SIEBEN EDMUNDS MILLER LAW FIRM OF THE MONTHHello Min- nesota at- torneys and legal community. Welcome to the most recent is- sue of Attorney at Law Magazine. This month you can read about the triple advantage personal injury and criminal defense advocacy available at Sieben Edmunds Miller. The story of Sonia Miller-Van Oort, and the unique leadership structure guiding Sapientia Law is also contained. In a new section, this issue reveals what priorities the Governor and Legislative Leaders aim to pursue in the upcoming ses- sion. Public Affairs professionals Cristine Almeida, Nancy Hylden and Amy Koch ad- dress related lobbying topic matter. As we roar into the New Year and new de- cade, MSBA President Tom Nelson reflects on the past and of 20/20 vision initiatives for 2020. Throughout the year, Attorney at Law Magazine aims to continue the conver- sation about all aspects of attorney well- being. As a certified kettlebell instructor, I know the value of regular physical training, and maintaining a nutrient-rich diet. In this issue, Spiwe Jefferson launches our regular wellness conversation offering insights on becoming more mindful. We encourage you to share wellness tips and success sto- ries, that we might then be able to present to your fellow practitioners. As always, we are interested in hearing from you regarding stories about top le- gal practitioners and feature-worthy firms. We’d like to hear from you also about inno- vative legal leadership methods, and about successful solo practices. NEXT GENERATION SPECIAL ISSUE! Coming this spring, we will be publishing our annual Next Generation issue focus- ing on upcoming young attorneys that are shaping the legal community. If you would like more information on how to be part of this special issue, please give me a call or email me directly! Best to you all in the New Year, David Seawell PUBLISHER 763-742-2805 DSEAWELL@ATTORNEYATLAWMAGAZINE.COM TABLE OF Contents Attorney at Law Magazine is published by: Target Market Media Publications Inc. David Seawell PRESIDENT & CEO INSIGHT MEDIA, INC. EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE Howard LaGraffe VICE PRESIDENT Caitlin Keniston EDITOR Jaqueline Dávila GRAPHIC DESIGN Z. Peter Sawicki James L. Young CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Cristine Almeida Thomas M. Bakk Kurt Daudt Paul Gazelka Nancy Hylden Spiwe L. Jefferson Amy Koch Thomas Nelson Leykn Schmatz Gov. Timothy Walz H.K. Wilson Ryan Winkler CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eclipse Productions PHOTOGRAPHY Copyright ©2020, Target Market Media all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited. Advertising rates on request. Bulk third class (standard) mail. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Attorney at Law Magazine & Target Market Media cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by authors. Corporate Office : 5828 North 7th Street, Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85014 Phone (480) 219-9716 www.tmmpublications.com • info@tmmpublications.com TARGET MARKET MEDIA TARGETMARKETMEDIA Northern Alabama | Atlanta | Chicago | Dallas | Ft. Lauderdale Jacksonville | Los Angeles | Miami | Minnesota North Carolina Triangle | Ohio | Philadelphia | Phoenix | San Antonio Salt Lake City | Middle Tennessee | Washington D.C. FROM THE Publisher 8 Navigating the Minnesota Legislative Session in an Election Year By Cristine Almeida 9 Tips for Nonprofits (And Anyone) Wanting to Hire a Lobbyist By Nancy Hylden and Amy Koch 10 An Exit for the Ages By Z. Peter Sawicki and James L. Young 12 Sieben Edmunds Miller Law Firm of the Month 16 Sapientia Law Group Governed by More Than the Law 19 20/20 Foresight By Thomas Nelson 20 Effective Community Engagement, One Client at a Time By Leykn Schmatz 22 Mindfulness By Spiwe L. Jefferson SPECIAL SECTIONS 4 2020 MN Legislative Priorities 21 Talk of the Town AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 3FROM THE MN GOVERNOR I ran for governor on the idea of One Minnesota. As we approach the 2020 legislative session, my priori- ties are still shaped by this idea; not that we agree on everything, but that we can find common ground in the values we share as Minnesotans and work together to improve people’s lives. We all know this year is a bonding year, but when we talk about bonding, we don’t just mean transportation and infrastructure. We’re talking about in- vesting in job creation, higher educa- tion, rural communities, and the next generation of Minnesotans. Bonding will expand access to child care and affordable housing across the state, keep our drinking water safe, and re- build our National Guard’s infrastruc- ture so they stand ready in case of an emergency. For months now, we have been listening to our constituents and have received over $5.3 billion in re- quests. Although we won’t be able to meet all of them, our strong financial position allows us to build a robust public works bill that will make real improvements in the lives of Minne- sotans. It’s also past time we address the rising costs of insulin. We must ac- knowledge that insulin is not option- al, and that our continued inaction is forcing families to make impossible decisions between putting food on the table or keeping the electricity on and the drug they