Insurance and Financial Services

Margaret Gladstein

A partner at Capitol Advocacy, Margaret brings over 25 years of political and public policy experience. She serves as co-lead of the firm’s Financial Services and Insurance ad Technology, Privacy and Artificial Intelligence practices.

Recognized as a trusted advisor and influential voice in shaping policy decisions that impact her clients, Margaret covers a diverse range of issues. She has played a pivotal role in shaping privacy and consumer protection legislation across multiple sectors, including technology, retail, financial services/fintech, and others. Margaret’s expertise in privacy and tech policy has earned her recognition as a speaker at events such as the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Retail Federation.

Margaret has also made significant contributions to clients in the clean energy, electric and autonomous vehicle, and entertainment industries, tackling pivotal issues confronting her clients. Through her adept coalition-building skills, she has orchestrated numerous successful collaborations on legislative matters, particularly in advancing California’s green economy initiatives encompassing energy policy and clean transportation.

Prior to joining Capitol Advocacy, Margaret served as the Chief Consultant of the California State Assembly Banking and Finance Committee. Her early career experience at Bain and Company, coupled with a stint in the financial services industry, enables Margaret to offer clients a unique blend of insights from both public and private sectors as she works with them through the intricate landscape of California’s legislative, administrative, and regulatory domains.

In addition to her policy acumen, Margaret provides strategic counsel on navigating California’s ever-evolving political terrain. With over a decade of experience as a campaign consultant for statewide initiatives and legislative candidates throughout the Western United States, Margaret was recognized as a “Rising Star” from the American Association of Political Consultants.

Originally from Oklahoma, Margaret graduated with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She and her husband Tim share a passion for travel, particularly enjoying visits to their daughter, who is as a public relations professional in New York.

Shane LaVigne

Shane, a partner, co-leads the firm’s Financial Services and Insurance and Business and Employer Representation practices. Shane brings over two decades of legal, political, and public policy experience that has proven invaluable to the firm’s clients. Known as a strategic and trusted advisor to clients and legislators alike, Shane’s ability to merge his relational advocacy approach with Sacramento’s complex political landscape is a winning combination.

Shane regularly partners with and defends some of the nation’s biggest associations and companies before the California State Legislature and state agencies. His broad portfolio also includes work in the firm’s Technology, Privacy and Artificial Intelligence and the Climate Change and Energy practice areas. Shane leverages his experience and expertise counseling clients to provide a wide range of services in government relations and public affairs that deliver results.

He works with clients to create and execute legislative and media strategies, strengthens their political affairs operations, and enhance their profile. Shane has worked on several of California’s largest policy matters including representing gig economy companies and shaping policy conversations around the future of work, insurance reform, reforming California’s workers’ compensation system, and crafting legislation to diversify the state’s clean energy portfolio and advocating for climate change policies to protect the state from wildfires. Shane also represents one of the largest law enforcement practices in California. He has successfully advocated for the profession and has been at the forefront of all of California’s police reform legislation.

His extensive experience in every facet of California’s political process – as a former political and fundraising consultant, Capitol staff member, and legislative advocate – provides clients with an insightful and tailored communications strategy to frame issues effectively and to help them succeed.

Prior to joining Capitol Advocacy, Shane worked for former State Senator and Insurance Committee Chairman, and current Congressman, Juan Vargas (D-San Diego), where he gained a deep understanding of critical issues important to some of California’s biggest interests. After his tenure in the Legislature, Shane became a legislative advocate for a boutique lobbying firm in Sacramento. There, he represented blue chip clients in the insurance, health care, and financial services sectors.

Along with his extensive policy background, Shane previously owned a consulting business providing fundraising and campaign services to a number of Democratic candidates spanning every level of government, from City Council to President of the United States, including current elected officials in the California State Assembly and Senate.

Shane graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Philosophy, where he was also a member of the 1998 Big East Championship football team. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, in Lansing, Michigan. Shane is also an active volunteer in his community. He resides in Sacramento with his wife Sarah, their sons Beau and Troy, and daughter Ava.

