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Overview

As an attorney with Calfee's Government Relations practice, Maryellen works closely with public and privately held clients to develop legislative strategies and support programs on issues that affect and impact their particular business. She provides legislative research and analysis around issues important to the client and its industry in order to help form an effective legislative strategy. She implements legislative strategies and drafts legislation on behalf of clients. Maryellen also has a great deal of experience helping to guide clients through the state’s operating and capital budget bill process.

Maryellen has counseled clients regarding issues affecting the gaming, higher education, Medicaid and healthcare, technology, public pension and utility industries.

She also works with clients as they navigate the regulatory process, for example, before the Ohio Casino Control Commission, Ohio State Racing Commission, Ohio Department of Health and others.

Maryellen also counsels clients on forming PACs as well as campaign finance and lobbying reporting and compliance issues surrounding such matters.

As part of the Public Law and Public Finance groups, Maryellen provides counsel to state-level authorities and other agencies of state government, municipalities, port authorities, counties, townships and special districts, as well as businesses appearing before them, on various matters, with an emphasis in the areas of general governmental finance, conduit finance and economic development.

Maryellen represents municipalities regarding a variety of matters including ordinance drafting and compliance. She works on economic development projects – both for local governments and people who wish to do work with the state and local governments. To this end, she drafts legislation and agreements, including TIF and project development agreements. 

Maryellen has developed specific expertise in the Ohio Public Records and Open Meetings Acts and is a frequent presenter and lecturer on those topics. She also serves as an editor and author of "Chapter 6: Open Meetings and Public Records" in  Local Government Law – Municipal, which is part of Baldwin’s Ohio Practice series published by Thomson West.

She is a member of the Ohio Lobbying Association and the Council of Development Finance Agencies.

Prior to joining Calfee, Maryellen was a Public Policy Analyst for Capital Partners, a public policy and management advisory firm focusing on government finance and policy reform in health care, education, and economic development. While at Capital Partners, Maryellen worked directly with the company president, a former director of the Ohio Office of Budget and Management.

Maryellen joined Calfee in 2008.

Honors & Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Government Relations Practice (2024)

Education

J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law, CALI Award for Constitutional Law II, 2003

B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2000

Professional & Community

Professional & Community

  • Ohio Lobbying Association, Member
  • Council of Development Finance Agencies, Member

News & Events

Alerts

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Clerkships

  • Law Clerk to Chief Judge Sidney S. Eagles and Judge Alan Z. Thornburg, North Carolina Court of Appeals

Licensed In

  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
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