need to survive. Ask- ing diabetics to ration their insulin is not the answer. Alec Smith-Holt died in June 2017, within a month of leav- ing his mother’s insurance plan when he turned 26, because he rationed his insulin. Jesy Scherer-Radcliff died in June 2019 at the age of 21 because he was rationing his insulin. People are dying, and more lives will be put at risk until politics are put aside. For Alec, for Jesy, and for all Minneso- tans, we need to make this happen. Insulin isn’t the only issue affecting young people across the state. Twenty years after our fight against Big To- bacco, Minnesota is again facing a tobacco addiction epidemic with a new name: JUUL. I have been trav- eling around the state, hearing from students, parents, and administrators about the way e-cigarettes and vaping are disrupting schools, putting kids in the hospital, and costing families a fortune. Our State has a responsibil- ity to meet the gravity and urgency of this moment. The State’s lawsuit against JUUL is a necessary first step in holding this company accountable, but it is also the responsibility of our legislature to ensure that, going for- ward, no company can prey on our children. As we start the 2020 legislative ses- sion, I know that none of this can be accomplished alone. It will take every single one of us committing to the idea of One Minnesota, the idea that in the face of Washington gridlock, a split Minnesotan legislature can still compromise and get things done for the good of the state. Last year, we built a budget that improved the lives of Minnesotans. Now, we have the opportunity to build on that success. Let’s get to work. TIMOTHY JAMES WALZ IS AN AMERICAN POLITICIAN WHO IS THE 41ST GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA, SERVING SINCE JANUARY 2019. WALZ IS A FORMER U.S. CONGRESSMAN. FROM THE MN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: PRIORITIES FOR SENATE REPUBLICATIONS When the dust settled on the 2018 election, Minnesota was the only state in the nation with a divided govern- ment. Republicans in the Senate made it a priority to work with Democrats in the House and Gov. Tim Walz to pass a budget with bipartisan votes in each body. And we got the budget done on time, without the drama of a prolonged special session. Our 2020 Vision will build on the successes of the 2019 session and Republicans will continue to work with Democrats in the House and Gov. Walz to get things done, even as we fight hard for our principles. Over the last three years, Senate Republicans worked hard to save the individual health insurance market and dramatically lowered premiums through the reinsurance program keeping healthcare affordable for families, farmers and self-employed businesses. Minnesotans now enjoy the lowest health insurance premi- Legislative Priorities 2020 MN ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MINNESOTA · V OL. 9 NO. 1 4ums in the nation. We also demanded more accountability from a failing Department of Human Services. Our 2020 Vision for healthcare will build on our work in pharmaceutical trans- parency with a drug reimportation program so patients can get cheaper Canadian drug prices at their local pharmacy – including insulin. We will also continue to hold the Depart- ment of Human Services accountable for the waste, fraud and abuse hap- pening under their watch. Under the largest investment in roads and bridges since 2008, Sen- ate Republicans paid for the repair and replacement of thousands of lane miles and bridges across Min- nesota — without raising the gas tax or increasing license tab fees. In ad- dition, Senate Republicans finally re- solved the fatally flawed Minnesota Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS) by bringing in expertise from the private sector to build a sys- tem that works. Our 2020 Vision for transportation includes more fund- ing for road and bridge construction, including making it a priority in the bonding bill. Republicans increased the per-pu- pil funding formula 2% per year for the last four years — putting resourc- es directly to the classroom. We also provided money for critical school needs such as expanded school readi- ness and special education. And we made school safety a top priority with $50 million over the last four years for flexible safe schools revenue. Our 2020 Vision for education will ad- dress Minnesota’s persistent achieve- ment gap beginning with our young- est children, using data to identify which early learning programs actu- ally work the best and making them our top priorities. We will also renew our commitment to real school choice for families and students stuck in fail- ing schools. In 2017, Republicans delivered $650 million in tax relief — allowing families to keep more of their hard- earned money. The package included a reduction in income taxes for se- niors receiving Social Security, a tax credit for recent college graduates paying off student loans, a tax credit for beginning farmers, and property tax relief for small businesses. We followed that up in 2019 with the first middle-class income tax cut in nearly two decades, property tax relief for farmers from local school bonds, further cuts to Social Security taxes and another round of property tax cuts for main street businesses. Our 2020 