Mary Ann McLean

Mary Ann McLean is a Government Relations attorney in Albany, NY who represents clients in lobbying and regulatory matters. She has extensive experience advocating for institutions of higher education and professional associations before the New York State Education Department and Legislature. She also has worked with many of the firm's corporate and association clients on issues before state agencies and the Legislature.

Prior to joining the firm, Mary Ann spent more than 20 years working with the New York State Legislature. She served as counsel and director to the Senate Higher Education Committee for nearly 10 years, and subsequently established and operated her own lobbying firm.

Clients seek out Mary Ann for her credibility with the key policymakers who have discretion over accreditation and licensing issues and for her tremendous knowledge of the legislative and regulatory mechanisms for broadening the scope of her clients' services and professional practices. Clients continue to retain Mary Ann because she provides an exceptional level of responsiveness and added value, keeping them constantly apprised of legislative and regulatory changes on the horizon that have the potential to positively enhance or negatively impact their business.

AREAS OF FOCUS

Government Relations

Mary Ann assists institutions of higher education and professional associations in implementing or resisting statutory changes proposed in the New York State Legislature and navigating regulatory requirements administered by New York State agencies. She also monitors and addresses the many legislative attempts to restrict the practice of professionals or impose additional requirements.

For a number of colleges, Mary Ann assists in securing approvals for new degree programs as well as mining opportunities for financial aid and economic development. She also monitors potentially negative legislation that could limit the way colleges do business with and provide services through outside vendors.

For the accounting profession, Mary Ann was instrumental in gaining the enactment of an update to the more than 60-year-old Article 149 of the Education Law, which governs CPA licensing, required qualifications and registration matters. She continues to negotiate the implementation of these regulations with the Education Department, including the recent passage of a "mobility" statute allowing CPAs licensed in other states to practice in New York. In addition, she has worked to resist implementation of punitive accountancy laws and regulations stemming from Sarbanes-Oxley, and assisted in managing a strategy to prevent passage of proposed legislation that would increase accountants' liability exposure.

Mary Ann also advocates for professionals in other areas, including clinical social workers and athletic trainers. She was involved in the 2002 passage of the first licensing law for clinical social workers and continues to assist clients with the implementation of these regulations and their potential impact on the people being served by – as well as those who hire – these professionals. On behalf of athletic trainers, she was involved in the recent passage of legislation regarding the management of students who suffer a concussion while participating in high school sports.

In addition, Mary Ann represents the New York State hospitality and tourism industries in connection with labor issues that affect all of their employees, legislation that imposes additional requirements on employers, and funding opportunities with respect to the "I Love NY" marketing campaign.