The public policy, regulatory and government affairs practice at Mayer Brown offers a full range of lobbying, legislative and regulatory counseling, and congressional investigations support. Its client base includes major corporations, financial institutions, and trade associations as well as emerging startups. Philip Recht leads the California Government Relations team from Los Angeles, with notable experience developing regulatory schemes in industries including healthcare, transportation, and data. In Chicago, Mitchell Holzrichter is a key contact for matters involving infrastructure funding and policy, providing advice to both private developers and state governments with regard to obtaining and deploying federal funds. Financial services policy is an area of expertise for Andrew Olmem in the Washington DC office, praised as ‘particularly good at offering strategic advice on legislative/regulatory matters’. Tom Perez joined the DC team in April 2025 following a period as Senior Advisor to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'Andrew Olmem, the firm's DC office managing partner, is particularly good at offering strategic advice on legislative/regulatory matters.'
'The contacts and relationships of the team are excellent. They can get face time with high-level government officials both in Congress and the administration. They are willing to travel around the world and have excellent relationships in every country in which we do business. Their ability to understand and advise on a variety of legal and commercial issues is unmatched.'
'Mac Bernstein is extraordinarily easy to work with. He looks for ways to create new connections and business opportunities.'
'This practice is unique because it essentially serves as our policy shop, especially given its involvement and history with us not just at the federal level but in state legislatures as well. In addition to policy, legislative drafting, and redlines, they have strong relationships on Capitol Hill and use them when asked and necessary.'
'Howard Waltzman is exceptional. He is well-versed on the topics, knows the industry very well, and has keen political acumen to help us advance our policy priorities.'
Key clients
- AT&T
- Charles Schwab Corporation
- CTIA
- Financial Trade Associations
- Live Nation Entertainment
- London Stock Exchange Group (Matter is confidential)
- Lyft
- Lytton Rancheria
- Onsemi
- People Search Services Coalition
- State Street (Matter is confidential)
- The Aspen Institute (Matter is confidential)
- Truist Financial (Matter is confidential)
Work highlights
Representing a coalition of major people search service companies (Spokeo, PeopleFinders, Been Verified and People Connect), seeking to ensure that state and federal privacy laws and regulations are both constitutional and workable for the industry.
Secured approval of a $66 million contract modification for client to transform and integrate 27 separate Los Angeles County transportation fare collection systems and to facilitate use of multiple fare payment formats (TAP cards, mobile wallet/debit credit cards/QR codes) for all transit systems (light rail/commuter rail/bus/bicycles/rideshare).
Represented Prestamos in before numerous congressional committees and federal agencies reviewing the PPP program, notably, the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis report on the PPP singled out Prestamos as a good-actor and differentiated our client from other PPP lenders, many of whom were criticized in the Subcommittee Report.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Philip Recht; Howard Waltzman
Other key lawyers
Andrew Olmem; Jonathan Becker; Mitchell Holzrichter; Matthew Bernstein; John Merrigan; Dario Frommer; Thomas Perez