About Us
The core business activity of our office is to provide reliable, thorough and professional representation of clients before the legislative and executive branches of government in West Virginia and other jurisdictions. This function is carried out in a variety of ways including: advocating client interests through direct communications with elected and appointed officials and their staffs; monitoring, analyzing and reporting on impacts of legislation and policy initiatives; preparing written communications for clients; testifying at or preparing clients to testify at public hearings; developing and maintaining close working relationships with state policymakers; devising comprehensive strategies to assist clients in achieving their goals in relation to state government; building and coordinating grassroots campaigns to enhance client efforts; and, working with clients' public relations and public affairs representatives to craft client messages for public dissemination.
The office is firmly grounded in the education, background and experience of Phil Reale. Phil is a long-time general practitioner of law with substantial experience in the field of oil and gas law and former prosecuting attorney. He served as chairman of former West Virginia Governor Gaston Caperton's transition team and later as Governor Caperton's first Chief-of-Staff. In addition, he is a former president of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia, two-time chair of the State College System of West Virginia, and a successful lobbyist and strategist with more than 25 years of experience.
Support within the office includes former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and economic development specialist, Jim Fealy. Clients benefit from Jim's close working relationships with legislators and executive agency staff members, as well as his knowledge of the legislative process. Jim is joined by Lesley McCallister, Director of Communications and Research, who previously provided public relations and communications assistance to several legislators in her role as a Legislative Research Analyst and Committee Clerk in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Lesley manages clients' daily bill tracking summaries, organizes direct-mail communications for clients, designs supporting materials, including newsletters, pamphlets and reports, maintains the office Web site, as well as assists with a host of other items that put a professional mark on our written communications.