Government & Public Policy

McMillan’s Government and Public Policy team is a recognized leader in government relations and public policy issues, with well-established relationships with key decision makers throughout Canada’s federal, provincial and municipal governments. Our clients benefit, in particular, from our strategic partnership with McMillan Vantage, who deliver targeted and comprehensive government and public relations services. It is a full-service, national public affairs firm and the only such consultancy anchored in a national law firm. Collectively, our experienced team offers government relations counsel, policy and regulatory analysis, and strategic communications services to Canadian and international clients.

Through McMillan Vantage, our lawyers help clients manage risks and maximize opportunities in an increasingly competitive and public marketplace of ideas, policies and corporate strategies. We regularly advise corporations, agencies, non-governmental organizations, associations and governments on government relations and public policy issues. We have initiated legislative changes in key areas of governmental activity including taxation, competition law, business law and the regulation of foreign investment.

McMillan’s Government and Public Policy  team is focused on facilitating mutually beneficial relationships between governments’ regulatory activities and the interests of our clients.  We support clients by:

• Keeping them abreast of legislative developments that could impact their businesses;
• Assisting in the preparation of submissions with respect to legislation;
• Preparing them for public consultations;
• Assisting with the selection of third-party consultants, such as public relations firms and lobbyists;
• Assisting with public policy research and analysis;
• Advising on lobbyist registration, lobbying compliance and ethical obligations at the federal, provincial, territorial and municipal level;
• Advising on election law compliance at all levels of government, including advertising and political financing rules;
• Providing guidance on issues relating to conflict of interest and anti-corruption;
• Representing corporations, other organizations and executives at all stages of investigations, enforcement proceedings and prosecutions for political and integrity law offences.