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“He’s got all the bases covered. He knows the legislators. He knows the staff. He knows the politics. He knows the issues. He knows the process.”

Kathy Barber, Senior Governmental Affairs Representative, Caterpillar Inc.

Overview

Mark helps clients develop public policy and tackle high-stakes issues at the Texas State Capitol and state agencies.

A dynamic and nonpartisan advocate, Mark aims to improve the business climate for industry and helps clients develop and comply with state and local laws, rules and regulations. His legislative practice focuses on healthcare, taxation, appropriations, business regulation, the environment and entertainment. Mark has also advised numerous legislative and regulatory clients on matters related to consumer financial products such as extended warranties and automobile financing.

Mark is board certified in Legislative and Campaign Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is among 13 attorneys in the state who have received this certification.

As a principal with Husch Blackwell Strategies, Mark seeks to create opportunities and change processes through legislation. Clients benefit from his personal experience as a former legislative director for a member of the Texas House of Representatives, where he managed numerous bills as they moved through the Texas Legislature.

He also advises clients on rulemaking, policy development, licensing and enforcement actions. Mark has extensive experience representing clients before Texas legislatures and agencies including:

  • Texas Health and Human Services Commission
  • Texas Department of State Health Services
  • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
  • Office of the Attorney General of Texas
  • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
  • Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
  • Texas Department of Transportation

“He’s got all the bases covered. He knows the legislators. He knows the staff. He knows the politics. He knows the issues. He knows the process.”

Kathy Barber, Senior Governmental Affairs Representative, Caterpillar Inc.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • Austin Monthly magazine, Top Austin Attorney, Government and Administrative, 2019
  • BL Rankings’ The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Government Relations Practice, 2008-2025
  • Thomson Reuters' Texas Super Lawyers, Government Relations Practice, 2015-2019
  • Capitol Inside
    • Top 12 “Hired Guns,” 2017
    • Top 30 “Hired Guns,” 2013-2015

Education

  • J.D., University of Texas School of Law
  • M.P.A., University of Texas at Austin – Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
  • B.A., The George Washington University
      • Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

  • Texas

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Travis County Bar Association
Texas Board of Legal Specialization - Mark Vane
Featured Experience

Political strategy added to regulatory efforts, resolving $2 million payment delay for healthcare client.

Our healthcare client was denied access to approximately $2 million of Medicaid reimbursement payments in Texas following the delayed approval of a change of control. Our initial legal team collaborated with Mark as a government relations advocate at Husch Blackwell Strategies in order to remedy the problem. Mark identified that the delay sat squarely on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and he worked up the chain of command at HHSC to release the nearly $2 million in payments owed our client. Mark ultimately contacted a state senator, in whose district one of the client's facilities was located. Once the HHSC Commissioner was contacted by the senator, HHSC began to release the funds to our client. Alternative solutions, political advocacy and teamwork streamlined results for our healthcare client.


Additional Experience
  • Developed and assisted in passage of 2019 legislation to grant open access in Texas Medicaid program for medically assisted treatments for opioid abuse.
  • Assisted several automobile finance companies in creation and passage of 2019 legislation to allow for sale of excess loss damage waiver to protect consumers from additional fees when returning vehicle at end of lease.
  • Worked to pass 2019 legislation to reconstitute state committee to develop updated policies for care of public school students with diagnosed food allergies, including reviews of new technologies and treatments.
Community Leadership
  • Anti-Defamation League, Central Texas Region, Board Member
  • Thomas M. Keel Scholarship Fund for Texas Public Finance, Board Member