| Nielsen,
Merksamer has become a powerful force in state and national politics.
It is safe to say that very little of any consequence occurs in state
political and governmental circles...without the knowledge or active
involvement of the firm.... California Journal "A lot
of the growth in our practice," said Steve Merksamer, former
Chief of Staff to Governor George Deukmejian, "is the function
of politics being increasingly regulated and complex and the penalties
for violations being severe. And there is continuing growth in administrative
regulations and agencies at all levels." Nielsen,
Merksamer -- perhaps the most influential political law firm in
the capitol.... The firm has helped write or defeat 41 initiatives
[between 1990 and 1998] Consider
a sampling from this firm's client list: ... What do all these groups
need? Help with political matters, campaigns affecting their economic
interests, representation on proposed government regulations. That's
all Nielsen, Merksamer does--political and government legal work.
Chip Nielsen
is "the best in the business," according to his chief
competition [in election law] Lance Olson of Sacramento. No lobbying
law firm in the state is more successful at guiding clients through
all the regulatory complexity than Nielsen Merksamer... specializing
in elections and government law and handling clients... the firm's
15 lawyers include 5 registered lobbysts... the firm has become
particularly known for its work on initiatives, handling up to six
state measures and myriad local ones each election cycle." Nielsen [Merksamer]
-- dean of the State's political lawyers. "Sometimes the spectre of litigation can be helpful and other times it's the only solution to the problem," said Jim Parrinello who spearheads litigation for Nielsen [Merksamer]. Chip Nielsen
is "one of the pioneers of political law, a legal specialty
that didn't really exist before 1972. Over the years, [Nielsen,
Merksamer] has become the highest-profiled team of lawyers in
their chosen specialty. Nielsen,
Merksamer -- one of the most powerful lobbying firms in the Capitol.
With contacts with lawmakers from both parties, Nielsen, Merksamer
is one of the top lawyer/lobbying firms in California. The firm's
client list reads like a who's who of American Industry. Nielsen [Merksamer]
- one of the best election law experts in the State. "The
grandaddy of the political firms . . . One way to make a name is
to litigate the Big Case. And [Nielsen Merksamer] has handled
several." |
