516-227-0700

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

Mark R. Ustin

Partner
Albany

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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News

Mark Ustin Quoted in Provider Magazine – “2024 Outlook Features Artificial Intelligence, Workforce Solutions, and Smart Design”

Technology, particularly as it relates to artificial intelligence (AI), will be a big focus in the long-term care industry in…

February 06, 2024

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Mark Ustin quoted in Part B News: You can ‘fire’ patients for just cause, but hew to a clear policy

Patient abandonment is a real ethical and, sometimes, legal issue. Mark Ustin shares his insight on the topic with Part…

September 07, 2023

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Vanessa Bongiorno Named in City & State New York’s 2023 Who’ Who in Government Relations

Vanessa E. Bongiorno, Government Relations Director based in Albany, NY, was recently named to City & State New York‘s Who’s Who…

July 27, 2023

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Senior Living Is Driving Health Care Industry Distress

Replacing Infrastructure Adding Financial Pressure But the cost pressures for these facilities cannot be overlooked. Mark R. Ustin, partner, Farrell…

February 23, 2022

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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

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Press Releases

Farrell Fritz, P.C. Ranked by Best Law Firms® in 2024

Farrell Fritz has been recognized in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms®, ranked by Best Lawyers®, nationally in two…

November 02, 2023

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29 Farrell Fritz Attorneys Recognized as 2024 Leading Lawyers by Best Lawyers

Farrell Fritz congratulates 19 attorneys on being selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America©  2024.…

August 18, 2023

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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