Elizabeth A. Maier

Elizabeth A. Maier

Policy Director

Background

With 20 successful years working in senior positions in the U.S. Congress behind her, Elizabeth Maier, a familiar and well-trusted policy and political advisor is now focusing her efforts and expertise on advising Brownstein’s clients about numerous legislative and regulatory issues and using her expertise to advance clients’ priorities.

Elizabeth worked more than 10 years as Legislative Director to U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (AZ-R), where she actively pursued the Senator’s many legislative priorities. Elizabeth managed Kyl’s legislative operation, including his work on the Senate Judiciary and Finance committees, and as a result she developed experience working on wide-ranging matters, including, but not limited to, work on trade, health, labor, and some tax bills. Elizabeth worked closely with all Senate Republican leadership and served as the primary legislative liaison between the Senator’s personal office and his Whip operation. Elizabeth is also widely known for her work on immigration and homeland security matters; she worked as Kyl’s chief staffer for numerous years on major immigration overhauls, including the last major immigration effort in 2007 when Senator Kyl, the Senate’s chief Republican negotiator, worked alongside chief Democrat negotiator Senator Ted Kennedy and President George W. Bush to try to pass reform.

Early in her career, Elizabeth worked for U.S. Representative Frank Wolf (VA-R) as a professional staff member on the House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families. There she developed work/family policy proposals and planned and managed hearings related to tax, health and work/family time management. She also handled issues before the House Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Post Office and Civil Service committees. 

PRACTICES:

Representative Matters

Recent Experience

  • Faced with intense Congressional scrutiny, Brownstein worked with our client to develop congressional messaging, engage in meetings in the United States Senate, and prepare for a high profile congressional hearing, ultimately mitigating Congressional concerns.

  • On behalf of a Fortune 50 company, successfully defeated an effort by Congress to impose a sanctions framework on foreign parent with devastating consequences to our client.

  • Counsel to the MusicFirst Coalition on a copyright

Insights & Publications

Credentials

Education

  • M.A., American University
  • B.A., Virginia Tech

Previous Experience

Legislative Director, Senator Jon Kyl (AZ-R)

Senior Policy Advisor, Senator Jon Kyl (AZ-R)

Legislative Assistant, Senator Jon Kyl (AZ-R)

Professional Staff, Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, U.S. Representative Frank Wolf (VA-R)

Legislative Assistant, U.S. Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA)

Community Involvement

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

  • Member, Government Relations Leadership Forum
  • Commissioner, City of Alexandria, VA Beautification Commission (2013)
  • Alexandria, VA Beautification Commission Award Winner (2012)

Recognition

AWARDS:

Government Relations Leadership Forum