Nicole Lawter is a director of government relations in Williams Mullen's Government Relations Group, where she represents clients before Virginia's legislative and executive branches of government, including state agencies and boards. As a lobbyist and policy analyst for nearly two decades, Nicole works with large companies, professional associations and nonprofit clients to develop legislative advocacy, regulatory, and grassroots strategies to advance their policy agenda and create legislative solutions. Utilizing relationships she has developed with state officials and her knowledge of the state budget and procurement process, Nicole also helps clients achieve their business development goals and secure state contracts. Nicole helps clients manage their political action campaigns and advises them as they make PAC contribution decisions.
Nicole's practice is focused primarily on health care law and policy, including advising health care providers, health care payors, health service providers, the pharmaceutical industry and nonprofit health advocacy organizations.
Nicole has significant knowledge of Virginia's Medicaid system and avidly studies health care payment and delivery reform models. She has focused on securing state funding for clients and advising clients through the state budget process. She is particularly interested in maternal and child health and oral health issues. In addition to her health care practice, Nicole advises higher education and economic development clients.
Working with Williams Mullen's Economic Development team, Nicole has done extensive research and advocacy for a strategic alignment of the economic development initiatives of both the Richmond and Hampton Roads metropolitan statistical areas to create a mega-region and thereby improve the economic vitality and worldwide competitiveness of both regions
Nicole has experience working in both the public and private sector at the state and federal level. Prior to joining William Mullen, Nicole was the director of government relations for Virginia Commonwealth University, its affiliated academic medical center, and health plan. Working with the health system's executive leadership team, Nicole helped craft strategic plans to achieve VCUHS's legislative priorities. She served as a representative of the university and health system before all state governmental and regulatory bodies and advocated for the health systems' federal legislative priorities.
Prior to her time at VCU, Nicole was a vice president at the Alliance Group, where she assisted clients with their legislative, public relations and grassroots initiatives. She was responsible for the development of strategic alliances and coalitions to advance corporate clients' interests. At the Alliance Group, Nicole also helped create nonprofit organizations and grassroots networks focused on state legislative campaigns. Nicole gained experience working with professional associations as the director of government affairs for the Virginia Dental Association. She began her career in Washington, D.C., working as a legislative assistant and correspondent to a member of the United States House of Representatives.
Nicole earned her Bachelor of Arts from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., where she double-majored in political science and French. She was born and raised in a suburb of Pittsburgh and now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and son.