Sewald Hanfling

What Sewald Hanfling does

Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs is a Denver-headquartered government relations and public affairs consulting firm founded in 2012 by R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling. The firm offers three integrated service lines — lobbying, government affairs, and business development — delivered through direct, relationship-based engagements to enterprise and government clients across more than 10 verticals, including aerospace, healthcare, technology, real estate, cannabis, construction, professional sports, municipalities, telecommunications, transportation, and non-profits. Notable engagements include securing FAA approval for Spaceport Colorado (2018), a $1.8 billion 34-year public-private partnership for the Great Hall remodel at Denver International Airport, the creation of the Metropolitan Football Stadium District (2018), and securing regulatory entry for Uber in Colorado (2013).

The business is built on the co-founders' combined 75 years of political, business, and community experience in Colorado and on a small bench including two Vice Presidents of State Affairs, a Senior Associate for Local Government Affairs, a Local Affairs Associate, and an Executive Assistant. The firm maintains a full-time presence at the Colorado Capitol and provides pro-bono support to select non-profits. It does not operate a technology product, has no API, holds no patents, and relies entirely on professional services delivery rather than a software or platform offering.

The revenue model is professional services fees on quote-based, custom engagements. The go-to-market is sales-led and direct, using the co-founders' network, the firm's website, social media, and an email newsletter as primary marketing channels. Ownership is concentrated with the two co-founders as principals; no external funding, parent company, subsidiaries, M&A activity, or public listing is disclosed, and the firm has remained at 1-10 employees with a single Colorado office.

Name

Sewald Hanfling

Legal name

Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs

Website

https://sewaldhanfling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs is a Denver-based government relations and public affairs consulting firm, founded in 2012, offering lobbying, government affairs, and business development services to enterprise and government clients across Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Services Fees: Consulting fees for lobbying, government affairs, business development, strategic communications, and community engagement services delivered to enterprise clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sewald Hanfling is a Denver-based public affairs firm that provides lobbying, government affairs, and business development consulting to clients operating or expanding in Colorado. The firm works with elected officials at local, state, and national levels to advocate for client interests, navigate regulatory and legislative environments, and advise on Colorado market entry and expansion. Services are delivered through relationship-based consulting engagements anchored by the co-founders and a small team of state and local affairs professionals.

Product overview

Sewald Hanfling is a public affairs firm offering a unified suite of consulting services rather than a technology product. The firm provides three integrated service offerings: Lobbying (advocacy with government officials at all levels), Government Affairs (strategic public affairs and community relations), and Business Development (advisory for Colorado market entry and expansion). These services work together to help clients navigate political and regulatory environments, build relationships with decision makers, and achieve business objectives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lobbying Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Adams County secured FAA approval for Spaceport Colorado, becoming one of only 11th facilities of its kind in August 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AMP the CauseminorOthersDenver-based non-profit organization. Sewald Hanfling provides pro-bono services and board support.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Davis & Harman LLP: Washington, D.C.-based government relations firm focused on legislative and regulatory advocacy. Closely comparable boutique model centered on senior partner relationships with policymakers.
• Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck: Major Denver-based law and lobbying firm with one of the largest Colorado government affairs practices. Competes directly for high-profile state and local lobbying mandates and represents a scaled alternative for clients Sewald Hanfling serves.
• Forbes Tate Partners: Bipartisan government affairs and public affairs strategy firm with a similar senior-relationship-led engagement model, operating at federal and state levels across multiple sectors.

Broad incumbents

• Holland & Hart: Full-service Denver-headquartered law firm with a substantial government affairs and lobbying practice. Competes for the same Colorado public affairs engagements but offers broader legal services across multiple states.
• Polsinelli: National law firm with a sizable government policy and public affairs practice including Colorado-licensed lobbyists. Competes for healthcare, real estate, and corporate sector clients in the Denver market.
• Greenberg Traurig: Global law firm with a large government law and policy practice. Competes for sophisticated multi-state lobbying engagements and corporate public affairs work.
• Squire Patton Boggs: International law and public policy firm with a recognized government relations and lobbying practice, competing for high-end state and federal public affairs mandates.
• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Global law firm with a substantial public law and policy practice that handles lobbying and government affairs. Represents a larger incumbent alternative for clients seeking state-level Colorado representation.

Regional players

• Capitol Solutions (Colorado): Colorado-focused boutique government affairs and lobbying firm operating in the same Denver market. Closest direct comparable by size, geography, and service model.
• Hackstaff Law Group: Denver-based boutique government and regulatory law firm providing lobbying, political, and public affairs services. Closely comparable regional boutique competing for similar Colorado clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SewaldHanfling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sewald Hanfling