Who We Are

McMahan Winstead & Richardson was built from scratch, through persistence and a great deal of work, into one of the oldest and most respected government relations firms in Nashville.

We represent businesses, trade associations, and nonprofits before the Tennessee General Assembly, state agencies, and local and federal government, with more than 90 years of combined experience across effectively every industry in the state. Our clients range from local professional associations to publicly traded Fortune 100 companies. What they have in common is a stake in what happens on Capitol Hill and a preference for having someone in the room.

How We Work

01 The strongest possible voice on Capitol Hill Access is earned slowly and spent carefully. The relationships we have built over decades are what allow us to carry a client's position to the right person at the right moment, and to be taken seriously when we do.

02 A trustworthy source for public officials Our usefulness to our clients depends entirely on our credibility with policymakers. We protect that credibility rigorously, which sometimes means telling a client what they do not want to hear about their own position.

03 Government made less daunting Working with government officials can be complicated and intimidating. Our purpose is to remove the barriers to entry for anyone who wants to participate — a Fortune 100 company or a single-location business.

Our capabilities

What we do

Our work falls into three areas, and most clients engage us across more than one:

Government Relations & Advocacy Direct representation before the General Assembly, state agencies, and local and federal government, plus guidance through government procurement. Strategic & Regulatory Consulting Legislation drafting, regulatory strategy, and deep sector experience across technology, financial services, alcohol and tobacco, and healthcare. Political & Coalition Strategy PAC management and compliance, daily bill monitoring and political risk assessment, and coalition building among aligned stakeholders.

In the press

Recognized in Tennessee and beyond

Our work has been covered by The Tennessean, the Nashville Post, and others reporting on the influence of Tennessee's lobbying corps. Members of our team have appeared on the Nashville Post's “In Charge” list for Government and Politics, on published rankings of the state's top lobbyists, and among the finalists for the Nashville Emerging Leader Awards.