who we are        (PRINT)    (CLOSE)

THE COMPANY

TCH Group, LLC is a small Federal government relations consulting firm.

We specialize in the Congressional legislative process. Our clients will attest that we work hard for their interests, that we charge reasonable fees, and that they get their "money's worth" for our services. Most importantly, we strive to maintain a reputation of integrity in our dealings with Administration officials, Members of Congress, and their staff.


Strategic Partnerships

We are a small firm committed to providing our clients with excellent service and responsiveness from experienced professionals. Our clients don’t pay for the overhead of a large firm or for the services of consultants with whom they have no contact. We have developed a network of strategic partnerships with other smaller firms or individuals, and they become part of our team as the goals and strategies of the client may dictate. This allows us the opportunity to work in a targeted, cost effective way with Democratic colleagues or with colleagues who may have a specific policy expertise that would serve the interest of the client.


Michael Tongour

Over the last twelve years, Mike Tongour has been retained for his expertise in the Federal legislative process by a variety of Fortune 500 companies, leading American associations, municipalities, and non-profit groups to help them formulate an achievable legislative strategy and to help them successfully implement that strategy. He founded the firm in 1996 after serving as Chief Counsel/Staff Director to the Senate Republican Whip, Alan K. Simpson (R-Wy). His career on Capitol Hill began when he served as Counsel to what is now the Senate HELP Committee.

In the Senate, he supervised the daily operations of the Whip's office. Specific responsibilities included providing legislative information to Senators and their staff members, aiding Senator Simpson in the traditional vote counting duties of the Whip, and helping coordinate and implement Senate floor strategy.

Mr. Tongour's legislative skills were acknowledged in the leading Congressional newspaper, Roll Call, where he was frequently included in their list of the Fabulous Fifty - Congressional Staffers With Real Power. When he moved to the private sector, Legal Times, the Washington, D.C. based journal on law and lobbying, listed him as one of the top 10 most sought after staffers to leave the Hill. Mr. Tongour is a current member and a past President of RAMS, a 150-member organization comprised of present and former Republican Staff Directors. He has been a guest lecturer on the Federal legislative process at the Brookings Institution, American University, George Washington University, Georgetown University Law School, the International Republican Institute, and the Close Up Foundation. He serves on the University of South Carolina, Department of Political Science, National Advisory Board. He is a member of the National Symphony Orchestra Circles Board. He is a past Senior Warden and Vestry Member of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Washington.

Mr. Tongour is a native of Barnwell, South Carolina. He attended the University of South Carolina where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude. He earned his J.D. in 1981, and was selected for membership in the Order of the Coif, and the Order of the Wig and Robe (legal honorary societies). He and his wife, Lalie, have three children, Jack, Alec, and Stella Louise.


Brad Holsclaw

For eleven years, Brad served as Senior Legislative Advisor on the Senate Republican Leader's floor staff in the Senate Republican Cloakroom. During his tenure in the Senate, Brad informed Senators and staff on matters ranging from parliamentary procedure, the Leader's goals and strategy for pending legislation, and the Senate floor schedule. Brad also established longtime working relationships with each Senate Republican Committee Staff Director as well as each Member's legislative staff.

Senator Chuck Grassley, currently the Ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said: "...Holsclaw understands both the intricacies and the big picture of the legislative process. "

Mr. Holsclaw is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. He attended the University of Louisville where he received a Bachelor's degree in 1987. He and his wife Shannon have two daughters, Sydney and Katherine.


Manus Cooney

Manus Cooney joined the firm as President and Partner in March 2007 bringing with him over a decade of Capitol Hill senior staff experience and several years of public policy consulting experience. His practice specializes in intellectual property, entertainment, tort reform, and antitrust related policy issues. Mr. Cooney also represents non-profits seeking federal support for their respective missions. He is a frequent lecturer and is nationally recognized as an expert on intellectual property, competition, and technology policy.

Mr. Cooney served 13 years as Chief Counsel & Staff Director of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, where he was the principal legal and policy advisor to the Committee's Chairman, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah). In addition to overseeing the Committee's day-to-day operations, Mr. Cooney was primarily responsible for the development and stewardship of the Committee's legislative, executive, and oversight agendas. Issues handled by Mr. Cooney included: intellectual property law; Internet policy issues; antitrust law; judicial nominations; civil justice reform; crime/drug control policy; and oversight of the Executive Branch and Judicial Branch. He was regularly cited by Roll Call as being among the "Fabulous Fifty," Congress' most influential and respected staffers.

Mr. Cooney is also the Founder and President of Potomac Counsel, a government relations consulting firm which will be combining with Tongour Simpson Holsclaw and Cooney. The Hill newspaper cited Potomac Counsel as being among the lobbying profession's "Kings of the Hill." Mr. Cooney also served as the Vice President for Corporate and Policy Development for the file-sharing company Napster, Inc.

Mr. Cooney serves on the Board of Directors of: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; and The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. He is a Member of: The Federal City Council, The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. and The Federalist Society. A native of Maryland, he is married with three daughters.


Celia Wallace

Celia Wallace joined the firm as a partner in March 2006. Prior to joining the firm, for over eight years, she served as the energy and environment legislative assistant to the late Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY).

On her departure, Thomas said: "Celia was a tremendous help to me and to the people of Wyoming during her time in my office. Her sound advice and counsel during the years we worked on the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was instrumental in completing key provisions of the bill."

Prior to her tenure with Thomas, Wallace worked on the Senate Energy Committee for then Chairman J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA) from 1986 to 1990. She also worked in the private sector for Portland General Electric and for the American Petroleum Institute.

A native of Ft. Worth, Texas, Wallace graduated from Tulane University. She serves on the Grand Teton National Park Foundation Board and the Yellowstone Park Advisory Board. She and her husband, Rob, have two daughters, Morgan and Ella.


McLane Layton

McLane Layton joined the firm as a partner on November 1, 2006. Prior to joining the firm, she served as the Director of External Affairs for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In this position she oversaw the agency's public outreach to Congress, Federal agencies, media, state, international and industry leaders and the general public.

McLane has more than 20 years of environmental, energy and public affairs experience. For 15 years, she served as U.S. Senator Don Nickles' legislative counsel on energy and environment law and policy. She also worked extensively on legislative issues involving adoption. Prior to joining Senator Nickles, she advised the Counsel to the U.S. President on the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. From 1984 to 1990, McLane was an attorney for the U.S. Department of the Interior and worked on cases involving regulations and litigation on oil and gas leasing, land and mineral rights, timber, rights-of-way and historic preservation.

She received a master's degree from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and her bachelor's and law degrees from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her Bar Memberships include the Supreme Court of Oklahoma and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

McLane has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States. Originally from Tennessee, she is married with five children.