California Advocates is especially proud of our stable and continuous client base and honored that several clients have been with our firm since its inception, many for over 40 years. This allows California Advocates to exercise “public policy stewardship” over the issues affecting these clients as the government affairs climate evolves. We believe our clients are best served by an ongoing relationship that adapts prevailing public policy to their issues and our clients attest to the benefits of a long-term relationship.
In addition to continuous client base, California Advocates has been retained by numerous other clients on specific projects to either enact or defeat legislation. For example, several years ago the firm was retained by the World Bank to legislatively expand the permissible investments of California public pension funds to include certain financial instruments issued by the World Bank. We have also been retained to manage the government affairs in opposition to proposed initiatives, obtain funding for specific infrastructure projects and assist companies facing regulatory actions and fines. These experiences allow California Advocates to add value to both its continuous client base, as well as provide solutions to clients with a specific legislative or regulatory problem.
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Core Advocacy Principles
We believe that the foundation of successful advocacy is based on credibility with and the respect of decision makers combined with adherence to five core principles: (1) analysis and problem solving; (2) strategic guidance; (3) communications; (4) compliance with ethics requirements; (5) hard work putting “boots on the ground.”
California Advocates believes that credibility with legislative and regulatory decision-makers is the foundation of successful advocacy. During their lengthy advocacy careers, our lobbying team has developed contacts with virtually all legislators and their staffs, as well as many state agency representatives. Our relationships are founded upon professional representation and mutual cooperation in solving problems for our clients. Most of these relationships are the result of long-term and on-going interaction with decision-makers on a myriad of public policy issues. This solution oriented style of representation has resulted in credibility and respect among legislators, their respective staffs and state agency representatives.
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Strategic Guidance
Once a client issue has been analyzed and a policy statement articulated, California Advocates excels at all advocacy phases necessary to achieve success in the legislative arena or before regulatory agencies. Our many years of experience not only enable us to analyze a client’s problem from different perspectives, but our legal skills enable us to draft a viable solution precisely. Our strategic guidance includes attention to detail such as author selection, coalition building, committee referral, interaction with policy/fiscal committee staff, and the preparation and presentation of testimony. The strategic guidance continues from bill inception to presentation to the Governor’s Office.
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Communications
Effective communications at all phases of advocacy is critical to a successful outcome. We believe that a well informed and involved client ensures that both parties are participating in the process and contributing to the outcome. Furthermore, we believe that written reports to clients and/or legislative update articles in client publications create a shared sense of accountability. Communications does not only include interaction between the client and California Advocates, but also communications with all stakeholders in the legislative and regulatory arena.
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Lobbying Ethics and Compliance
California Advocates believes our clients should expect and demand the highest ethical principles from its advocacy firm. California Advocates strenuously adheres to both ethical advocacy practices and timely compliance with mandated reporting.
We maintain professional staff that is knowledgeable about all phases of legal compliance from initial client/lobbyist registration, quarterly reporting, and political action committee compliance. We ensure that all required reports are accurately and timely filed on behalf of our clients.
