Mary-Patricia Wray

Mary-Patricia Wray is the founder and president of Top Drawer Strategies, a Louisiana public affairs, legislative advocacy, and strategic communications firm. Her practice focuses on legislative drafting and enactment, constitutional law, administrative law, agency rulemaking and adjudication, taxation and fiscal policy, appropriations, healthcare, education, ethics, energy, local government, and public policy. She regularly advises clients on legislative strategy, statutory drafting, constitutional amendments, tax policy, and regulatory matters before the Louisiana Legislature and executive agencies. She currently advises statewide elected officials and members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

Wray is an adjunct professor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where she teaches Legislative and Administrative Advocacy. Her academic and professional interests include the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 and the proceedings of the 1973 Louisiana Constitutional Convention, legislative drafting and enactment, administrative law, agency rulemaking and adjudication, and the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government.

She served as a senior advisor on Governor John Bel Edwards’ successful 2015 gubernatorial campaign and began her career in Louisiana advocating on K–12 education policy and school funding. She has advised three governors during her career, including serving on Governor Jeffrey M. Landry’s gubernatorial transition council as a member of the Infrastructure, Ports, and Rails Committee. Earlier in her career, she worked for Governor Ted Strickland and Attorney General Richard Cordray in Ohio.

Wray led the legislative strategy and statewide ballot initiative that resulted in Louisiana’s constitutional amendment abolishing the use of non-unanimous juries. She has represented clients before the Louisiana Legislature, executive agencies, and state and local governments on a wide range of complex public policy issues. She is a frequent political analyst for Louisiana television and radio and was recognized by the American Association of Political Consultants as one of its 40 Under 40.

Wray earned her Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and completed her undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University.