Vision for the economy will build on these successes and use any available budget surplus money for further tax relief such as cutting small business and agriculture taxes and finally exempting all Social Security income from Minnesota taxes. Minnesotans appreciate balance in state government and the Republican Senate will work with Gov. Walz and the House of Representatives in the 2020 session to produce real results in healthcare, education, transportation and tax reform. SENATE LEADER PAUL GAZELKA IS CUR- RENTLY SERVING HIS THIRD TERM IN THE MINNESOTA STATE SENATE. HE REPRE- SENTS SENATE DISTRICT 9. FROM MN SENATE MINORITY LEADER The Minnesota Legislature is enter- ing the second year of a two-year bud- get cycle. That means legislators do not need to pass a new budget to keep the state open for business, but it does not mean it will be a quiet session. In my experience as both majority and minority leader, even “non-budget” years have a lot of opportunity to af- fect change for Minnesotans. One of the most high-profile items in a traditional “non-budget” year is a capital investment bill to pay for state and local infrastructure projects. Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) compiles a list of projects asking for state funds and then it is up to legislators to put together a bill the governor will sign. Members of the House and Senate and Gov. Walz have been touring the state to understand the project proposals from waste- water treatment systems and com- munity centers to roads and bridges. MMB estimates preliminary bonding requests to total more than $5 bil- lion. I expect us to pass a bill closer to $1.5 billion, though not funding more projects will continue to put pressure on cities and towns across the state. I am hopeful the House and Sen- ate can come together this session to make progress on lowering prescrip- tion drug costs. A bipartisan working group has been meeting during the interim to discuss insulin affordabil- ity, though little progress has been made due to a disagreement on who should pay for the program: taxpayers or pharmaceutical companies. This is one of many issues where we must come together and find a compromise so we can make a difference to Min- nesotans who are struggling to afford their medications. Gov. Walz will put together his fi- nal supplemental budget requests after we hear the budget forecast in February. As of November, the state had a positive budget balance and, af- AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 5ter years of smart budgeting work by DFL lawmakers, the budget reserve has hit its target. While that is good news, the forecast does not consider inflation. That means if we don’t make any adjustments to the state budget, we will find ourselves in a deficit in the next two-year cycle. I expect this conversation to be a big part of the Tax Committee hearings in the Sen- ate and House this year. There are several issues I know are important to my constituents, my colleagues, and me that have passed in the House and I am hopeful can move forward in the Senate this year. I have long been a proponent of creat- ing a statewide paid leave program so Minnesotans aren’t forced to choose their job over their family. Paid Fam- ily and Medical Leave would provide Minnesota workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave so they can care for a family member with a serious health condi- tion or bond with a newborn child. This bill passed several House com- mittees last session but has not been heard in the Senate, though a similar bill passed the Senate when I served as majority leader in 2016. I will con- tinue to push for this and other DFL bills to have legislative hearings with public testimony this year. Anyone who has worked with me at the Minnesota Senate or House of Representatives will tell you how im- portant the integrity of the legislative process is to me and the work I do at the Capitol. The process is how legis- lators know whether their constitu- ents support issues from education to the environment, and it is a way to hold legislators accountable. I am hopeful we will see more opportuni- ties for public debate in the Senate this year than we have recently. THOMAS M. “TOM” BAKK IS THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE MINNESOTA SENATE. HE REPRESENTS DISTRICT 3. FROM MN HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: HOUSE DFLERS CONTINUE TO WORK FOR MINNESOTA The 2020 Legislative Session be- gins on February 11, and DFLers who control the Minnesota House of Representatives remain committed to building a Minnesota that works bet- ter for all of us. Last year’s bipartisan budget agree- ment protected funding for health care for 1.2 million Minnesotans, in- creased funding for our schools and included the strongest wage theft law in the country to make sure Minne- sotans receive the wages and benefits they have rightfully earned. Yet we know that work remains to build a brighter future for all Minnesotans. Minnesotans care about each other, and we want to see one another suc- ceed. Our shared values serve as a guide for how we move forward and work to ensure all Minnesotans have the opportunity to be safe, healthy, and successful. Last year, House DFLers passed legislation to provide paid family