Jay Layman
After 22 years of working for a well-respected Central PA law firm in a variety of roles, including Managing Partner and head of the firm’s lobbying practice, Jay founded Capital Associates in 1994.
Jay has over 40 years’ experience in the Pennsylvania public affairs arena. He became a lobbyist for the law firm in 1972 while attending law school and gained expertise in grassroots advocacy and environmental issues resulting in legislation involving clean air and clean water issues, floodplain control, pesticide use, land use and acquisition of public lands. In addition to developing proficiency in environmental law during this period, Jay successfully developed and managed numerous client issues resulting in new or amended laws in the areas of transportation, health, education, professional licensure and state appropriations.
During legal practice, Jay served as general counsel to many business and professional associations and nonprofit organizations providing representation in a broad cross section of business and association interests. Highlights include organizing effective political activities for these organizations, advising them on tax issues, real estate transactions,employment issues, trade shows, strategic consulting in the creation and development of new organizations. His guidance was instrumental in the development and enactment of legislation creating the State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing. In the course of representing nonprofit conservation organizations, he was the guiding force during a twelve-year process of developing, advocating and enacting the Conservation and Preservation Easement Act, a significant public policy improvement over existing law that enables public and private sector land interests to be both protected and enhanced. He understands the state budget and appropriations processes.
In 1994, Jay envisioned a public affairs firm that would combine the expertise and experience of lobbying, government affairs, public relations, law and strategic consulting based upon a team model of delivering client services in a collaborative environment. A founding principle of the firm is assuring each client that there would be no potential for, perception of or actual conflict of interest among all clients and their issues, thus enabling the synergy of the team to be applied fully on behalf of each client without reservation.
Jay remains a member of the PA and Dauphin County Bar Associations. During his legal career, he was also a charter member of the Legal Section of the American Society of Association Executives. He maintains his Attorney’s License with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Although not in private practice, he remains attuned to many legal issues and applies these skills to client issues.
He worked on campaigns for Tom Corbett in his elections for Attorney General and Governor and assisted with human services policy development during the gubernatorial campaign. He served on Governor Tom Corbett’s Transition Team on human services issues reviewing the Department of Public Welfare.
Jay earned a B.S. in Geology from Dickinson College and his Juris Doctor from The Dickinson School of Law. He resides in Carlisle, PA with his wife, Christina. They enjoy time with their adult children, Jason, Anna, Whitney and Scott and their spouses, including travel and family gatherings.
E-mail: layman@capitalassoc.com