Government Relations + Lobbying

In the world of politics and government, experience is key, but being there is everything. Robinson+Cole has a team of lobbyists with decades of experience, who are everywhere government is when our clients need them to be there.

There's an adage that says "if you know one state, you know one state." We know two: New York and Connecticut, and whether you face similar or different issues in each of them, there's a real benefit to knowing you have capable advocacy, on the ground in both state capitols ready to help you develop and implement the strategy you need to succeed.

    • Experience
      • Representation of Westchester County Industrial Development Agency concerning a tax incentives project to locate a large pharmaceutical research corporation in three newly constructed buildings in a biomedical complex in Greenburgh, New York, resulting in 600 jobs retained or created in Westchester County.

      • Representation of Westchester County Industrial Development Agency concerning a tax incentives project to locate a large pharmaceutical research corporation in a vacant biotech complex in Greenburgh, New York, resulting in 550 jobs retained or created in Westchester County.

      • Secured funding for one of the single largest open space acquisitions by a northeastern state.
      • Successfully lobbied for the electric industry in the negotiations to deregulate Connecticut's retail electric market.
      • Lobbied for an international subsidiary of a major Connecticut aerospace company to get the state legislature to extend favorable state corporate tax treatment to match the tax treatment available to this subsidiary’s competitors overseas.
      • Developed and implemented, on behalf of all of the HMOs in Connecticut, a political and lobbying strategy that defeated several waves of legislation harmful to Connecticut's insurance industry.
      • Enabled, in collaboration with other advocates, the elderly nutrition program line item of the budget to receive an unprecedented increase during the 2000 Legislative Session.
      • Helped a private university obtain financial support on the state and local levels to expand its facilities for its performing arts school for graduate and undergraduate students.
      • Representing a major Connecticut municipality successfully working with the city’s administration and legislative delegation to pass legislation creating a special development zone for a potential $800 million commercial development project, and authorizing up to $150 million in potential state and local direct funding and financing for the project.
      • Served as chief negotiators for a Native American tribe, operators of the world’s largest casino, in discussions with the Connecticut Governor and his staff over the right to operate slot machines at the tribe’s casino.
      • Introduced and had passed special legislation waiving deadlines for filing property tax exemption requests for two manufacturing companies, preserving the exemptions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for those companies and ensuring state reimbursement of those exemptions for the municipalities in which the companies were located.
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    • News
      • March 9, 2023

        Robinson+Cole Formally Establishes CT Government Relations Subsidiary

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          Robinson+Cole Formally Establishes CT Government Relations Subsidiary

          Robinson+Cole is pleased to announce that its Government Relations Group will operate as the CT Government Relations Group of Robinson+Cole LLC (CTGRG-RC)—a subsidiary of the law firm. The entity will continue to be led by long-time Robinson+Cole team members Susan J. Halpin and Brooks C. Campion, who will serve as co-principals of the new subsidiary.

          “For more than three decades Susan and Brooks have been helping  clients advance, shape and defend positions in a myriad of critical public policy areas, including some of the most high profile  health, energy, taxation, employment and environmental protection legislative initiatives and agency regulations,” said Robinson+Cole Managing Partner Rhonda J. Tobin. “We are excited to formalize the CTGRG-RC entity with Susan and Brooks continuing to lead the team in Connecticut.” Read more in the press release.

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      • September 12, 2022

        Christine Rutigliano and Caley Taratus Presented with “Partners in Advocacy Award”

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          Christine Rutigliano and Caley Taratus Presented with “Partners in Advocacy Award”

          Congratulations to Christine Rutigliano and Caley Taratus, members of the Roffe Group of Robinson+Cole, who were honored at the New York Organization of Nurse Executives & Leaders' (NYONEL) 30th Anniversary Gala: "Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future" on September 10, 2022, in Tarrytown, New York. Christine and Caley received "The Partners in Advocacy" award. Honorees are recognized as experienced and rising leaders who have displayed exceptional leadership in their respective roles and as champions in promoting NYONEL goals, which are to provide education, expertise and a forum for nurse leaders’ united voices, advocating for improvements in healthcare and the profession.

