Roger Manno: Attorney, Lobbyist, and Former Maryland Senator

 

Roger Manno is a seasoned attorney, lobbyist, and former Maryland Senator, recognized as a legislative and regulatory architect with decades of experience in government service. His career spans work in the White House, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Legislative Director and Senior Counsel to members of Congress, and as an elected member of the Maryland House and a senior member of the Maryland Senate.

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Professional Practice

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Roger’s legal and lobbying practice focuses on legislative and regulatory matters before the Maryland General Assembly, state and federal agencies, counties, municipalities, and the U.S. Congress. His expertise is particularly concentrated on issues related to the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee (where he served for eight years), the Senate Finance and EEE Committees, the House Economic Matters Committee (where he served for four years), and the House Appropriations Committee.

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Roger is highly experienced in large-scale industrial development and infrastructure projects, including data centers, power generation and LNG plants, roads, bridges, and other complex undertakings. His efforts have consistently delivered extraordinary results for clients, including a Return on Investment (ROI) for his appropriations clients ranging from 10X to 45X.

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Legislative Leadership

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During his tenure in the Maryland Senate, Roger served as Senate Majority Whip, in which he built strong legislative coalitions to advance a disciplined and impactful policy agenda across the state. Roger chaired both the Spending Affordability Committee and the Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR) Committee, spearheading significant reforms to streamline and enhance Maryland’s regulatory framework. He also authored transformative structural reforms that modernized Maryland’s budget forecasting, revenue systems, and baseline spending.

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Legal Career and Public Service

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Admitted to practice in Maryland, the District of Columbia, the Supreme Court of the United States, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Armed Forces, and other federal courts, Roger has served as Senior Counsel and Legislative Director in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also Of Counsel to the civil litigation firm Karp, Frosh, Lapidus, Wigodsky & Norwind, P.A., during the tenure of former Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh as a named partner. Currently, he is Partner at The Manno Law Firm, where he provides ongoing pro bono legal services and has represented hundreds of indigent defendants as a Maryland Judiciary Court Appointed Attorney.

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In 2019, Maryland Governor Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr. appointed Roger to the State Prosecutor Selection and Disabilities Commission, a role he continues to hold.

 

Awards and Recognitions

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Roger has received numerous honors from organizations such as the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Fraternal Order of Police (Maryland State Lodge), the International Association of Fire Fighters (Local 1664), and the Maryland Building and Construction Trades Council (AFL-CIO), among many others. Twice named Legislator of the Year by the Maryland Building and Construction Trades Council, Roger also holds the rare distinction of being named an honorary member of two AFL-CIO unions: UA Steamfitters United Association (Local 602) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Local 26).

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Civic and Charitable Work

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Roger’s extensive community involvement includes serving as President of the B’nai B’rith International Capital Region Council, as a board member of the Kiwanis Club and the Committee for Montgomery, and as Chair of the Maryland Society of Senates Past. He has also actively contributed to numerous civic organizations, exemplifying a deep commitment to public service and community betterment.