Andy Cook Speaks at ALEC Conference

Hamilton Consulting Group’s Andrew Cook was recently invited to speak at the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Disorder in the Court Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida. The conference was attended by nearly 50 state legislators and attorneys from roughly 27 states. The purpose of the conference was to provide information to state legislators on various civil justice issues throughout the country.

Mr. Cook spoke about the varying state joint and several liability laws and discussed the positive reforms made in this area of law throughout the country over the last 30 years. Mr. Cook noted that 43 states have made positive reforms to their joint and several liability statutes.

In addition, Mr. Cook spoke about attempts by the plaintiff attorneys in Wisconsin to roll back the positive reforms enacted during the 1990s. Those changes were inserted deep in the 2009-11 budget bill, as opposed to being introduced as separate legislation. He explained how the provisions dealing with joint and several liability, comparative negligence, and jury instructions were ultimately removed after a coalition of businesses, headed by Hamilton Consulting Group and its clients – Wisconsin Civil Justice Council and Wisconsin Defense Counsel – convinced legislators that the proposals were bad public policy that didn’t belong in the state budget.

American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) was founded in 1973 by a small group of Democrat and Republican state legislators who shared a common commitment to the Jeffersonian principles of individual liberty, limited government, and free markets. Today, ALEC has grown to become the nation’s largest bipartisan, individual membership organization of state legislators, with 2,400 members throughout the 50 states.

Andy Engel Provides Analysis of 2008 Elections

For the first time in over 20 years, Democrats hold the Governor’s Office and majority control in both houses of the Legislature. The implications of these watershed 2008 elections in Wisconsin are numerous; some obvious, with others nuanced yet still vital. Hamilton's Andy Engel takes a look back at the 2008 elections, the upcoming budget and legislative session as well as a look forward to the 2010 elections. See the complete analysis.

Hamilton Consulting is very pleased to announce that Andy Engel and Andy Cook have joined our Government Relations team.

Andy Engel began his government relations career over ten years ago with Wisconsin Senator Kim Plache. He served in several capacities with the Senate Democrats including leading the campaign committee in 2002 and 2006 and as Chief of Staff to Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson. In addition, Andy co-founded the polling and research firm, Forward Strategies, was Deputy Director for Wisconsin Victory 2004, and was Political Director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (2003-2005). Most recently, Andy was a Senior Government Relations Advisor at Axley Brynelson.

Andy Cook also began his government relations career over ten years ago with Wisconsin Representative Rob Kreibich. After law school, Andy worked as In-house Legal Counsel and lobbyist with the Building Industry Association of Washington. He was also staff attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation where he litigated civil justice, land use and environmental cases.

Capitol Report  Magazine Features Hamilton Group

The Winter 2007 issue of Capitol Report profiles the Hamilton Consulting Group as one of Wisconsin’s largest and most respected lobbying firms.

Analysis of Recent Lead Paint Cases Published in Journal
The Summer/Fall 2007 issue of the Wisconsin Civil Trial Journal includes Jim Hough's analysis of "Recent Developments in Lead Paint Cases."

The article highlights a recent high-profile Wisconsin trial court finding as well as holdings by courts in Missouri, New Jersey and Ohio and updates on Rhode Island and California. 

Hamilton Co-Hosting State Budget Teleconference
Jim Hough and Pat Osborne of the Hamilton Consulting Group  and the Wisconsin Economic Development Association will be hosting an hour teleconference to discuss the 2007/2008 State Budget on Thursday, July 26 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am.

BusinessWatch Magazine Features Henry Sanders
Henry Sanders, Jr. is featured in the July issue of Dane County’s BusinessWatch magazine. The “Spotlight” article discusses Henry’s thoughts on similarities between business and boxing, how he stays focused, and, when it’s all said and done how he’d like to be remembered.

Osborne on River Alliance Board
Pat Osborne was recently made a member of the board of directors for The River Alliance of Wisconsin. Pat represents clients on various state legislative and regulatory issues including health, insurance, environmental, construction and general business matters.

The River Alliance is a non-profit, non-partisan group of citizens, organizations and businesses dedicated to advocating for the protection, enhancement and restoration of our rivers and watersheds. The Hamilton Consulting Group is pleased to be a supporter of The River Alliance at the Grand Opening of the Sundance Theaters on May 7, 2007.

