SP/Dykema Webinar on Trade Policy & Environmental Provisions

WEBINAR SPEAKERS

James Brandell

Dykema PLLC

Government Policy Advisor

Washington, D.C.

Jim Brandell has more than 20 years of government relations experience on state, federal and international levels. Mr. Brandell has extensive experience crafting and implementing legislative and political strategy; attracting, managing and retaining talented staff; and developing and managing multimillion dollar budgets.  As Chief of Staff to Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp for over a decade, Mr. Brandell led Chairman Camp’s team on successful legislative issues, including trade agreement implementation, the first comprehensive tax reform bill in a generation, and health care reform proposals.  He also served as chief liaison with Congressional leadership and the White House.  Active in leadership roles at the state level, Mr. Brandell was Deputy Chief of Staff to Michigan Governor John Engler, where he served as chief liaison to all state and national political organizations and managed several administrative divisions within the executive office.

Andrew Buczek

Dykema PLLC

Government Policy Advisor

Washington, D.C.

Andy Buczek has over 20 years of federal public policy and political experience assisting clients in developing effective legislative, regulatory and political strategies.  His practice focuses on building successful partnerships between the federal government and nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, local governments and private industry, with an emphasis in the areas of housing, manufacturing, transportation, science and technology, as well as a wide array of local government and economic development projects.  Prior to joining Dykema, Mr. Buczek developed a strong understanding of the workings of Congress as a senior legislative assistant for Congressman Jim Barcia, who represented the 5th District of Michigan.  In that role, he advanced the Congressman’s agenda in the areas of education, energy, environment, financial services, health care and manufacturing.  Additionally, he was Congressman Barcia’s designee to the House Science Committee, where he served as the Congressman’s principal advisor on science and technology policy.

Mary Beth McGowan

Dykema PLLC

Government Policy Advisor

Washington, D.C.

Mary Beth McGowan has over 10 years of experience consulting a broad range of clients from local governments to nonprofit organizations to corporations on legislative and regulatory issues related to transportation, cybersecurity, electric power and energy, environmental policy, telecommunications, the appropriations process and federal budgetary matters.  She works with clients to develop strategies to effectively advocate before Congress and the Executive Branch.  Prior to joining Dykema, Ms. McGowan worked for six years on the staff of United States Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) where she rose to serving as a policy advisor.  In that role, she was actively engaged in all aspects of the legislative process with a focus on energy and environment policy.

Grant Gilezan

Dykema PLLC

Environmental Practice Leader

Detroit, MI

Grant P. Gilezan serves as Leader of Dykema’s Environmental Law Practice Group.  His environmental practice focuses on regulatory, transactional, contracting, policy and litigation matters involving private and public sector clients.  He has experience in site remediation (specializing in multiparty cleanup projects involving large-scale engineering and construction efforts); facility audits; spill reporting; facility closure and redevelopment projects; air emission requirements (especially engine testing and coating); wastewater regulation; underground storage tanks; waste management; TSCA reporting; business and property sales and leases; lobbying on proposed legislation and rulemaking; contracting for environmental services, materials and equipment; and government enforcement, cost recovery and natural resource damage claims.