Government Advocacy & Public Policy

We serve as effective advocates of our clients’ interests in matters where government and business intersect, including lobbying Tennessee’s legislative and executive branches of government. The firm’s attorneys and staff represent clients in their business relationships with the agencies of state government, from the General Assembly to the many executive branch departments, agencies, boards and commissions.

Our clients include Tennessee’s internationally known distiller of Tennessee Whiskey, healthcare companies, insurers, banks and other financial institutions, utilities, energy sector and others. The firm also has been a leader in public policy issues such as tort reform.

The firm appears regularly in support of clients’ interest in the state of Tennessee, including:

  • State government purchasing and contracting
  • State and federal political action committees and government ethics
  • Ethics Commission and Registry of Election Finances on lobbyist and campaign issues
  • Department of Economic and Community Development on business relocation and state and local tax incentives, abatements and tax increment financing
  • Environmental regulators on enforcement, licensure and rule-making matters
  • Department of Revenue on state and local tax disputes and assessment appeals
  • Department of Financial Institutions on banking and other regulatory matters
  • Department of Commerce and Insurance on insurance licensure and rate-setting matters
  • Department of Commerce and Insurance on state securities topics
  • Department of Health on licensure and regulatory matters
  • Tennessee Occupational and Safety Administration and other labor and employment regulators
  • Attorney General investigations and inquiries
  • Public Utility Commission on telecommunications and other regulated matters

Erica Bell Vick and Jacob Baggett are registered lobbyists for the firm’s clients in the state of Tennessee. A current list of the firm’s lobbyist registrations can be found on the Tennessee Ethics Commission website. Brant Phillips and Erica Bell Vick are the co-authors of the Tennessee chapter of the Thomson/West Lobbying, PACs and Campaign Finance: 50 State Handbook. In 2015, the Government Advocacy & Public Policy practice was ranked one of the top in the state of Tennessee by the Southern Political Report Magazine.

  • Worked with the U.S. subsidiary of a supplier of nuclear analysis software to successfully oppose attempts to limit the disposal efforts related to the bulk survey for release for materials

    We worked with the U.S. subsidiary of a supplier of nuclear analysis software and specialized services to the nuclear industry...
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    Client Type: Public Company
  • Represented a major distiller of Tennessee whiskey to promote and successfully pass legislation that defines “Tennessee Whiskey” to the benefit of our client

    We represented a major distiller of Tennessee whiskey to promote and successfully pass legislation that defines "Tennessee Whiskey" to the...
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    Client Type: Private Company
  • Lobbied for passage bills on behalf of the fundraising arm of a national children’s research hospital that would give our client more options for reserve calculations, maintenance of accounts and annual reporting

    We successfully lobbied for passage bills on behalf of the fundraising arm of a national children's research hospital that would...
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    Client Type: Nonprofit
  • Represented a private business that owns and operates fixed base operations at large airports nationally and in Tennessee

    We represented a private business that owns and operates fixed base operations at large airports nationally and in Tennessee. When...
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    Client Type: Private Company
  • Served as general counsel for a state-wide electric power trade association, including representation in several lawsuits and lobbying efforts

    We have served as general counsel for a state-wide electric power trade association, including representation in several lawsuits and lobbying...
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    Client Type: Nonprofit
  • Represent an international financial institution on various lobbying matters

    We represent an international financial institution on matters related to state regulation of gift cards, efforts to affect transactional fees...
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    Client Type: Public Company
  • Drafted and successfully promoted passage of a bill re-writing the Tennessee Uniform Anatomical Gift Act

    On behalf of a state-wide organ and tissue procurement agency, we drafted and successfully promoted passage of a bill re-writing...
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    Client Type: Nonprofit
  • Represented a state-wide association of major healthcare providers and a major hospital system in legislative matters

    We represented a state-wide association of major healthcare providers and a major hospital system in legislative matters, including funding Tennessee's...
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    Client Type: Nonprofit
  • Worked on behalf of a major computer company to introduce the concept of bringing successful entrepreneurs into state government

    We have worked on behalf of a major computer company to introduce the concept of bringing successful entrepreneurs into state...
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    Client Type: Private Company
  • Represented a post-secondary proprietary university and affiliated entities in connection to its relationships with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission regarding various rules, regulations and approvals

    We represented a post-secondary proprietary university and affiliated entities in connection to its relationships with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission...
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    Client Type: Private Company
Jacob  D. Baggett
Senior Public Policy Attorney
Mallorie Kerby
Senior Public Policy Attorney
Erica Vick Penley
Member