About Our Firm
Legislative and Legal Advocacy with Integrity. Substantive lawyers and lobbyists
The team at Schwartz, Metz, Wise, & Kauffman, P.A. (SMWK) are experienced government affairs and legal advisors that clients have relied on for decades. The firm has earned a reputation for having unmatched knowledge of policy issues and the legislative process as well as solid relationships at all levels of Maryland government.
SMWK presently represents over 50 clients before State and local government legislative bodies or agencies in Maryland. These clients span a diverse range of policy areas, including health care, long-term care, medical specialties, alcohol, tech, gaming, horse racing, pharmaceutical, environmental, utilities, and others.
Representative clients include trade associations such as MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society; LifeSpan, Maryland’s leading association of long-term care facilities, the Maryland State Licensed Beverage Association, the State’s largest association of liquor license holders, the Maryland Tech Council, an association of nearly 800 Maryland technology companies, and the Maryland-Delaware chapter of the National Waste and Recycling Association.
In addition, the firm represents a number of local, national, and multi-national corporations doing business in Maryland, including BGE, Amazon, WM, Patient First, Davita, Curaleaf, Sazerac, Eli Lilly, Merck, United Therapeutics, and others. The firm also proudly provides counsel to several local governments in Maryland, including the City of Rockville and Caroline County.
Outside of advocacy, SMWK provides regulatory and administrative law counsel and representation to clients with matters before regulatory agencies, quasi-judicial boards and commissions, and the courts.
SMWK was founded by Joseph A. “Jay” Schwartz, III in 1978. Our office is located at 20 West Street in historic downtown Annapolis, just steps from the Maryland State House.
FIRM PROFILES
Danna L. Kauffman, Esq.
MANAGING PARTNER
Danna L. Kauffman, Esq. joined the firm in 2013 and became a partner in 2017. Throughout her career Danna has worked in various levels of State government and in the private sector.
J. Steven Wise, Esq.
PARTNER
Steve Wise joined the Firm in 2002 and became a partner in 2008. Early in his career with the Firm he was recognized by the The Gazette as one of the “Rising Stars” of the State House lobbying corps, and he has consistently ranked among the top earning lobbyists in Annapolis since that time.
Andrew “Drew” Vetter, Esq.
PARTNER
Andrew “Drew” Vetter is a Maryland attorney and lobbyist. He joined the firm in September 2022. Drew represents clients before the Maryland General Assembly, State agencies, and local governments.
Pamela Metz Kasemeyer, Esq.
Pamela Metz Kasemeyer has represented a variety of interests before the Maryland General Assembly and regulatory agencies for more than 40 years.
