Doug Heron

Doug Heron is an experienced attorney who focuses his practice on government affairs, government contracts and procurement law. This distinct combination affords Mr. Heron an expansive understanding of the workings of government, which enables him to position clients before the legislative and executive branches and help them navigate through the varied challenges associated with dealing with the government.

Doug Heron is an experienced attorney who focuses his practice on government affairs, government contracts and procurement law. This distinct combination affords Mr. Heron an expansive understanding of the workings of government, which enables him to position clients before the legislative and executive branches and help them navigate through the varied challenges associated with dealing with the government.

As a registered lobbyist, Mr. Heron represents clients with numerous interests including transportation, health care, technology, tort reform and environmental regulation. He has successfully designed and coordinated advocacy strategies for clients on issues before the legislative and executive branches of government at both the state and federal level. Mr. Heron also advises clients on lobbying and campaign finance law compliance and on the implementation of public relations and grassroots efforts.

As a government contracts attorney, Mr. Heron represents clients in all aspects of the government contracting and procurement processes. He assists clients with identifying opportunities to contract with the government, responding to requests for proposals and information, interpreting rules and regulations, and protesting awards.

Prior to joining Williams Mullen, Mr. Heron served as the director of governmental affairs and legislative counsel for the North Carolina Bar Association where he represented 14,500 lawyers before legislative and executive branches of government. Mr. Heron regularly counseled the association's volunteer leadership and staff on a variety of governmental issues. He also served as the association's ethics compliance officer as well as manager of the association’s Political Action Committee.

Before relocating his family to North Carolina, Mr. Heron worked for a nationally-ranked lobbying practice in Washington, D.C. Although Mr. Heron worked on a number of projects while at the firm, the highlight of his time was the work he dedicated to a project called "Justice for Victims of Terrorism," which provided victims with the ability to enforce federal judgments from the frozen assets of designated state-sponsors of terrorism held in the United States Treasury. His work on that and other projects put him in regular contact with members of congress and committee staff, as well as with executive branch officials of all levels.

Mr. Heron serves as secretary/treasurer of the North Carolina Professional Lobbyists Association.  He is also on the Government Affairs Council of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.  He received his bachelor of science degree from James Madison University in 1995 and his juris doctor degree from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in 2002.