Areas of Practice
Government Relations
A constant governmental relations presence at the Virginia General Assembly is essential to protecting the interests of your business from adverse or ill intended legislative initiatives. When you retain HDJN experts in government relations, you are, in essence, acquiring their credibility to advocate for you.
The second Wednesday of each January marks the convening of the Virginia General Assembly. For the following forty-five or sixty days—depending on the year—legislation is debated, passed, delayed, or defeated. An increasing number of businesses and associations realize the value of having an advocate at the General Assembly to protect their interests.
W. Scott Johnson leads the government relations team at Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle. Mr. Johnson has been involved with the Virginia General Assembly since 1986. He has repeatedly been selected by his peers as a Legal Elite in the specialty of Governmental Relations by Virginia Business magazine. Mr. Johnson has experience in advocating positions on behalf of our clients at the General Assembly involving the following issues: tort reform, energy, health care, medical malpractice litigation, IT, scope of practice, business litigation, renewable resources, insurance regulatory oversight, taxes, business organizational structures, workers' compensation, professional liability, e-commerce, Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA), alcohol and beverage control, wetlands protection, forestry, forest products, agriculture, environmental protection, title protection for professionals, certificate of public need, and budget amendments.
Gerald C. Canaan, II, is a director at HDJN and also a key leader of the government relations team. He advocates for issues affecting businesses, professional associations, and healthcare clients. He has recently advocated in the areas of professional liability, medical malpractice litigation, tort reform, scope of practice, business licensing, horse racing and related wagering, agriculture, concrete construction, administrative law, and regulatory interpretations.
Karah L. Gunther is an associate in the firm's government relations group. Her practice focuses on legislative lobbying in the Virginia General Assembly, as well as representation of healthcare providers before the Virginia Health Regulatory Boards.
Our government relations team is managed by Tyler S. Cox, a veteran of the political process having worked for the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association and managing their political action committee HOSPAC. We are also supported by an in depth support staff. This strength enables us to execute quickly, and keep our clients constantly up to date.
During each General Assembly session, our government relations team can be found at the state capitol every day; however, advancing our clients' positions begins long before the start of the legislative session. Our team interacts and maintains close relationships with Virginia's 140 legislators throughout the year. This dedication and constant communication have produced resounding results for our clients over the years.
Team members are routinely asked by businesses, clients, client organizations and civic and business groups to provide legislative updates on recently enacted legislation.
Representative government relations clients include The Medical Society of Virginia, Amgen, International Paper, HCA Healthcare Corporation, Community Health Systems, Liberty Healthcare, The Virginia Harness Horse Association, Comcast, Community Loans of America, Allergan, Virginia Masonry Association, and Merchants Express Money Order Company, and a number of other businesses and associations.