# Checkmate Government Relations

> Checkmate Government Relations is a privately held lobbying and public-affairs firm founded in Winston-Salem in 2023. It began with North Carolina statehouse work, opened a Washington federal practice after the 2024 election, formed an alliance with Miller Strategies, and reported approximately $22.2 million in 2025 federal lobbying revenue. Its clients span pharmaceuticals, technology, aviation, gaming, local government, energy, finance, defense, and international governments; its services include state and federal lobbying, national advocacy, public affairs, strategic consulting, economic-development advice, and political intelligence.

- **Founded:** 2023
- **Headquarters:** Winston-Salem, United States
- **Founders:** Charles F. "Ches" McDowell IV (Founder and Managing Partner)
- **Products:** State and Federal Lobbying, National Advocacy, Public Affairs and Strategic Consulting, Economic Development Consulting, Political Intelligence and Diligence
- **Notable:** Launched in 2023 with five partners and an initial staff of seven., Opened a federal practice in Washington after the 2024 election., Reported approximately $22.2 million in 2025 federal lobbying revenue, placing it around the top 25 firms in an OpenSecrets-derived market table.

## Products & services

- **State and Federal Lobbying** — Legislative and executive-branch advocacy, stakeholder outreach, policy monitoring, and direct government-relations representation.
- **National Advocacy** — Multi-state coalition building and coordinated advocacy for organizations whose policy issues cross state lines.
- **Public Affairs and Strategic Consulting** — Message development, public positioning, communications strategy, and political counsel around sensitive policy matters.
- **Economic Development Consulting** — Government-facing advice for projects involving investment, incentives, infrastructure, permitting, and community stakeholders.
- **Political Intelligence and Diligence** — Assessment of political, regulatory, and market-entry risk for companies and investors.
- **International Government Relations** — Cross-border public and regulatory affairs delivered through teams and offices including London, Tokyo, Seoul, Doha, and Panama City.

## Achievements

- Launched in 2023 with five partners and an initial staff of seven.
- Opened a federal practice in Washington after the 2024 election.
- Reported approximately $22.2 million in 2025 federal lobbying revenue, placing it around the top 25 firms in an OpenSecrets-derived market table.
- Grew from roughly $70,000 in disclosed 2024 federal lobbying income to more than $22 million in 2025.
- Built a disclosed client roster spanning pharmaceuticals, technology, aviation, gaming, finance, energy, defense, higher education, local government, and foreign principals.
- Expanded internationally with London and Japan operations and additional teams advertised in Seoul, Doha, and Panama City.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — The firm's public team page listed leadership for Japan, Korea, the Middle East, the U.K. and E.U., alongside its U.S. lobbying and public-affairs team.
- **2026-06** — Checkmate opened a London office led by Tristan Breijer, its first European base.
- **2026-02** — Industry reporting identified Checkmate among three fast-growing Trump-connected firms attracting major pharmaceutical clients.
- **2025-07** — Checkmate announced a Japan office chaired by former Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura, with Nicholas Eoanou leading the operation.
- **2025-02** — Checkmate and Miller Strategies announced an alliance joining federal, state, local, campaign, and public-affairs capabilities.

## Links

- Website: https://www.checkmategr.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/checkmate-government-relations
- Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/CheckmateGR
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheckmateGR

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/checkmate-government-relations
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-20