and medical leave and earned sick and safe time to all Minnesotans so they can take time off to care for themselves or a loved one. We worked for greater funding for education and child care, and to keep Minnesotans safe from gun violence. We fought for legisla- tion to reduce the costs of prescrip- tion drugs and hold the pharmaceuti- cal industry accountable for the greed that is fueling skyrocketing prices. At every step, Senate Republicans stood in the way of progress. As the Majority Leader, I am con- tinuing to lead efforts to legalize can- nabis for adult use. In talking with Minnesotans across the state, it’s clear our current cannabis laws are doing more harm than good. By creating a responsible regulatory framework we can address the harms caused by cannabis and establish a more sen- sible set of laws to improve our health care and criminal justice systems and ensure better outcomes for commu- nities. Legalizing cannabis for adult use will help veterans legally get the care they need, allow law enforcement to focus resources on more serious crimes, and expand freedom for Min- nesotans. If any state can do this right, Minnesota can. The November budget forecast showed challenges for Minnesota, in- cluding deficits in future years. These deficits will undermine our ability to provide good schools, good roads, and good health care for Minneso- tans. Worse, the notion that we have a surplus is fiction, because it does not count the increased costs of providing the core services Minnesotans value. Republicans are already trying to use the forecast to support their agen- da of giveaways for corporations and the ultrawealthy. Instead, we should proceed with caution and ensure any investments we make keep our budget stable and invest in all Minnesotans, not just the wealthy few. One investment we can make in Minnesotans across the state is through an infrastructure bill, also known as a bonding bill. Investing in infrastructure means investing in our Legislative Priorities 2020 MN ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MINNESOTA · V OL. 9 NO. 1 6communities, in our families, and in the future of our state. House Repub- licans weren’t interested in passing a bonding bill last year. This year, we’re hopeful they will come to the table to make much-needed investments in communities across the state. House DFL priorities are the same as those of Minnesotans: affordable health care, excellent schools, next- generation infrastructure, and safe communities. Throughout the 2020 Session, House DFLers will continue our efforts to support our working families and build a more prosperous future for all Minnesotans. STATE REPRESENTATIVE RYAN WINKLER IS THE MAJORITY LEADER IN THE MINNE- SOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. HE REPRESENTS DISTRICT 46A. FROM MN HOUSE MINORITY LEADER Earlier this month, we received an update from state economists on Min- nesota’s budget that will set the table for the 2020 legislative session. By nearly every measure, Minneso- ta’s economy remains strong. Our bud- get reserve is fully-funded for the first time in state history, unemployment remains low, wages are rising, and we have a healthy surplus of more than $1 billion. Even Governor Walz’s own econo- mists admit that Republican-led tax cuts at the state and federal level have helped our economy continue its growth. If we want to continue growing Min- nesota’s and helping Minnesotans keep more of their hard-earned money, Democrats should take tax hikes off the table completely, and we should look to use our billion-dollar budget surplus for tax relief. In 2019, Democrats forced a special session over their demands for a health care tax increase. Repealing the pro- vider tax—which was set to expire last year—would save Minnesotans more than a billion dollars on their health care costs. If Democrats want to get se- rious about lowering health care costs for Minnesota families, this is one of the easiest ways they could do it. We also should look to finally get Minnesota off the list of states who tax social security benefits. In 2017, Re- publicans helped exempt 72,000 Min- nesotans from social security taxes, but were blocked by Democrats from repealing it entirely. In 2020, we have another opportunity to help social security recipients keep more of the money they earned, especially those seniors who are living on fixed in- comes. Any money not used for tax relief should be invested in road and bridge infrastructure. Democrats continue to insist we need a gas tax to adequately fund this basic priority of government. They’re wrong. Minnesotans send us plenty of money, they just refuse to pri- oritize roads and bridges. Our caucus will push to use the surplus and any bonding bill to invest in our roads— not expensive transit lines that won’t do anything to alleviate congestion. House Republicans will also be fo- cused on keeping Minnesotans safe. This year we’ve seen a troubling rise in violent crime in the Metro Area. A surge of homicides in St. Paul, along with a dramatic increase in assaults and robberies in downtown Minne- apolis have prompted a wave of con- cern from Minnesotans not only in those communities, but constituents from across the state who work or go to sporting events and concerts in the downtown