Case Studies

After a devastating House hearing without lobbying help, we were recommended to the Mid-Atlantic Individual Surety Association to save their bill.  We moved into full legislative triage mode and not only saved the bill, but got it passed through both Chambers unanimously and was signed by the Governor over veto requests from state and national organizations in opposition.  The bill allows, for the first time, Individual Sureties to provide bid and performance construction bonds for small, minority and women-owned businesses.  Our client, the United States Individual Surety Association, on a nationwide basis, is now introducing this landmark legislation.

We were instrumental in passing the Special Session Medical Malpractice Reform bill for our clients, the Save Our Doctors coalition. It was an intense effort and within 36 hours of being hired, we had our Doctors personally before the Governor, President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House to make their case and the case for their patient’s access to health care.

Within a week of being hired by a union client, we had our client in a one-on-one, face-to-face meeting discussing labor issues with the President of the United States.

Recently, we were the only lobbying team to have our photos at the top of the front page of The Gazette, as a result of our successful representation of the Doctors lobbying for tort reform. Actually, it was not the first time that has happened to us. Along with State Senator David Brinkley (R-Frederick), we were on the front page of The Baltimore Sun at the bill signing with Governor Ehrlich and President Miller. Since that time, our clients have noted that we are “above the fold --- above the fray.”  

One of our clients faced an economic dilemma when a bill to mandate hardware and software add-ons to their legacy system was sponsored by the Chairs of the Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Environment, Health and Education Committee. At the time, our client took “no position” on the variations in the bill that passed both Chambers. However, during the Conference Committee process, it got ugly and language was added that would have mandated the installation of hardware and software changes costing our clients millions in additional uncompensated contract dollars. When our client asked us to quietly kill the bill behind the scenes with just a few days left in the Session and argue against the full support of the key Chairs, our task was daunting. In the end, the result was simple – the Conference Committee Report died --- even though there was only one vote in the entire General Assembly against this proposal.

Our client suspected that a $12 million dollar RFP had been “pre-wired” for a competitor who had suggested guidelines for the proposal.  Using some “detective work” and political reconnaissance, after the RFP hit the streets and within a week after the bids were received, we provided enough information to the State to have the entire RFP cancelled. The RFP was subsequently reissued with the offending bidder not bidding again. 

A national trade association hired us to kill a bill that would economically damage their industry.  Rather than go for the easy kill, we convinced our client that we could insert their favorable language into the bill and make it a national model and marketing tool. They agreed to our strategy, the bill was passed with our language and the Governor signed the bill before our ecstatic client.

We were faced with our client’s dilemma of having their entire pharmacy shut down by the Baltimore City’s health department for alleged health reasons on the busy Christmas weekend. After some serious work over the holiday weekend at the highest levels, by Monday morning, we had the pharmacy open for business.

What do elephants, protesters, police and the Baltimore Civic Center have in common? We’ll save that entertaining story for another time --- however, our client loved the result!

During a recent session, a bill slipped through that would have restricted the ability of our client to offer competency tests through the Internet. We established a grassroots campaign and energized elected officials to support our request for a veto on the grounds that the public’s safety is at stake. We prevailed, the bill was vetoed and is not law.

These are just a few of the multiple examples of how we have refined the art of doing just more than killing or passing a bill.  We were able under extreme pressures and financial disaster to our clients to kill a conference committee bill, kill an RFP and pull the “ace” from the deck and get the Gubernatorial veto.

Legal Capabilities

Gil’s background as a trial attorney with large and small firms has placed him in the middle of major reported cases at the federal and state level. Gil has received Martindale Hubbell’s highest attorney rating, “AV” as determined by the peers across the state (See Biography).

Gil’s legal expertise and connections to team with the best attorneys and law firms across the State is added value at your fingertips when you engage Genn & Murphy and enhances your “full-service” representation when you need it.

Other Professional Capabilities

In addition to Lobbying and Legal Capabilities, we also provide extensive experience in :

Procurement & Appropriations

• All aspects of Federal, State, County and Local RFP, RFI and other procurement vehicles.  Bond and Grant opportunities are aggressively pursued.

Association Representation

• Event Preparation and Presentation
• Grassroots messaging, electronic and in person
• Newsletter preparation
• Speaking opportunities arranged

Media and Crisis Management

• Personal contacts with editorial writers and beat reporters of all major papers in area including Capitol Hill.
• Work with national PR firms in helping craft credible message to officials reflecting local variables

Ethics & Campaign Contribution Laws

• Counsel compliance and Reporting Requirements
• Monitor contribution limits
• Ethics advice