Patrice L. Lewis
Gentry Locke Attorneys
Chesterfield
1
Certification
18
years of professional experience
Law firm Partner and Director of Government Affairs with 15+ years building strategic relationships across Virginia state and local agencies to advance client priorities. I help major corporations like Apple and Cigna Healthcare navigate complex government landscapes, securing policy wins and procurement success through trusted partnerships with officials and legislative bodies. Specialized in digital transformation, healthcare policy, and multi-stakeholder consensus building that delivers measurable outcomes for Fortune 500 clients.
Work History
Partner and Government Affairs Director
5 Years 10 Months- Secured over 100 legislative wins and regulatory approvals for Fortune 500 clients through strategic advocacy with state and local officials.
- Serve as primary liaison to state and local government bodies for high-profile clients, including Apple, Cigna Healthcare, and major professional associations.
- Spearheaded Apple's Virginia legislative strategy, resolving over a dozen regulatory challenges and securing favorable outcomes on technology policy initiatives.
- Deliver state and local procurement support for Cigna by leveraging trusted relationships with government officials to navigate complex procurement processes, provide strategic insights, and facilitate effective engagement.
- Recognized for building consensus among stakeholders, fostering collaboration, and delivering favorable outcomes for clients across technology, healthcare, and public policy sectors.
Senior Advisor
6 Years 11 Months- Provided strategy, insights, and management for marketing- and communications-related projects.
- Led community engagement and market research for Chesterfield County transit initiative, securing unanimous Board approval for new bus service through persuasive use of data and stakeholder collaboration.
- Managed Hampton Roads Envision 2020 economic development project, cultivating and leveraging strategic relationships with state and local government officials and 200+ community leaders to drive project success.
- Directed City of Richmond’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) business support effort, utilizing strong government and business relationships to build support, develop outreach strategies, and coordinate high-level stakeholder engagement.
Adjunct Professor, Research Methodologies
2 Years 9 Months- Instruct Creative Brand Management students on quantitative, qualitative, and secondary research.
- Provide public-school educational guidance for approximately 20 students per semester in one of the top brand management institutions in the country.
- Equip students with knowledge on various methods of research, focusing on the best practices for quantitative studies, qualitative focus groups, and secondary research.
- Instruct students on target market groups, when and how to use research, and insights vs. facts, and on analyzing data, drafting a presentation deck, and presenting findings to clients.
Outreach Representative, Constituent Services Liaison
4 Years 2 Months- Represented U.S. Senator Mark Warner to constituents in 28 counties and cities within Central Virginia, serving approximately 1.25 million Virginians.
- Served as a policy liaison between the senator and federal, state, and local officials and staff, as well as the media and private industry leaders, specifically supporting ethnic and religious groups and education leaders. Helped create the senator’s Interfaith Council and wrote the Senator’s correspondence with Virginia Education Association members across the state.
- Helped develop and manage the outreach strategy for over 2,000 events statewide out of the regional office.
- Served as the spokesperson and outreach representative for the senator regarding various issues, including education, environmental, and economic development.
- Organized 400 events to meet with constituents regarding issues with federal agencies.
Legislative Assistant
2 Months- Served over 100,000 constituents in the state of Virginia, acting as the delegate’s liaison with numerous government and constituent groups.
- Coordinated and mediated between the delegate and lobbyist groups, the Virginia Supreme Court Justice, constituents, and committees regarding legislation, including the delegate’s committees (Appropriations, Education, and Counties and Cities).
- Submitted budget proposals for the 2008–2010 biennial year, seeking over $4.5 million in state appropriations for issues including education and city and county improvements.
- Researched legislative topics, such as the effects of not providing adequate funding for mental health and substance abuse programs.
- Composed press releases, letters, and email responses for over 3,000 constituents.
Education
Juris Doctor
Activities: Bailiff for National Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition; Entertainment and Sports Law Secretary; Black Law Students Association Treasurer
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
- Activities: Volunteer for KISS FM Radio Marketing; Member of University Program Council (the student-run organization that organized university-wide events); Marketing Intern for University Career Services
- Awards: NAACP Herbert Lehman National Defense Fund Scholarship Recipient; University Achievement Award Recipient; Roanoke Bar Association Grant Recipient
Skills
Government Relations: State and local government relations
legislative advocacy
policy analysis
regulatory affairs
government affairs and lobbying
policy tracking
appropriations
legislation preparation
and tracking
Legal and Strategic Analysis: Legal analysis
constitutional law
administrative law
regulatory compliance
document review
handling confidential information
Stakeholder and Client Relationship Management: Relationship building
stakeholder engagement
coalition building
community engagement
spokesperson experience
public-private partnerships
Communications and Advocacy: Strategic communications
speechwriting
press releases
copywriting
presentations
advocacy campaigns
Project and Business Development: Project management
account management
data-driven strategy
market research and analysis
economic development
procurement strategy
Staff Supervision: Supervised junior staff
assistants and interns
Affiliations
- Member, VA250 African American Advisory Council (nominated by State Senator Mamie Locke and Delegate Terry Austin)
- Member, National Professional Lobbyist Association
- Member, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., Inn of Court
- Past Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair and Ethics Chair, Public Relations Society of America – Richmond Chapter
- Past Member, Advisory Committee, BLK RVA
- Past Member, Government Affairs Committee, Chamber RVA Chesterfield County
- Past Member and Civic Engagement Committee Member, Urban League of Greater Richmond’s Young Professional Network
- Past Board Member, Brown Virginia
Certification
- Admitted to Maryland State Bar in December 2006
- Admitted to Virginia State Bar in December 2021
Timeline
Partner and Government Affairs Director
Gentry Locke Attorneys
09.2020 - CurrentRead More
Adjunct Professor, Research Methodologies
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Brandcenter
08.2017 - 05.2020Read More
Senior Advisor
Southeastern Institute of Research (SIR)
10.2013 - 09.2020Read More
Outreach Representative, Constituent Services Liaison
United States Senate, Office of Senator Mark R. Warner
08.2009 - 10.2013Read More
Legislative Assistant
Delegate Onzlee Ware, 11th District
01.2009 - 03.2009Read More
University of Virginia
Bachelor of Arts from Sociology
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Regent University School of Law
Juris Doctor
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