areas. Despite the increase in crime and high-visibility incidents, politicians in Minneapolis and Saint Paul continue to resist efforts to increase the number of police on the streets, and take mean- ingful steps to address public safety. If city leaders won’t act, the legisla- ture should. Our caucus has proposed increased safety measures for Metro Transit Light Rail stations includ- ing physical barriers, increased fare checks, and bolstering Metro Transit law enforcement numbers. We con- tinue to meet with law enforcement and other advocates so we can learn firsthand from those closest to the problem how the legislature can play a role in enhancing public safety in our communities in the Metro and across the state. It’s well past time for Minneapolis and Saint Paul to stop waging war on things like plastic bags and drive thrus, and start using the millions they re- ceive each year from the state in Local Government Aid to deliver basic city services and keep their citizens safe. As the 2020 session approaches, make sure you’re reaching out to your legislators to let them know your pri- orities. Your input is valuable as poli- cymakers make key decisions as we kick off the New Year. KURT DAUDT IS THE MINNESOTA HOUSE MINORITY LEADER. HE REPRESENTS DIS- TRICT 31A NORTH OF THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA. AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 72020 is upon us, and in No- vember, Minnesotans will be asked to vote in many critical races: United States President and Vice-President, the US Senate seat currently held by Sen. Tina Smith, all eight Minnesota Congressional seats, and all 201 Minnesota State Senate and State House seats. The ballot will also include judges, ballot measures, levy referenda and other items. An upcoming election makes policy-making in the 2020 legislative session a particularly tricky challenge. How does a business or nonprofit accomplish its policy goals and pass a bill in the midst of an environment in St. Paul that is extremely high in partisanship and tribalism? Elections and sessions are both calendar-driven events, so it is instructive to understand how the dates of key events intersect to impact both processes (see graphic above). It is important to understand that several of the Minnesota election season’s most critical moments happen right in the middle of the legislative session. Legislators running for re-election will find themselves very busy at the Capitol at the exact same time that they are busy in their districts managing their party endorsement contests. This overlap in legislative and electoral calendars can create a good deal of mischief at the Capitol. Leaders are keenly aware of their own caucus members who are vulnerable, and also of those members of the opposing party who have difficult elections ahead of them. Each party is vying to maintain or obtain political control, and will each employ various tactics to attack or defend members accordingly. The parties consolidate around issues important to their respective bases in order to help their members in the endorsement process or to draw out their opponents’ positions on politically charged issues. Symbolic or “gotcha” votes are common. Floor debates are often more politically charged in hopes of generating content for political ads and attacks. What can be done to manage the situation? Awareness and vigilance are half the battle. Consider your issues in that context. Could a vote on your issue be used against vulnerable members of one party or another? Could your issue get wrapped up in someone’s election fight? Might it be the subject of an ugly and public partisan debate in a committee or floor session? It is vital to make strategic decisions informed by the challenges above. Passing laws is always difficult, but in an election year the room for error is smaller. We recommend the following to clients attempting to pass legislation: Get started early (before session). The Governor, legislative leaders and committee chairs are already forming priorities and making deals. Choose legislative sponsors wise- ly. The most notable and quotable members are not always the most effective, especially when focused on political rhetoric in an election year. Select a member on relevant committees who is well-respected on both sides of the aisle and has a reputation as a hard-worker. Also consider the legislator’s expected work-load and whether he/she has enough capacity. Consider multiple bills as vehicles for your bill or provision. Depending on the subject area, it may be wise to push a bill as a stand- alone, and/or include language in one or more omnibus bills. The biennial budget passed in 2019 means state government is fully funded whether or not anything passes this year. For the most part, must-pass funding bills will be off the table. Therefore, investigate any germane legislation with momentum as a possible vehicle. Don’t ignore politics. While a bill’s public policy merits may be high, do not forget the Capitol is a political place. Leaders, committee chairs and relevant members should know why passing the bill is a win. It could be for common reasons like energizing the political base or giving a new or vulnerable member a success on which they can campaign. These are just a few