
New York State Regulatory & Government Relations
Impacting New York’s myriad of regulations—and the people behind them.
New York State is the most regulated and politically complicated state in the nation. Many of the most highly regulated industries, including healthcare, education, and energy, among others, are subject to multiple layers of regulatory requirements, both written and unwritten. A company operating in one of those industries needs to be able to understand—and impact—the regulations, as well as the regulators and policymakers who establish and implement them
Decades of Experience
Our team includes seasoned professionals who have worked in and around New York State government for decades. We have deep relationships at all levels and on both sides of the political aisle, with regulatory and legislative policymakers and with the entire network of individuals and organizations, both inside and outside government, who shape state policy. Most importantly, as registered lobbyists, we adhere to the highest ethical standards and share a firm belief that the quality of a client’s argument is what is most important to achieve legislative and regulatory success.
The Right Connections
Our practice includes representing clients before all levels of state government, including not only the agency regulators who affect highly regulated clients on a day-to-day basis, but also senior agency staff, the governor’s office, and the New York State Legislature. On the agency side, we help clients connect with the line staff whose interpretations of applicable law or decisions about agency procurements often spell the difference between success and failure for a company or project. When needed, we also connect with more senior policymakers who are often able to take a more global view of state policy goals and how they relate to particular regulatory requirements. If necessary, we can work with agency leadership to change regulations, or lobby the state legislature to change problematic laws. Even where a client has no immediate problem, our monitoring services allow clients to stay ahead of key policy trends and help define the landscape in which they operate.
Professionals
Vanessa E. Bongiorno
Government Relations Director
Albany
Articles & Advisories
Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried’s Impact on Health Care Access in New York State
In November of 2022, the New York State Bar Association Health Law Section hosted a retrospective of the work of…
May 23, 2023
Opinion: The Return of Public Health Law
Mark Ustin wrote an op-ed on “The Return of Public Health Law” which was published in the Daily News. He…
February 03, 2023
Opinion: After COVID-19, we need more focus on health equity
The experience with COVID-19 over the last two and a half years has taught health care policymakers a number of…
September 16, 2022
Understanding the nuances of mental health are key for COVID-19 recovery
Over the past two years, New Yorkers have had to withstand feelings of uncertainty, disconnectedness, and in some cases outright…
July 15, 2022
How I Made Office Managing Partner
Mark Ustin, 50, Farrell Fritz, Albany, New York Job title: Partner in charge of the Albany office and head of the…
April 25, 2022
Fair Pay for Home Care Workers: Easier Said Than Done
In January, Gov. Hochul unveiled a proposed budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year that departed from many years of tradition…
April 01, 2022
Local Governments React to State’s Marijuana Law
Countless business owners, entrepreneurs, and individuals in New York celebrated the state’s passage in late March of the Marijuana Regulation…
September 22, 2021
Pandemic Lessons Should Focus on Progress, Not Punishment
When someone finally writes the comprehensive story of the pandemic, it probably will read much like a disaster story: first, the…
February 23, 2021
What Comes Next? Eight Things to Look for in the Healthcare Industry After the Pandemic
At this point, there are few if any people left in the United States whose lives have not been impacted…
November 03, 2020
New York State COVID-19 and Legislative Update – May 29, 2020
This week marked seventy days since the inception of New York on PAUSE (Policies to Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone).…
June 02, 2020
News
Mark Ustin Recognized in City & State New York’s 2023 Law Power 100
City & State’s Law Power 100 recognizes the most influential legal professionals in the world of New York politics and…
March 21, 2023
Patient Code of Conduct Aimed at Protecting Staff
Mark Ustin and Stacey L. Goldstein were quoted in a recent Healthcare Risk Management article “Patient Code of Conduct Aimed at Protecting Staff.”…
March 06, 2023
Mark Ustin Named to City & State 2023 Health Care Power 100
Farrell Fritz Partner Mark Ustin has been selected to the City & State 2023 Health Care Power 100. Here is…
January 18, 2023
Middle-Income Seniors Will Find It Hard to Pay for Housing by 2033
Mark Ustin, regulatory and government relations lawyer at Farrell Fritz in Albany, NY., tells GlobeSt.com, “This study shines an important…
September 01, 2022
The 2022 Law Power 100
New York is the capital of the legal industry. The state has the greatest number of lawyers per 1,000 residents…
March 07, 2022
Protect Peer Review Privileges, or Risk Serious Consequences
Avoid Bad Faith Charge The most important thing to remember about confidentiality protections afforded to patient safety investigations by state…
January 25, 2022
City & State New York’s 2022 Health Power 100
Farrell Fritz partner Mark Ustin was named to City & State New York’s 2022 Health Power 100. This list highlights…
January 24, 2022
City & State New York’s 2021 Responsible 100
Farrell Fritz partner Mark Ustin was named to City & State New York’s Responsible 100 list. The list recognizes leaders – in business,…
December 13, 2021
Bassett Gets Warm Reception As Next Health Commissioner
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Wednesday announcement that Dr. Mary Bassett will replace Dr. Howard Zucker as the state health commissioner was…
September 30, 2021
Former Governor Aide Weighs in on What Lt. Gov. Hochul Needs to Do
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was meeting with the State Health Commissioner Thursday as part of her transition into…
August 13, 2021
Press Releases
Farrell Fritz Receives Tier 1 Ranking in 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms”
Farrell Fritz is pleased to announce that, for the 11th consecutive year, the firm has received a Tier 1 Ranking…
November 03, 2022
21 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2023 Leading Lawyers by Best Lawyers
Farrell Fritz congratulates 17 attorneys on being selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023.…
August 18, 2022
17 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2022 Leading Lawyers by Best Lawyers
Farrell Fritz congratulates 12 attorneys on being selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022.…
August 19, 2021
Mark R. Ustin Elected President of St. Catherine’s Center for Children’s Board
Farrell Fritz is pleased to announce that Mark R. Ustin has recently been elected president of St. Catherine’s Center for…
December 27, 2019
Mishka Woodley Joins Farrell Fritz‘s Albany Office
Farrell Fritz is pleased to welcome Mishka Woodley as a healthcare and government relations associate. Mishka joins the firm’s Albany…
November 11, 2019
Kathleen M. Brown Joins Farrell Fritz’s Albany Office Healthcare Team
Farrell Fritz is pleased to announce that Kathleen M. Brown, a Cohoes, NY, resident, has joined the firm’s Albany office.…
September 20, 2018
30 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2018 Leading Lawyers in Their Respective Areas of Practice
Farrell Fritz had a combined total of 30 attorneys selected to the 2018 New York Metro Super Lawyers and New…
September 13, 2018
Farrell Fritz Launches Regulatory & Government Relations Practice Group; New Albany Office Highlights Firm’s Expansion to Capital District Market
Farrell Fritz is pleased to announce that it has launched a New York State Regulatory & Government Relations Practice Group,…
March 19, 2018