They are a political dream team-two of the most politically connected men in the state on either side of the aisle. Between them, Joel Maiola, former chief of staff to Republican Sen. Judd Gregg, and Rich Sigel, former chief of staff to two Democratic governors (John Lynch and Jeanne Shaheen), have more than 40 years of experience working in NH politics and Washington D.C. They are now bringing that experience to bear for the largest law firm in the state, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, PAin Manchester.
Maiola and Sigel, who have both been named to Business NH Magazine's list of NH's Most Powerful People, have teamed to launch McLane GPS, the law firm's new Government and Public Strategies Group. The duo will offer clients services in strategic planning, message development and communications, direct government relations, understanding state and federal funding and contracting opportunities, and crisis management. McLane GPS will practice out of McLane's Concord and Manchester offices.
We thought for some time that as the largest full-service law firm in the state, with many clients that interact with government, we should be offering more robust government relations services, says Dick Samuels, the firm's managing director. We had an opportunity to have two of the most recognized figures in government launch this, so how could we not?
They will need that experience to compete in the crowded field of government relations in Concord and Washington D.C. In the NH Statehouse alone there are 123 registered lobbyists this year. Government relations work generates millions in fees for law and lobbying firms. Samuels says McLane did quite well during the recession and slow recovery, but, like any business, is looking to grow. We expect Joel and Rich will help us gain entry into businesses we do not serve yet, he says.
Maiola served as Judd Gregg's chief of staff from 1988 through 2008 when Gregg served as governor, U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator. As Gregg's go-to guy, Maiola became an influential player in NH and Washington, known for his ability to garner support regardless of party. He even served as co-chair of the Republicans for Lynch Steering Committee. Sigel served as senior policy, strategic and political advisor to Gov. Lynch, and managed the Governor's office. Behind the scenes, Sigel played a critical role in pushing the governor's agenda. He also served as chief of staff for Gov. Shaheen. With 14 years of service, Sigel has served more time in the corner office than any governor since the early 1800s.
Sigel and Maiola say they have worked together over the years, and though they have different political viewpoints, they find their working styles are compatible. We start from slightly different vantage points, but we ended up in the same place-trying to make government work, Maiola says.
Maiola says he and Sigel have spent decades working on issues related to a variety of sectors in NH's economy.
Our clients are looking at how to succeed in the marketplace and looking for advice from people who have been in government, making it work, and who have not been in the middle of every partisan fight, but in the middle of finding solutions, he says.
Sigel says government works best when people set aside partisanship. There's a hunger for that, he says. We have the ability to bring a bipartisan approach to problem solving.
For more information, visit www.mclane.com.
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