Government Relations and Social Impact professional joins Hinman Straub Advisors to support the firm’s government relations practice and its diverse portfolio of clients, with 15 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors

Albany, New York – Hinman Straub, one of Albany’s preeminent law and government relations firms, is pleased to announce the addition of Carla Downie to an existing team of more than 45 professionals. Carla joins the firm as a director and will add to its depth and expertise as it reaches throughout the entire state of New York, with a focus on New York City interests.  

Carla Downie joins the government relations practice with 15 years of experience in the public and private sectors. She served as Senior Manager of Government Affairs and Social Impact at the Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. In this role, she worked with various elected officials and their offices on hundreds of local charitable events including restoration projects worth millions of dollars for spaces like community centers, as well as legacy programs for hundreds of thousands of families. Ms. Downie was a key lead in creating and publishing the Corporation’s first-ever Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which housed all the great works Ms. Downie led.

Ms. Downie started her career in the public sector, serving as a top political staffer and the Director of Communications for New York State Assemblywoman Michele Titus, a former elected official of Southeast Queens and Far Rockaway. During that time, Ms. Downie was responsible for the Assemblywoman’s communications inclusive of content strategy as well as the creation and management of the Assemblywoman’s cross-platform communications strategy. In this role, she held key positions where she influenced policy decisions at a local level.

“I am honored and excited to join the dedicated team at Hinman Straub,” said Carla Downie. “I look forward to collaborating with such a brilliant group of professionals to advocate for meaningful policies and to assist our clients in making a significant impact.”

Throughout her career, Ms. Downie has been instrumental in bridging the gap between government entities and private enterprises, leveraging her keen insights to advocate for policies that promote social responsibility, community partnerships, and intentional resource sharing. Her extensive experience includes crafting strategic initiatives that address pressing societal issues along with raising cultural celebrations while aligning with organizational goals.

“With a steadfast commitment to innovation and inclusivity, Carla Downie exemplifies leadership in government affairs and social impact, driving meaningful change, and building lasting partnerships between the public and private sectors,” said Hinman Straub President Sean Doolan. “Ms. Downie will add significant value to Hinman Straub’s long-lasting reputation of being a results-driven firm while providing premier client services and successfully curating policies and practices that have a lasting and positive impact on both business and society.

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About Hinman Straub

For more than seventy years, Hinman Straub has been a leader in providing individual, institutional, and corporate clients with a comprehensive array of legal and government relations services that few other firms can match. Located in the heart of New York State Government, we offer clients a wide range of practice expertise, from health law to health insurance, life insurance to financial planning, and labor to education and government relations. Our outstanding reputation combined with our long-standing relationships with government, judiciary, and business leaders makes the difference for our clients. Our government relations partner, Hinman Straub Advisors LLC, provides expert assistance in representing our clients before government decision-makers.