Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Shari McHugh

98. Shari McHugh

McHugh Koepke & Associates – made up of Shari McHugh, spouse Gavin, partner Dawn Koepke and lobbyist Naomi Padron – is a small but potent lobbying firm with a lengthy client list heavy on insurers, plus many other familiar names like UBER, CCPOA, and, as of last year, Warner Music Group. (Does that mean that they technically represent Madonna, Gucci Mane and Hobo Johnson?… The mind boggles.) The firm was started in 2000 by Gavin McHugh; spouse Shari joined in 2003. Prior to joining MKA, she served as senior vice president of the Coalition of California Insurance Professionals and senior vice president of the Professional Insurance Agents. This was a busy year for MKA, with partner Dawn Koepke involved in the deal that passed SB54, sidelining an impending plastic waste ballot initiative at the very last minute. With so many clients, and a lot of bills, managing the workflow is key; McHugh and co. seem to do it effortlessly – an impressive feat for a firm with a lobbying team that would fit comfortably in a Fiat 500.

Updated Aug. 9, 2022