# Emily Whalen | Best in Government Affairs NY 2026

> Emily Whalen, Attorney At Law at Brown & Weinraub, is a 2026 Best in Government Affairs New York honoree, recognized as Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year.

Canonical: https://www.uslege.ai/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/2026/emily-whalen

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[Best in Government Affairs](/best-in-government-affairs)› [New York](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york)› [2026](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york#honorees)› [Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/top-policy-experts)› **Emily Whalen**

USLege · Best in Government Affairs · New York

New York · 2026 Honoree

![Emily Whalen, Attorney At Law at Brown & Weinraub — winner, Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year, 2026 Best in Government Affairs New York](/assets/awards/ny-2026/emily-whalen.jpg)

Category

[Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/top-policy-experts)

Organization

Brown & Weinraub

Title

Attorney At Law

[03 · Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/top-policy-experts)

# Emily Whalen

**Attorney At Law**, Brown & Weinraub

> a trusted voice in Albany
> 
> one peer nominator

Emily Whalen has earned a reputation for highly effective lobbying and wise counsel through her work with corporations, not-for-profit organizations, health systems, and associations at Brown & Weinraub. One peer nominator described her as "a trusted voice in Albany" who brings not only expertise in health care and education policy but "a degree of calm that is necessary in this work" — a quality that means her viewpoints are well received "even by groups and legislators opposed to the initiatives she is advocating for."

Whalen's grounding in Albany runs deep. She served as associate counsel in the New York State Senate Majority Counsel's office, where she advised the Senate Majority Leader and members of the Majority Conference and negotiated legislative and budget priorities with the Assembly and the Governor's Office. Before joining Brown & Weinraub, she worked at two other government relations firms and brings additional experience from the nonprofit sector and private legal practice — giving her, as one colleague put it, a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between the Legislature, executive branch agencies, and politics and policy.

That range has shown up in some of Albany's most technical work: for several years, Whalen helped clients navigate the launch of the state's Office of Cannabis Management, the new regulations that came with it, and the licensing application process as adult-use cannabis rolled out in New York. She has also spent nine years on the board of the Empire Justice Center, the last three as Board Chair — a tenure the organization will recognize later this year at its Celebration of Leadership.

Same category

## More _Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year_ honorees.

 [![](/assets/awards/ny-2026/katie-hohman.jpg) **Katie Hohman**Plummer, Wigger & Hohman](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/2026/katie-hohman)[![](/assets/awards/ny-2026/cheryl-kraus.jpg) **Cheryl Kraus**Farrell Fritz, P.C. ](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/2026/cheryl-a-kraus)[![](/assets/awards/ny-2026/joshua-oppenheimer.jpg) **Joshua Oppenheimer**Greenberg Traurig, LLP ](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/2026/joshua-oppenheimer)[![](/assets/awards/ny-2026/karin-spencer.jpg) **Karin Spencer**Spencer Strategic Solutions ](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/2026/karin-spencer)[![](/assets/awards/ny-2026/jay-holland.jpg) **Jay Holland**Statewide Public Affairs ](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/2026/jay-holland)[![](/assets/awards/ny-2026/evan-sullivan.jpg) **Evan Sullivan**Ostroff Associates](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/2026/evan-sullivan)

[All New York honorees](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york#honorees) [Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/top-policy-experts) [The September 16 ceremony](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york/ceremony)

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