John M. Jennings

John Jennings practices in the Government Affairs department of the Business Unit. He focuses on representing a variety of businesses and professional associations in the New York State Legislature. His practice includes:

• Drafting legislation on behalf of clients.
• Monitoring and reporting on the status of pending legislation.
• Analyzing potential effects of pending legislation on clients’ interests.
• Communicating clients’ positions to members of the State Legislature, State Agencies, and the Governor’s Office.
• Assisting clients with strategy regarding the availability of and access to a variety of government funding mechanisms and other programs.
• Advising clients regarding a myriad of government relations compliance issues, from procurement regulations to campaign finance laws.

Before John joined the Government Affairs department, he practiced for several years in the trial department, where he honed his writing and advocacy skills representing clients in commercial litigation matters.

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

• Adjunct Instructor, Political Science at Roberts Wesleyan College
• Member, American Bar Association Government Affairs Professionals Committee
• Former Member, Board of Directors, Cameron Community Ministries
• Member, Buffalo Law Review Alumni Board of Consultants
• Member, Roberts Wesleyan College Executive Advisory Board
• Volunteer, Veterans Outreach Center
• Active participant in local politics

HONORS & AWARDS

• 2013 Roger J. Robach Conservative of the Year, awarded by the Monroe County Conservative Party
• G.O.L.D. (Graduate of the Last Decade) Award (2009), Roberts Wesleyan College. Awarded for professional excellence, community involvement, active participation in the ongoing work of Roberts Wesleyan College and maintenance of a lifestyle that's in harmony with the spirit and philosophy of the college.
• Editor-in-Chief, Buffalo Law Review, SUNY Buffalo Law School

NEWS

Press Releases

• Harter Secrest & Emery Announces New Partners, January 4, 2021

PRESENTATIONS

• “The Importance of Being Registered: Client Advocate or Accidental Lobbyist?,” National Cannabis Bar Association Annual Conference, May 2018
• "Government Contracts, Lobbying, and Other Ways You Can Get Yourself Into Trouble," NewYorkBIO
  Annual Conference, May 2018
• “Albany: What Really Happens in the Room Where it Happens," Harter Secrest & Emery’s Labor and Employment Law Conference, April 26, 2018

• “Show Me the Money: Introducing New York City and State's $1.2 Billion in Life Science Economic Development,” NewYork BIO Round Table at the New York Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, September 2017

• “New York Life Science Initiatives,” with Maria K. Mitchell, Senior Vice President Life Sciences, New York Empire State Development Corporation, New York BIO Annual Conference, 2017
• “Municipal Procurement: Pitfalls and Windfalls,” Association of Town Clerks Annual Conference, April 2017
• “Lobbying, Advocacy, and Staying Out of Jail,” Corning Area Chamber of Commerce, March 2017
• “Medical Cannabis: The Convergence of Healthcare, Business, and the Emerging Cannabis Industry,” NY BIO Annual Conference, May 2016
• “The Role of the Town Clerk in Referendum Elections,” New York State Town Clerks Association Annual Conference, April 2016
• “What Towns Should Know About Lobbying, Ethics, and the New York State Commission on Public Integrity,” 2016 New York State Association of Towns Annual Conference and Training School, February 2016
• “Dealing with Government in an Ethical Fashion,” Albany Law School Hot Topics CLE, May 2015
• “Town Referendum Elections: Let’s Not Get Sued!” 2015 New York State Association of Towns Annual Conference and Training School, February 2015
• “START-UP New York Update," 49th Annual Tax Institute, Monroe County Bar Association, November 2014
• “Ten Years - No Taxes? Yes, Please!” Roundtable discussion regarding the STARTUP NY economic development program with Adam Spence, Senior Vice President STARTUP NY, Eva Brown Cramer, Vice President SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and Nathan Tinker, Executive Director of New York Bio, September 2014
• “So You Have to Run a Referendum Election...” 32nd Annual New York State Town Clerks Association Conference, April 2014
• “A Tempest in a Teapot? Lessons for Tax Exempt Organizations from the IRS ‘Tea Party’,” 48th Annual Tax Institute, Monroe County Bar Association, November 2013
• ”Municipal Ethics: A Lobbyist’s Thoughts on How to Run a Village While Staying out of Trouble,” Municipal Electric Utilities Association Accounting Workshop, October 2013