January 4, 2021

At the age of 26, Kasey Lewis has already blazed a new trail with one of Florida’s leading lobbying teams. Promoted in 2020 to the role of Government Relations Specialist at Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. (LLW), she is the first non-attorney lobbyist in that law firm’s history.

“I’m truly thrilled to be the first in that role, but I’m even more excited about the collaborative way our lobby team works on behalf of our clients and the overall culture of our firm,” Lewis said. She and the other lobbyists are in constant communication in order to utilize each team member’s expertise and relationships to achieve the best results for clients. “We work hand-in-hand with our clients to develop and implement a unique legislative strategy that best suits their needs,” she explained.

When Lewis joined the firm in 2019 as a Legislative Coordinator, she had already amassed a significant amount of legislative experience. While still an undergraduate at the University of Florida, she was chosen for an internship sponsored by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, serving a full semester in Tallahassee as an intern to then-Representative Lori Berman.

“By the time the semester was over, I knew that I had found the career in public service that I was looking for,” she said. Berman mentored her through the semester and Lewis doubled her course load in order to graduate early and accept a position in Berman’s office.

Lewis subsequently served as a Legislative Assistant to Representative Matt Willhite, and later to Senator Lori Berman. During her tenure in the House of Representatives, Lewis worked with Willhite on issues relating to Florida’s Retirement System, transportation and first responders. A special point of pride was supporting Willhite in the development and passage of legislation to provide worker’s compensation benefits to first responders who suffered from job-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Moving on to Senator Berman’s office, Lewis discovered her passion for health care policy and worked as the lead on health care issues for the Senator while Berman served as Vice Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee. That grounding in the complex world of health care has proven to be invaluable in her current role at LLW, where she has been heavily involved in issues relating to public health, health care delivery and scope of practice.

“Access to quality, affordable health care for all Floridians is, hands down, the most important issue to me,” Lewis said. “I believe there is no reason we can’t work together to come up with innovative solutions to achieve this goal. This issue is at the heart of the work I do on a daily basis.”

Lewis is a second-generation Floridian, born and raised in Broward County. She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a concentration in public affairs and political campaigning. She will receive her master’s degree in public administration and policy from American University in May 2021. Lewis and her girlfriend, Kiersten, have recently become engaged, and they live in Tallahassee with their dog Peekaboo and cats Penelope and Lilly.

Looking ahead to her future at LLW, Lewis is grateful to be with a firm that encourages women to fulfill their greatest potential.

“I am a firm believer in the need for women to support and elevate each other whenever possible, especially in this industry,” she commented. “Three of the four executive shareholders who lead the firm are women, and the mentorship and encouragement I have received at LLW has been critical to my success and continued growth.”

Executive Shareholder Lori Killinger, who leads LLW’s Florida lobbying team, said Kasey’s accomplishments demonstrate the importance of mentoring at the firm. “Exceptional talent must be nurtured and cultivated,” she said. “Kasey is a shining example of how that commitment delivers value to our clients.”