Brownstein Adds Rick Palacio – Well-Known Political Consultant – to its Government Relations Team

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck continues to expand its State & Local Legislation & Policy Group with the addition of Rick Palacio, a Democratic strategist and political consultant, to its Government Relations team. Palacio will serve as a strategic consulting advisor in the firm’s Denver office. 

“As we continue to expand our focus on a national state and local policy practice we are always looking to add the best talent to our team,” said Doug Friednash, chair of the firm’s State & Local Legislation & Policy Group. “Rick’s proven experience helping candidates, committees and corporate industries create winning strategies for improving their work in government and political affairs complements our established government relations talent and enables us to further our reach here in Colorado and across the country.”

Palacio is the founding partner of the Majority Institute, a subscription-based polling and research firm. He is also the owner of PS Group, a consulting firm that assists progressive causes, candidates and corporate clients throughout the country. He has been involved in dozens of high-level political campaigns, and also served as chair of the Colorado Democratic Party from 2011-2017. He is the first Latino in Colorado's history to hold the office of chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. Prior to his service with the Colorado Democrats, he worked in Washington, D.C., as a senior leadership aide to House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-D) and former U.S. Rep. John T. Salazar (CO-D). 

Brownstein is one of the most widely recognized and respected law and policy firms in the western United States and Washington, D.C. Predicated on its state lobbying practices in four western states—California, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico—the firm is continuing its expansion and focus on a national state and local policy practice. To best serve clients, the firm’s practice goes beyond the traditional approach focused in the halls of state legislatures, and includes the ability to effectively engage with governors, state attorneys general, mayors, legislative leaders and regulatory officials as they continue to gain power in today’s dynamic regulatory environment. Brownstein attorneys and policy professionals deploy strategic relationships to assist businesses that need a state-level strategy to address national issues. Together, they help find partnerships for clients to build coalitions and leverage collective strengths and resources, complementing the firm’s federal level advocacy and providing strategic insights on government relations engagement at every level throughout the lifecycle of an issue.