Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Patrick Lespinasse as principal.
December 8, 2025
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies will host a holiday reception and panel on New York’s state of play heading into 2026. The discussion will feature Ben Max, Executive Editor and Program Director at the Center for New York City and State Law at New York Law School, New York City Council Member Nantasha Williams (CD 27), and New York State Assembly Member Jordan Wright (AD 70), and will be moderated by the Co-Chairs of the New York Cozen Public Strategies team, Rose Christ and Katie Schwab. The event is scheduled for December 16 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Click here to RSVP.
Last Thursday, at the NYC Council Stated Meeting, the Council overrode several mayoral vetoes, including a package of bills aimed at expanding pay data transparency and addressing disparities based on gender and race or ethnicity for private employers, legislation codifying the existing Mayor’s Office of Contract Services into the City Charter and providing the office with additional powers, and legislation requiring that the rent contribution for CityFHEPS recipients not exceed 30 percent of the household’s total monthly income. In addition to these overrides, the Council approved bills focused on improving the City’s contract payment process for nonprofits, strengthening water safety and awareness of public pool access, establishing the Office of the Census, requiring schools to stock safety devices, and requiring building inspections following 311 complaints of rats. The Council also introduced a number of bills, including measures to establish curbside overnight parking areas in industrial business zones, enact reforms related to the containment, labeling, and removal of shopping carts, and add SNAP theft as a 311 complaint category, among other proposals. All legislation passed and introduced can be found here.
Last week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a wide range of bills into law. Among these included measures to strengthen requirements for health insurance coverage of follow-up screening and diagnostic services for lung cancer, legislation relating to veterans’ health care, a bill requiring a report on the utilization and activity of the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program, and legislation expanding the definition of “temporary health care services agency” to include digital health care service platforms. She also signed legislation directing a study of child- and youth-targeted mobile crisis outreach teams in New York State, authorizing the donation of certain state personal property to not-for-profit organizations, and requiring harness racetrack locations awarded a gaming facility license to maintain live racing activity. She also vetoed several bills, including the Wrongful Death Act for the fourth time, along with several bills that would form commissions, task forces, or studies, citing a budgetary impact without going through the state’s budget process.
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies is pleased to announce that Patrick Lespinasse has joined the New York City practice. Lespinasse brings more than two decades of experience in government affairs, public policy, and strategic advocacy, including roles in the New York State Assembly, the Office of the New York State Comptroller, Verizon Communications, a leading government relations and strategic consulting firm, and most recently as regional head of policy and government affairs for Starbucks Coffee Company. You can reach him at plespinasse@cozen.com.
Co-Chair, New York Practice
Co-Chair, New York Practice
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
December 8, 2025
December 8, 2025
December 5, 2025