Lindsay Gullahorn

Lindsay Gullahorn brings over 15 years of political, legislative and policy experience to the firm as a lobbyist at Capitol Advocacy, where she is deeply involved in the firm’s Healthcare and Financial Services and Insurance practice areas. Her expertise and advocacy, both at the legislative and regulatory levels, provide clients with demonstrated results and a comprehensive perspective on a variety of complex issues.

Beginning her career at Capitol Advocacy over a decade ago, Lindsay has successfully advocated for clients on intricate matters in the healthcare space, including Medi-Cal benefit expansions, provider licensing and scope of practice, and policies impacting pharmacists and pharmacy operations. Lindsay also has provided clients with consistent results on complex proposals related to financial services, climate change and natural resources, and other issues impacting the business community.

Lindsay’s longevity has proven invaluable for each client. She brings a deep understanding and historical background of policy issues pertinent to them. Her knowledge and experience provide clients with ongoing updates and analysis on their key priorities and the politics that impact them. She also has a breadth of regulatory experience, which has given her the skills to navigate California’s labyrinth of administrative boards, bureaus and agencies and achieve favorable outcomes on behalf of the firm’s clients.

In addition to her advocacy work, Lindsay pays close attention to all proposed legislation for the firm’s clients. She is a regular guest-speaker for post-graduate courses, teaching students about the legislative process and advocacy. She also has expertise in crafting position letters, analyzing budget proposals, testifying at legislative and regulatory hearings, and providing an in-depth review to clients after each legislative deadline.

Along with her extensive policy and advocacy work, Lindsay develops individualized political contribution plans for each of the firm’s clients. Her understanding of California’s complicated political environment, and knowledge of the ever-changing leadership dynamics offers clients an unmatched insider perspective. Lindsay regularly provides clients with political updates, which have been published by global organizations and state associations.

Lindsay completed her Bachelor of Arts in Government at California State University, Sacramento in 2005. An avid runner, she lives in Fair Oaks with her husband, Daniel, their son, Charlie, and daughter, Jackie.

Cameron Demetre

Cameron Demetre brings over a decade of political, legislative, and policy experience to the firm. At Capitol Advocacy, Cameron is co-lead of the Firm’s Technology, Privacy and Artificial Intelligence practice area. In addition, he works within the firm’s Business and Employer Representation, Climate Change and Energy, Financial Services and Insurance, and Procurement practices.

Cameron has extensive knowledge of the technology start-up ecosystem, ranging from venture capital, early-stage startups, to Fortune 100 companies. He has a keen understanding of emerging technology and the importance of engaging policymakers for those companies to flourish.

Cameron most recently served as the California and Southwest Region Executive Director for TechNet. In his role at TechNet, he oversaw seven western states and represented nearly 100 leading tech companies. Cameron advocated before the state legislature, agencies, and administration in the areas of privacy, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity, telehealth, procurement, future of work, education, fintech, advanced energy, venture capital, and e-commerce.

He was instrumental in representing businesses’ interests during the implementation of the California Consumer Privacy Act and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), providing inaugural comments to the California Privacy Protection Agency’s rulemaking for the CPRA. He was also the chief negotiator on Colorado’s Privacy Act, the third omnibus privacy legislation in the nation.

Prior to leading the TechNet, Cameron worked at the California Department of Finance, where he served both the Brown and Newsom Administrations providing budgetary oversight to the California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, Department of Justice, and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Cameron previously worked as a Legislative Director in the Assembly, as a Legislative Aide in the Senate, and was a recipient of a California Senate Fellowship. Beyond his work in California, Cameron worked as a policy consultant for NATO in the United Kingdom, worked in International Development in Tanzania, and was a Fulbright Scholar in South Korea.

Cameron received his bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University and his master’s degree from the London School of Economics. He serves on the Board of Directors for an international nonprofit focused on reducing poverty in East Africa and for the Capital Fellows Alumni Association. Cameron lives in Sacramento with his wife Emma and their two dogs, Huck and Poppy.