      • January 13, 2022

        R+C Expands New York State Government and Regulatory Representation with Addition of The Roffe Group P.C.

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          R+C Expands New York State Government and Regulatory Representation with Addition of The Roffe Group P.C.

          The firm was pleased to announce on January 10, 2022, the addition of The Roffe Group, P.C., a leading New York-based government affairs firm since 1998. The announcement was reported in both Law360 and the New York Law Journal. The new entity will be called The Roffe Group of Robinson+Cole, and will continue to be headed by Andrew Roffe, who has been a Robinson+Cole partner since 2002. This forward-thinking action signals the firm's commitment to expanding its footprint in New York State government and regulatory representation. "The addition of The Roffe Group adds significant depth to our New York government affairs practice and strengthens a key area of historical focus for the firm," said R+C’s Managing Partner, Rhonda Tobin. Rounding out the group will be Managing Director, Christine Rutigliano; Director of Government Relations, Patrick Zlogar; Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Alexandra Moore; Director of Legislative Affairs, Caley Taratus and Office Administrator, Allison Sheedy. Read the R+C press release here.

      • January 5, 2022

        Robinson+Cole Ranked Second Largest Lobbying Firm in Connecticut by Hartford Business Journal

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          Robinson+Cole Ranked Second Largest Lobbying Firm in Connecticut by Hartford Business Journal

          Robinson+Cole was ranked in the Hartford Business Journal’s (the Journal) 2022 Book of Lists in the “Professional Services” category as the second largest lobbying firm in Connecticut as measured by total compensation for fiscal year 2020. The Book, compiled and published by the Journal, features 50 lists in categories that also include Education, Finance, Economy, Health, Hospitality & Recreation, Innovation, and Real Estate. The lists are intended as a reference guide to help assist and “inform the region’s business, civic and nonprofit leaders as they plan and strategize for 2022.” The firm’s seven-member Government Relations + Lobbying Team is co-led by Susan Halpin and Brooks Campion and serves 24 clients in Connecticut, as reported in the Book.

      • October 19, 2021

        Susan Halpin Selected to Hartford Business Journal’s 2021 Power 25 Health Care List

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          Susan Halpin Selected to Hartford Business Journal’s 2021 Power 25 Health Care List

          Government Relations Group co-principal Susan J. Halpin has been selected for inclusion in the Hartford Business Journal’s (HBJ) 2021 Power 25 Health Care class. While the list identifies leaders who have had a significant impact on the industry and public health, it is not considered an awards section. HBJ’s Power 25 Health Care class was chosen and ranked by the publication’s news team. “To make the list, individuals must not only be in a position of power, they need to wield it in such a way to have an outsized impact on our community.” Susan was profiled in a special section of the HBJ published on October 18, 2021, which describes her lobbying efforts on behalf of the Connecticut Association of Health Plans (CAHP), the organization that directs the Connecticut lobbying interests of Cigna, Aetna and a handful of other major commercial health carriers operating in the state. This is the second consecutive year Susan has made the list. Read the full profile.

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    • Publications + Presentations
    • "Health Insurance Reimagined," presented by Susan J. Halpin, as moderator for the CBIA-hosted event "Healthcare's Future: The Post-COVID World" (5/10/2022)
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        • Health Insurance Reimagined

        "Health Insurance Reimagined," presented by Susan J. Halpin, as moderator for the CBIA-hosted event "Healthcare's Future: The Post-COVID World" (5/10/2022)
        The event discussed how the pandemic has impacted Connecticut’s health care landscape, lessons the sector took from COVID-19, and how it inspired innovations in research and development, drug manufacturing, services, and patient care. Leaders from biopharma, health care providers, and the health insurance industry discussed the issues and challenges facing this critical sector and its future direction. Susan facilitated a discussion with Lou Gianquinto, President and CEO of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut, and Karen Ignagni, CEO of EmblemHealth, on the pandemic’s role as a catalyst for transforming the sector.

         


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