Sanders Honored as Outstanding Alumnus
Henry Sanders was awarded the Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award at UW-Whitewater's Founders Day celebration on Saturday, April 21. Henry focuses his practice on public policy and economic development, areas in which he has extensive experience.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater celebrated its 139th year as an institution and also honored five alumni during its annual Founders Day celebration. 

In Business Magazine Features Sanders
Henry Sanders, who recently joined Hamilton Consulting, is featured in the January 2007 issue of In Business magazine.

In addition to outlining Henry's previous experiences, the article describes his role as a consultant for Hamilton's current clients, as well as his work in helping to develop partnerships for the firm's new venture, hamilton.gsp. Henry's focus with hamilton.gsp is to provide a range of services including advocating for technology-related public policy and developing groundbreaking economic development efforts.

Dec. 2006: Sanders to Join Hamilton Consulting
Henry Sanders Jr. has joined Hamilton Consulting and will focus on its bioscience and technology services partnership (hamilton.gsp), to provide a range of services including  advocating for technology-related public policy and developing groundbreaking economic development efforts. Mr. Sanders also will provide legislative advocacy services to the firm’s existing clients.

Sanders to Join Hamilton Consulting Group: WisBusiness.com.

Technology consulting group adds Sanders: Wisconsin Technology Network.

Sanders to head venture to attract funding: Wisconsin State Journal.

New Joint Venture - hamilton.gsp
In 1791, after his reports on public credit, the mint, and the central bank laid the foundation for our economy, Alexander Hamilton submitted his Report on Manufacturers to Congress that set forth his detailed vision of how the government could help invigorate our fledgling manufacturing sector.

In that vein, we are very excited to announce the launching of hamilton.gsp, a joint venture between The Hamilton Consulting Group and GSP Consulting, a national leader in government and economic development consulting. Our goal is to use our combined talents to assure that state and federal resources and policies advance the growth of Wisconsin’s economy.

With the elections behind us, efforts to find a common ground will be a renewed priority. Fostering the success of emerging and established Wisconsin companies should be at the top of everyone’s “must-do” list.

Hamilton Consulting has a long history in the Wisconsin economic development arena, while GSP Consulting has a successful track record at the federal level. Together, we will work with our clients and other organizations to grow their enterprises in Wisconsin.

See the following for related news coverage:

Lobbying firms join forces: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Lobbying firms join to pursue fed funds: Madison Capital Times.

New Venture, hamilton.gsp, to Launch in Wisconsin: WisBusiness.com.

New firm to help companies land federal dollars: Wisconsin Technology Network

Sept./Oct. 2006: Testimony and Presentations
On Oct. 18, 2006, Hamilton Consulting’s Pat Osborne and Bob Fassbender testified before the Assembly Natural Resources Committee on DNR air permitting rules. The testimony, on behalf of the Aggregate Producers of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Economic Development Association, respectively, urged the committee to increase permit flexibility for smaller Wisconsin companies as their emissions have little impacts on air quality. (See Oct. 20. 2006 Tidbits for related article.)

On Oct. 10, 2006, Hamilton Consulting’s Jim Hough and Bob Fassbender presented a Wisconsin briefing on legal reform to Civil Justice Reform Group (CJRG) members at its Waukesha meeting. The Hamilton Consulting Group represents various clients on civil justice matters, including the Wisconsin Coalition for Civil Justice and the Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin. (See Jim Hough’s Liability Reform Update.)

On Oct. 6, 2006, Hamilton Consulting’s Bob Fassbender  presented a Wisconsin perspective on Attorney General activism to a State Policy Network panel in Milwaukee. The Hamilton Consulting Group represented various organizations last session on legislation to protect businesses against nuisance suits by the Attorney General if they are complying with all relevant laws and regulation.

On Sept. 27, 2006, Hamilton Consulting’s Bob Fassbender provided an overview of Wisconsin’s new “price gouging” law, 2005 Wis. Act 450, to industry representatives at a briefing held at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. The Hamilton Consulting Group represented various organizations on the implementation of Act 450. (See Bob Fassbender’s Act 450 Summary.) 

On Sept. 25, 2006, Hamilton Consulting’s Jim Hough and Bob Fassbender presented briefings on status legal reform to Wisconsin Coalition for Civil Justice (WCCJ) at its Madison meeting. Joe Kearney, Dean, Marquette University Law School, shared his view with WCCJ members over the state of the judiciary in Wisconsin and the impacts of recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decisions. The Hamilton Consulting Group represents various clients on civil justice matters, including the Wisconsin Coalition for Civil Justice and the Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin. (See Jim Hough’s Liability Reform Update.)