Overview
State and local decisions directly impact how and where organizations operate, grow, and compete. Michael Best Strategies helps clients navigate the interconnected yet highly individualized landscape of state and local government through informed strategy, disciplined advocacy, and on-the-ground representation.
We partner with organizations to advance policy priorities, manage regulatory challenges, and engage effectively with decision-makers across states and municipalities nationwide.
Experience
On-the-Ground Representation. Trusted State Level Advocacy.
Our State & Local Government Relations team brings practical experience and insight from direct engagement with governors’ offices, legislatures, agencies, and local officials. With established teams and networks across key states—and capabilities nationwide—we understand how state-level agendas are formed and how decisions move from proposal to implementation.
We leverage our physical presence, institutional knowledge, and long-standing bipartisan relationships to determine the best path forward and clear the way for businesses to manage the complex nature of government.
Our experience includes:
- State legislative and regulatory advocacy
- Executive branch and agency engagement
- Multi-state strategy coordination
- Local government and municipal affairs
- Coalition development and stakeholder alignment
What We Offer
Comprehensive Advocacy Services
Our State & Local Government Relations practice delivers tailored advocacy strategies aligned to each client’s business objectives, geographic footprint, and regulatory environment. We provide end-to-end support—from strategy development to execution—ensuring engagement is effective, coordinated, and responsive.
Our services include:
- State and local advocacy strategy development and execution
- Policy analysis and legislative monitoring
- Direct representation before state legislatures, agencies, and local bodies
- Stakeholder engagement and coalition building
- Issue management and regulatory navigation
Spotlight States
Michael Best Strategies maintains deep state-level capabilities nationwide, with established teams, long-standing relationships, and firsthand experience navigating state governments where policy decisions are made and implemented. Our State Spotlights highlight jurisdictions where we bring particularly strong presence and insight.
Our Illinois team brings extensive experience navigating one of the country’s most dynamic and complex state governments. With deep relationships across the executive branch, legislature, and regulatory agencies, we help clients engage effectively on policy, regulatory, and economic development matters that directly impact operations and growth.
We support organizations across industries by aligning advocacy strategies with Illinois’ unique political, fiscal, and regulatory landscape so clients can anticipate challenges, manage risk, and advance policy priorities with confidence.
Our Wisconsin team combines decades of experience inside state government, agencies, and public policy organizations with a strong, on-the-ground presence in Madison. We understand how decisions are shaped, debated, and implemented, and how to engage effectively at every stage of the process.
Clients rely on our Wisconsin team for informed guidance on legislative strategy, regulatory navigation, and issue management across a wide range of industries and policy areas.
Primary Contacts
Aaron D. Harris
Aaron.Harris@michaelbest.comT 312.596.5899Partner, State Government Relations Group
Illinois Office Lead
- Meet the Full Team
