FirstChoice Consulting
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W. Scott Johnson, Esquire is a founding partner of Hancock, Daniel & Johnson, P.C. and founding principal of FirstChoice Consulting, LLC. He is based in the Richmond office and holds the highest attorney rating (AV) by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Johnson heads the governmental relations team. He has been selected repeatedly by his peers as a Legal Elite in the specialty area of governmental relations by Virginia Business magazine, Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. He served on the Virginia Health Reform Initiative (VHRI) which was comprised of 23 leaders in the healthcare industry from across the Commonwealth.

Mr. Johnson serves as General Counsel to the Medical Society of Virginia, Virginia Dental Association, and Virginia Health Care Association/Virginia Center for Assisted Living.  He also is Legislative Counsel to the Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association.

Governmental Relations

Mr. Johnson has been involved in the political process since the mid-1980s. He routinely appears before the Virginia General Assembly to lobby on a broad number of issues affecting businesses, associations, hospitals, physicians, pharmacies, and professional associations. His experience and track record of drafting and introducing legislation, advocating, amending, or opposing legislation, has proven indispensable to firm clients in Virginia and beyond. Mr. Johnson’s current clients include:

Medical Society of Virginia - MSV is the largest Virginia state organization representing over 9,000 physicians.

Hospital Corporation of America - HCA is the nation’s leading provider of health care services with over 30 years of experience and expertise. They have facilities all across Virginia and are one of the top four employers in the state.

Comcast - Comcast is the country’s largest provider of cable services.

International Business Machines - IBM is the largest computer company and systems integrator in the world. With 388,000 employees in over 170 countries, IBM is the world’s most profitable information technology employer.

Amgen - Amgen is a Fortune 500 therapeutics company in the biotechnology industry.

Deloitte - A multi-service innovative partner company, providing accounting, consulting growth enterprise and other services to achieve business success.

Service Corporation International - North America's leading provider of funeral and cemetery services, operating from a network of more than 1,800 funeral homes "Dignity" and cemeteries with more than 21,000 dedicated employees.

Vertex - A leading pharmaceutical company focusing largely on the research and development of drugs to treat and cure Cystic Fibrosis.

Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association - VBWA is a nonprofit, tax exempt corporation representing Virginia's independent, family-owned and operated beer distributors.

Virginia Biotechnology Association - The Virginia Biotechnology Association, formed in 1992, is the premier statewide nonprofit trade association representing the life sciences industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Virginia Health Care Association/Virginia Center for Assisted Living - Mr. Johnson represents this association, the largest nursing home association in Virginia, in securing legislative reforms to nursing home liability.

Bristol Casino (The United Company) – Developers of the proposed Bristol Resort and Casino projected to be developed at Bristol Mall.

Virginia Dental Association – VDA is a non-profit organization of dentists committed to enhancing the professional lives of their 3,700 members and to be a resource for Virginia dentists, as well as their patients. 


Partial Listing of Other Clients Represented Over the Years

American Municipal Power - AMP is a nonprofit corporation that owns and operates electric facilities with the purpose of providing generation, transmission and distribution of electric power and energy to its members.

ADT Security Services - ADT is the largest provider of home and office based security monitoring services.

American Hospice - American Hospice is the state’s largest provider of in-home and in-patient hospice services.

Archstone-Smith Company - Archstone-Smith is a nationwide real estate investment trust with a significant number of multi-family properties and office buildings in Northern Virginia. Mr. Johnson helped them to successfully navigate avoidance of a $20 million tax increase.

Blue Ridge Nursing Home - Mr. Johnson represented this facility regarding legislation designed to permit expansion of the facility.

CHS (Community Health Systems) – CHS is one of the nation’s leading operators of general acute care hospitals in non-urban communities.

CLA (Community Loans of America) – CLA provides auto equity title and financial services. It is one of the largest payday lenders in the nation.

Cumberland County – Mr. Johnson represented Cumberland County in securing $1,000,000.00 of funding from the General Assembly to dredge Bear Creek Lake.

Frederick County Industrial Development Authority (FIDA) – FIDA is an industrial development authority in the northern Shenandoah Valley that works to promote economic development and fairly priced electric power.

Highland Legislative Forum (HLF) – HLF is an organization of interested in energy conservation, renewable resources, and wind generation.

International Paper (IP) - IP is the world's largest paper company.  The Franklin Mill produces both letter qualilty paper and lumber that is supplied to merchants throughout the nation. 

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Liberty Healthcare – Liberty is a contract medical management organization with over 25 years of experience staffing and managing healthcare and treatment programs throughout the United States.

Lilac Capital – Lilac is a multi-million-dollar capital management company providing estate planning and financial services to wealthy citizens throughout the United States.

M+R Strategic Services – M+R helps nonprofits achieve real, lasting change by mobilizing supporters, raising money, and moving the media, the public, and decision-makers.

Merchants Express Money Order Co., Inc. (MEMO) – MEMO is one of the largest money service businesses in the United States, serving thousands of retailers and consumers daily through a variety of products and services.

National Capital Poison Center – The center is an independent, private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with The George Washington University Medical Center to prevent poisonings, save lives, and limit injury from poisoning.

Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Inc. – The Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics division is a leader in providing products to fight more than 20 vaccine-preventable viral and bacterial diseases.

Perch Associates – A premier land development company based in Northern Virginia.

Professional Hockey Players Association – Mr. Johnson represented this association in fighting efforts by the Washington Redskins to limit player legal rights.

S & M Brands, Inc. – S & M is a premium brand cigarette manufacturer headquartered in Keysville, Virginia.

Sandlot Connect, LLC – Electronic medical record exchange system.

The Town of West Point – Mr. Johnson represented the town with regards to a proposal by VDOT to erect a bridge and bypass.

The Virginia Beverage Association (VBA) – Trade association that represents soft drink bottlers and distributors across the state.

The Virginia Petroleum Marketers and Grocery Store Association – Mr. Johnson represented this association to combat the low-cost selling of motor fuels.

The Virginia Wine Wholesalers Association – Mr. Johnson represented this association with issues pertaining to the direct shipment of wine into Virginia.

The Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA) – VHHA is the largest association representing the standardbred horsemen with membership in Virginia, Maryland and elsewhere.

The Virginia Industrial Hygiene Counsel – Mr. Johnson represented this counsel in securing title protection for their certification in the Code of Virginia.

Virginia’s Commitment – Limited liability company comprised of land and homeowners opposing the construction of a high voltage transmission power line in Northern Virginia.

Virginia Electronic Security Association (VESA) – A statewide non-profit trade organization representing the interests of electronic security and life safety professionals.

Williamsburg Landing – Mr. Johnson represented Williamsburg Landing, an adult community, in securing legislation to authorize the construction of the facility.

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