's submarine service and has a Masters in Political Science from the Rockefeller College at SUNY Albany and a BA in Political Science from SUNY Albany.

6-10 years

RWL is the go-to firm when businesses and individuals have a complex legal problem, with a team of attorneys that thrive on pursuing the most challenging cases on behalf of its clients. Our attorneys have represented scores of clients, including: major-league sports franchises; name-brand companies such as Google, Uber, Facebook and FedEx; whistleblowers in false claims cases; and millions of consumers in national class action suits.

With offices located in Baltimore, the state capital of Annapolis and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC (RWL) provides an important link to Maryland's principal business, commercial and government centers.

John C. "JR" Reith is the Chief Operating Officer at Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC. He also a Registered Lobbyist in the firm's extensive Government Relations and Lobbying practice. He served as Finance Director for all three of former Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.'s gubernatorial campaigns and was co-chairman of his campaign committees. Mr. Reith served on the Inaugural Committee for Governor Larry Hogan, and has been active in the National Republican Party since 1996. In 2016, Mr. Reith served as the co-chairman for the Inaugural Committee for Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh. He currently sits on the board of directors for The Canton Group, ThinkBig Networks, and on the alumni board for the Boys' Latin School of Maryland. Previously, Mr. Reith served as an advisor for Compass Marketing, Inc. and as an advisor for Brown Advisory in Baltimore. He is also a former board member of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House and the GBMC Philanthropy Committee board of directors.