Founding partners Bill Messer and Mike Toomey were recently listed by the website “Capitol Inside” as tied for “Number one hired gun lobbyist” for 2005 and by Texas Monthly magazine as two of only 4 lobbyists listed in the “top 25 most influential people in Texas politics.” Lara Laneri Keel was named a “top five lobby star to watch” by Capitol Inside’s Texas Lobby Power Rankings two years in a row (2006, 2007).

Since its forming in 2002, the group’s client portfolio has grown to include an impressive list of Fortune 500 companies including: Liberty Mutual, AT & T, Union Pacific, State Farm Insurance, as well as other companies, associations and government entities.

Our team provides our clients with a comprehensive array of public policy management and advocacy services. Listed below are brief professional biographies of the principal members of the lobby group. Please click on the links for a complete biography.

Mike Toomey	Listed by Capitol Inside as the No. 1 “hired gun” lobbyist, along with Bill Messer, for 2005. Texas Monthly magazine listed Toomey as one of four lobbyists included in the top twenty-five most influential people in Texas politics for 2005. “For the past twenty years, Mike Toomey has loomed large in state government,...as the Capitol’s premier business lobbyist....With his encyclopedic knowledge of state government...” Patricia Kilday Hart, Texas Monthly, May 2003 Became the only person in Texas history to serve as chief of staff for two Texas Governors (William P. Clements, 1989-1990 and Rick Perry, 2002-2004). Served as a Republican state representative from 1983 to 1988; served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Listed by both the Dallas Morning News and Texas Monthly as their choice of top legislators for the state of Texas during the 1980's. Earned his B.A. degree from Baylor University (1972); J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law (1976).
Bill Messer	Listed by Capitol Inside as the No. 1 “hired gun” lobbyist in 2004 and 2005. Texas Monthly magazine listed Messer as one of four lobbyists included in the top twenty-five most influential people in Texas politics for 2005. “Messer passed three of the most successful lobbyists in the past generation in his ascension to the number one ranking in our first category-the top 20 hired gun lobbyists going into 2004.” Mike Hailey, Capitol Inside, January 2004 Served as a Democratic state representative from 1979 to 1986; served as chairman of the House Calendars Committee and the Texas Legislative Council Finance Committee. Listed by Texas Monthly magazine as one of the “Ten Best Legislators” four times throughout his tenure at the Capitol.  Earned his B.S. degree from Southwest Texas State University (1972);  J.D. degree from the University of Texas (1975).
Lara Laneri Keel	Named a “top five lobby star to watch” by Capitol Inside’s Texas Lobby Power Rankings (2006, 2007). Former Lobbyist for the state’s largest business group, The Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce (TABCC).  Experience includes lobbying the Texas Legislature, Executive and state agencies, as well as U.S. Congress on critical employer issues. Directed TABCC’s Health Partners Task Force, a three-tiered campaign involving grassroots, communications and coalition building. Worked as a Legislative Aide in the Texas Senate.  Key staff for State Senator specializing in health and human services, insurance and appropriations issues.  Policy Analyst for Senate Interim on Long Term Care issues. Early advocacy efforts focused on political campaigns and work with several key statewide trade associations. Earned her BA in Political Science from Texas Tech University (1993).