Cynthia McClain-Hill is co-founder of Strategic Counsel, a firm  specializing in strategic public policy development with an emphasis in  corporate, administrative and environmental law. In her professional  capacity, Ms. McClain-Hill leads the firm's environmental law and  public policy development practice. She represents clients engaged in  public-private partnerships and in advancing public policy initiatives,  helping them navigate the complex legal issues that arise. 

Ms. McClain-Hill's legal and public policy expertise has been sought  by a number of public sector boards and commissions. She has served on  the California Coastal Commission, the California Fair Political  Practices Commission, CalEPA Environmental Justice Advisory Working  Group and the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los  Angeles, as well as the city's Small and Local Business Advisory  Commission. Former California Gov. Gray Davis selected Ms. McClain-Hill  as one of five co-chairs on his transitions team after his election to  office.

Ms. McClain-Hill has received numerous awards and honors in  recognition of her business and civic leadership. She received the  National Association of Women Business Owners "2005 Chapter Public  Policy Advocate of the Year" award, the U.S. Small Business  Administration's "Women in Business Advocate Award," the first annual  "Ruth Standish Baldwin Award" from the Greater Sacramento Urban League  in 2004, and the "Thurgood Marshall Award" from Minorities in  Business.

Ms. McClain-Hill is a respected legal authority and is frequently  featured in a wide range of publications and interviewed regularly by  leading television and radio shows. In a recent survey of 65,000 of her  peers, she was named one of Southern California's "Super Lawyers," a  distinction reserved for the top five percent of the state's practicing  attorneys.   Ms. McClain-Hill earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from  the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1978, and her juris  doctorate from UCLA’s School of Law three years later. She was admitted  to practice law in the State of California in 1981.