Michael Johansen

Michael Johansen

( Maryland,  )

Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC

Introduction

I currently represent clients in the areas of healthcare, healthcare financing, health reform, health certificate of need (CON), casino gaming, lottery, horse racing, transportation, motor vehicles, rental cars, insurance, state and local taxes, franchises, business regulation, IT - information technology, environmental regulation, procurement, state contracting, bid protests, and acquisition of public funds for private programs and projects. Additionally, I advise clients on state and local ethics laws, election laws and lobbying rules.

I previously served as the former staff counsel to the Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the Department of Fiscal Services.

My clients range from the CBAC Gaming (Horseshoe Casino Baltimore), Education Affiliates/Fortis College, Enterprise/Alamo/National Rental Cars, Maryland Physicians Care MCO, and Washington Area New Auto Dealers Association.

Recommendations  Achievements  Client List  Number of Years as a Lobbyist  Relationships  Biography 
Recommendations

  • "RWL's government relations group consistently ranks among Maryland's top lobbyists for good reason. Their team approach, in-depth understanding of their clients' interests, relationships at all levels of government and superb strategies are second to none." - Joseph De Francis, Former President and CEO, Maryland Jockey Club

    • Achievements

    Former staff counsel to Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee handling matters related to state & local taxes, retirement, and agency budgets

    Experienced lobbyist on health care delivery systems, health insurance, and health occupations, including managed care, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, dental plans, and pharmaceuticals

    Team leader on multi-firm effort to preserve the Preakness Stakes in Maryland and to enact a statutory framework for a nearly $400 million capital redevelopment effort for Maryland's racetracks

    Counsel for automotive industries including new automobile dealers and rental car agencies

    Lead lobbyist on legislation to authorize transportation network companies

    Experienced gaming lobbyist representing lottery, casino, racetrack, and sports wagering interests

    Procurement counsel assisting entities on RFPs, bids and other offers of goods, services, and construction to state & local governments

    Counsels clients on state and local ethics laws, gift laws, campaign contribution compliance, election laws, and lobbying rules

    Clients

    1) Access Holdings Management Company, LLC

    2) ASC Engineered Solutions

    3) Ashley, Inc.

    4) Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Center (BARCS)

    5) Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

    6) Berkshire Hathaway Energy GT&S, LLC

    7) Brewers Association of Maryland

    8) Brown Advisory

    9) BSC America

    10) Cable Telecommunications Association of Maryland, Delaware and D.C., Inc.

    11) Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation

    12) Canton Group, The

    13) Carahsoft Technology Corporation

    14) Catalis LLC

    15) CBAC Gaming, LLC (Horseshoe Casino)

    16) CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc.

    17) Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

    18) Children's National Health System

    19) Colonial Pipeline Company

    20) Coppin State University Development Foundation

    21) Corebridge Financial Group

    22) Curio Wellness

    23) DentaQuest

    24) Education Affiliates/Fortis College

    25) Enterprise RAC Company of Baltimore, LLC

    26) Envirotest Systems Holdings Corp.

    27) Fair Hill Condominium Association

    28) Fair Hill Foundation, Inc.

    29) FedEx Corporation

    30) Fidelity Information Services, LLC

    31) Food & Friends, Inc.

    32) Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park

    33) Gaudenzia, Inc.

    34) Google LLC and its Affiliates

    35) GT Independence

    36) H&R Block Management LLC

    37) Helping Up Mission

    38) HEVI

    39) Humanim, Inc.

    40) JMI Management LP

    41) Land Preservation Trust

    42) Leda Health

    43) Light & Wonder

    44) Maryland Academy of Pediatric Dentists

    45) Maryland Association of Realtors

    46) Maryland Automobile Dealers Association

    47) Maryland Care Inc. dba Maryland Physicians Care

    48) Maryland Distillers Guild

    49) Maryland Jockey Club (Pimlico, Laurel and Rosecroft Racetracks)

    50) Maryland Partnership for Prevention, Inc.

    51) Maryland Tech Council

    52) Maryland Wineries Association

    53) Maximus

    54) Medallia, Inc.

    55) Modern Living Solutions

    56) Mount Vernon Place Conservancy

    57) MTX Group, Inc.

    58) NaphCare Inc.

    59) NAREIT, formerly National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts

    60) Pepco Holdings, Inc.

    61) PGA of America

    62) Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)

    63) Premium Cigar Retailers Association of Maryland

    64) Prologis, Inc.

    65) Real Time Medical Systems

    66) Reed Group

    67) Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC

    68) Ripken Baseball

    69) Scientific Games, LLC

    70) Sheppard Pratt Health Systems

    71) Skyline Technology Solutions

    72) Spotless Brands

    73) Story of Maryland, LLC

    74) ThinkBig Networks LLC

    75) Tufton Professional Baseball LLC

    76) TVI, Inc./Savers

    77) UPMC Western Maryland

    78) URW Airports, LLC

    79) Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA)

    80) Waste Management, Inc.

    81) XCALIBER INTERNATIONAL LTD., LLC

    Number of Years as a Lobbyist

    20+ years

    Relationships

    Fiscal Analyst, Department of Fiscal Services (1988)
    Committee Staff, Maryland Senate Budget & Taxation Committee (1989 - 1990)

    Biography

    Michael V. Johansen is the Administrative Partner at Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC and the Chair of the firm's Administrative Law and Regulatory Compliance practice. Mike has nearly 30 years of experience in lobbying and legal matters before the General Assembly, executive agencies, and local/municipal governments in the state of Maryland. As a registered lobbyist, he has represented clients in the areas of healthcare, healthcare financing, health reform, health certificate of need (CON), casino gaming, lottery, horse racing, transportation, motor vehicles, rental cars, insurance, state and local taxes, franchises, business regulation, IT - information technology, environmental regulation, procurement, state contracting, bid protests, and acquisition of public funds for private programs and projects. Mike also advises clients on state and local ethics laws, gift laws, campaign contribution compliance, election laws and lobbying rules.

    Prior to joining the firm, Mike was legislative staff to the Maryland General Assembly, the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee, and the Department of Fiscal Services. He is a member of the board of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Maryland Chapter and a board member of the Indian Creek School.

    Last Updated: October 01, 2024