of the many considerations those operating at the Capitol must make. The list is different for entities that are content with the status quo, or that wish to stop a bill from passing. The bottom line is that success is hard won at the Capitol. Those who tend to succeed in an election year session are those who understand and account for its complex political ecosystem in their strategy. CRISTINE ALMEIDA IS AN ATTORNEY AND OWNER OF ALMEIDA PUBLIC AF- FAIRS IN ST. PAUL. Navigating the Minnesota Legislative Session in an Election Year BY CRISTINE ALMEIDA Legislative Session February 11: Session Begins March-April: Committee Deadlines May: Conference Committees and Negotiations May 18: Legislative Sessions Ends February 25: Precinct Caucuses March-May: Legislative and Congressional Endorsing Conventions June 2: Candidate Filing Deadline Electoral Calendar ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MINNESOTA · V OL. 9 NO. 1 8For nonprofits the question to hire a lobbyist is an important but layered question. Advocating for policy on behalf of clients or funding for projects or ongoing operations can be important to the mission but there are some issues to keep in mind when making that decision. The threshold question you must consider is whether there is an oppor- tunity or threat big enough to justify hiring a lobbyist. Is your organization reliant on state programs or resourc- es to achieve its goals? Is there some pressing opportunity or threat? And finally, how familiar are you with the process of legislating? Depending on your answers to these questions, you may want to take the time to interview several lobbyists to better understand how you could best take advantage of the knowledge of process, and strate- gic and analytic skills that a lobbyist can provide. Often, the most important thing a lobbyist can do is help develop an ef- fective strategy to make the strongest case possible for a position - much like developing the theory of a case, and arguments to lead a jury to the desired conclusion. The craft is in knowing the players, the politics, and the process for either moving legisla- tion forward or making the most ef- fective case to either stop or modify a threatening proposal. Some “rookie mistakes” that we have observed organizations make when delving into state policy-mak- ing include: (1) threatening legislators if they don’t agree with a certain po- sition; (2) not taking time to under- stand opposing or competing points of view; and (3) not seriously explor- ing compromise positions. When hiring a lobbyist, as when hiring a lawyer, seeking out and inter- viewing several candidates will help your organization better understand the array of talents and expertise any lobbyist or lobbying firm brings to the table. Some individuals bring skills and connections tied to past work within the legislature, as staff or as a legislator themselves (note, there is no revolving door prohibition in Minne- sota limiting who can leave office and begin lobbying). Others bring subject matter knowledge, technical skills as- sociated with developing strategy, leg- islative process and drafting language. Some bring both. Unlike hiring a lawyer, where con- fidentiality rules can apply regarding representation, in Minnesota, anyone who is paid more than $3,000 in a cal- endar year to influence legislative or administrative action must register and periodically report all lobbying activity to the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board (the “Board”). Organizations paying for lobbying services must also regis- ter and report their lobbying activity to the Board annually. Many nonprofits worry that lobby- ing, like political activity, could affect their nonprofit status. Advocacy and lobbying for legislation is allowed. Working directly on behalf of, or against, a candidate or ballot question is not allowed. Lawyer lobbyists can help ensure compliance with all lob- bying, ethics and reporting laws. Finally, remember that legislators strengthen their familiarity and trust by working with organizations and individuals over time. The most effec- tive entities at the state capitol work to establish relied-upon expertise and trusted relationships with legislators and staff, with or without lobbyists. The process of legislation is, in most cases, rewarding and interesting for those who delve into it. Our nonprofit clients find lobbying to be essential in enhancing their mission and serv- ing clients. We recommend that you search carefully at the outset and then work closely with your chosen lobby- ist to optimize your return. NANCY HYLDEN IS AN AT- TORNEY PRACTICING IN MINNESOTA, SPECIALIZ- ING IN GOVERNMENT RE- LATIONS, LOBBYING AND ETHICS LAW. AMY KOCH IS FORMER REPUBLICAN SENATE MA- JORITY LEADER, POLITI- CAL STRATEGIST AND PO- LITICAL COMMENTATOR. Tips for Nonprofits (And Anyone) Wanting to Hire a Lobbyist BY NANCY HYLDEN AND AMY KOCH HYLDEN ADVOC. TEAM AT CAPITOL. “Some individuals bring skills and connections tied to past work within the legislature, as staff or as a legislator themselves. Others bring subject matter knowledge, technical skills associated with developing strategy, legislative process and drafting language. Some bring both.” AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 9Next >