Denise Davis

Denise is a native Texan with nearly two decades of experience working in the Texas Legislature. Ms. Davis has extensive experience in drafting winning strategies on complex legislation, administrative rules, legal memoranda, and briefs for clients in both the public and private sectors. Ms. Davis has been consistently ranked as one of Texas’ top lobbyists by Mike Hailey’s “Capitol Inside,” most recently ranked 28 in 2021’s Texas Lobby Power Rankings; 29 in 2019; 30 in 2017; top 50 of its 2015 Texas Lobby Power Rankings; and #1 on the 2013 Rising Lobby Stars list. Davis Kaufman PLLC is ranked among the top 10 law firm lobby practices in both 2013 and 2015.

Before founding Davis Kaufman PLLC in 2012, Ms. Davis served as Chief of Staff to House Speaker Joe R. Straus. As Chief of Staff, she provided strategic and operational advice to the Speaker and the entire House leadership and oversaw the legislative agenda and daily activities of the Speaker’s Office. Prior to her tenure as Chief of Staff, Ms. Davis served for several sessions as House Parliamentarian and Special Counsel to the Texas House of Representatives, where she advised the Speaker and members of the House on all ethics, legal and parliamentary matters relating to the Texas House of Representatives, including points of order, House Rules, and precedent, and open records.