Ryan Bernstein

Ryan Bernstein is a senior vice president and the director of federal public affairs at McGuireWoods Consulting and co-leads the firm’s federal government affairs energy team. He advises companies, investors, nonprofit organizations and industry groups on a wide range of matters before Congress, federal agencies and the executive branch. His practice spans complex legislative, regulatory and political issues across industries, including energy, natural resources, federal lands, tax, appropriations, trade, infrastructure and agriculture policy.

Ryan’s energy and natural resources work includes advising clients on both conventional and renewable energy development, as well as utilities and power markets, transmission and grid reliability, data center development, public land and natural resource issues, permitting, energy infrastructure and federal tax incentives.

Ryan also advises private equity firms, investors and portfolio companies on how policy, regulatory developments and energy market trends affect investment decisions and business strategies. Across his practice, Ryan helps clients assess political and regulatory risk, engage policymakers and agencies, build coalitions and navigate complex federal decision-making.

A respected Republican strategist and former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, Ryan brings more than two decades of senior government and policy experience to his work. Earlier in his career, Ryan served as a senior adviser to three North Dakota governors and held positions as policy adviser and chief legal counsel.

Ryan has been repeatedly recognized by The Hill as one of the nation’s top lobbyists.

Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from North Dakota State University and his J.D., with distinction, from the University of North Dakota School of Law. He clerked for the North Dakota Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court in Bismarck. He is admitted to practice law in North Dakota and the District of Columbia.

• District of Columbia
• North Dakota

• Co-Author, Executive Order Expands Scrutiny of Foreign-Produced Bulk-Power Equipment — What Energy Companies Should Know, McGuireWoods LLP Legal Alerts, August 28, 2026
• "McGuireWoods Consulting Names New Federal Affairs Leader." Law360, April 11, 2025.

• Federal Court Strikes Down Two Key Tariffs, Appeal Pending, McGuireWoods LLP, May 30, 2025.