Gaffney, Bennett & Associates

Gaffney, Bennett and Associates, Inc.
• Legislative Lobbying • Administrative Lobbying • Municipal Advocacy

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	Jay F. Malcynsky, Esq, Co-Founder/Managing Partner, is a practicing attorney licensed in Connecticut and Washington, D.C. In these capacities, Jay has distinguished himself as one of the most knowledgeable, highly respected, and capable professionals in the field of government relations and political consulting, as well as administrative law. At the state Capitol, clients and legislators often call upon Jay's skills in negotiating agreements, forging alliances, and coordinating crisis management. Under his leadership, Gaffney, Bennett and Associates has mounted a record of success unsurpassed in Connecticut. Jay has been an active and longtime political strategist. Prior to establishing the firm, Jay managed U.S. Congressman Stewart B. McKinney’s political campaigns in 1980 and 1982. He also managed the re-election bids of U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Johnson and U.S. Senator Lowell P. Weicker, in 1984 and 1988, respectively. In 2000, Jay served as campaign manager for Bush for President in Connecticut and was among the lead attorneys representing the Bush campaign during the Florida recount effort. He is currently vice chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and serves on the Boards of Directors of The UConn Foundation, the Nutmeg State Games, and Connecticut Legal Services. After graduating from law school, Jay served as a trial attorney in the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. He also served as an attorney for the U.S. House of Representatives. [Send email]

	Stephen R. Kinney , a partner in the firm, joined Gaffney, Bennett and Associates in 1985. A longtime political advisor to Democratic U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Steve has played a pivotal role in Dodd’s last four successful re-election bids and in his presidential campaign. Previously, he served as a member of Dodd's staff and acted as a liaison to the Connecticut General Assembly. On the state level, Steve first earned his political stripes under former Democratic House Speakers Ernest Abate and Irving Stolberg. During their leadership tenures, Steve was principally responsible for coordinating the movement of legislative business on the House floor. Over the past 20-plus years, Steve’s coalition building skills, his knowledge of the legislative process, and his political “sixth sense” have become invaluable assets to the firm. His extensive government relations and political experience are highly regarded by lawmakers and other key decisionmakers in both Hartford and Washington, D.C. His counsel and expertise are regularly sought on a wide variety of subjects, including: health care, human services, general law, telecommunications, state regulatory and municipal issues, and budget and tax matters. [Send email]

	Richard F. Conway ("Fritz") , a partner in the firm, joined Gaffney, Bennett and Associates in 1989. He developed his strong political acumen while serving as a political staffer in Hartford and Washington, D.C. He served as senior staff member and advisor to House Republican Leaders Robert Jaekle and Edward Krawiecki, Jr., in Hartford, and as a legislative aide and finance director for U.S. Congressman Stewart B. McKinney in the early 1980s. As a lobbyist, Fritz has earned great respect for his command and thorough understanding of the election and legislative processes. He provides expert advice to and lobbies on behalf of numerous clients, including Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, financial institutions, and small- to medium-size manufacturers. His areas of expertise include tax and budget policy, manufacturing, energy, telecommunications, banking, transportation, and regulatory matters. [Send email]

	Timothy J. Casey, Sr. (TJ) will commence his 30th year working in the halls of the Connecticut State Capitol in 2008, commuting from his beloved hometown of Milford -- a town he served with distinction for seven terms (1978-90) in the state House of Representatives, before joining Gaffney, Bennett and Associates in 1992. TJ's hands-on experience as a state lawmaker, which involved forging agreements with both sides of the aisle, and his keen grasp of the parliamentary process, have proven indispensable to the firm and its clients. During his legislative tenure, which included several key committee leadership appointments, TJ distinguished himself as a widely respected and admired lawmaker, consensus-builder, and public servant. He currently serves as a Milford Historic District Commission member and lends his expertise to clients on a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues, including: environmental, energy, housing, economic development, planning and zoning, telecommunications, and public health matters. [Send email]

	Lisa M. Fecke joined Gaffney, Bennett and Associates in 1994 after 13 years in the newspaper and public relations fields, and local and state politics. In the 1980s, she served as communications specialist for former New Haven Mayor Biagio DiLieto, and as communications director for the Senate Republican caucus at the state Capitol. In addition to lobbying for Gaffney, Bennett and Associates on a variety of issues involving health care, energy, municipalities, and the environment, Lisa is principally responsible for the firm’s client communications, one of the vital services we offer our clients and one of the many features that sets Gaffney, Bennett and Associates apart from other government relations firms. Lisa volunteers for the New Haven chapter of Habitat for Humanity and serves on the Patrons Board of the New Haven Public Library. [Send email]

	Paula A. Clarke-Cicchetti, Esq. served as Legal Counsel to the House Republican Caucus prior to joining Gaffney, Bennett and Associates and the Law Offices of Jay F. Malcynsky, Esq. in 1999. In her capacity as Legal Counsel, Paula developed critical skills in the drafting and screening of proposed legislation. Given her extensive experience working at the State Capitol and with state agencies, Paula is primarily responsible for legislative and administrative lobbying, and provides service to our clients in the areas of law, economic development and regulatory matters. [Send email]

	Brendan M. Fox, Esq. joined Gaffney, Bennett & Associates in March, 2003 and is a partner in The Law Offices of Jay F. Malcynsky, Esq., an affiliated entity. He provides administrataive and legal counsel to many of our firm's clients. Prior to joining the firm, Brendan served as the Executive Director of the Capital City Economic Development Authority, a quasi-public state authority established in July 1998 to spearhead the development of the “Six Pillars” project in the downtown Hartford area and in surrounding neighborhoods of Hartford. Brendan also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel to Governor John G. Rowland in his first term. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the Connecticut Institute for the Blind/Oak Hill, Leadership Greater Hartford/American Leadership Forum, the Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau and Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford. He also is a fellow of the American Leadership Forum. Brendan is a 1986 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, and a 1989 graduate of Western New England Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Upon graduation, he served as Law Clerk to Bankruptcy Judge Robert Krechevsky, and was an associate at the Hartford law firm of Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney. [Send email]

	Jeffrey A. Zyjeski, Esq. (“Zeke”) began working for Gaffney, Bennett & Associates in 1998 after completing an internship and working at the state Capitol as a staffer for the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. Jeff worked part-time at Gaffney, Bennett & Associates while in law school and joined the firm and the Law Offices of Jay F. Malcynsky, P.C. in 2002. Jeff graduated cum laude with a B.A. from the University of Connecticut, and received his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Jeff uses his legal and legislative experience to assist clients in matters of law, regulation and transportation. [Send email]