How We Got Started
In 2000, former Mississippi Governor William A. (Bill) Allain and Lane Murray joined together and began offering political consulting services to political campaigns. In 2001, they expanded their range of consulting services offered by Governor Allain, Mr. Murray and their associates to include business clients. Governor Allain was actively involved in offering clients political and business consulting services until 2007, thereafter, due to his declining health; he continued to provide limited political and business consulting services along with Mr. Murray and associates until his death on December 2, 2013. Following the death of Governor Allain, Mr. Murray, Governor Allain’s nephew, H. Thomas Allain, Jr. and their associates continued offering political and business consulting services of what is now known as The Allain Group, Inc. Since the death of H. Thomas Allain, Jr. in 2019, The Allain Group Inc., has continued the vision of Governor Allain by offering strong strategic and creative expertise to political campaigns and business clients.
Governor William A. (Bill) Allain (1928-2013)
William A. (Bill) Allain was born in Washington, Adams County, Mississippi located a few miles north of Natchez. He was educated at Notre Dame University and earned his law degree at the University of Mississippi in 1950. During the Korean War, Governor Allain answered the call of his country and served three years in the United States Army Infantry, much of which was spent in combat zones in Korea. Following his discharge from the Army in 1953, Governor Allain practiced law in Natchez until 1962 when he was appointed Assistant Attorney General for the State of Mississippi. From 1962 until 1975, as Assistant Attorney General he represented the State of Mississippi in cases before state courts, the federal district and circuit court of appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. In 1975 he left the Attorney General’s Office and returned to the private practice of law in Jackson, Mississippi until his election as the Attorney General of Mississippi in 1979.
As Attorney General he built a solid reputation as a consumer advocate with his most significant achievements in this area being the prevention of a utility rate increase and the exclusion of Mississippi as a nuclear waste site. As Attorney General his greatest accomplishment, however, was in his fight with the powerful Mississippi Legislature, which for decades had weakened thepower of the executive branch by appointing members of the legislature to executive department and boards. Then Attorney General Allain filed a lawsuit in state court requesting the separation of the functions of the executive and legislative branches of state government. In the suit he asserted that the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 required separation of powers and that legislative officials could not serve in the executive branch. The Supreme Court of Mississippi in State Ex. Rel. Allain v. Alexander ruled in favor of Attorney General Allain and ordered the separation of the two branches of government. The decision in State Ex. Rel. Allain v. Alexander is often referred as “Mississippi’s Marbury vs. Madison”. His efforts in this landmark case strengthened the Mississippi executive and streamlined Mississippi’s political processes. In 1983, Allain was elected Governor of Mississippi. From 1984 until 1988, he served as the fifty-ninth Governor of Mississippi. While serving as the Chief Executive of Mississippi, Governor Allain continued his support for constitutional reform and consumer advocacy. An amendment to the Mississippi Constitution allowing the governor to succeed himselfwas passed during Governor Allain’s term, however, he chose not to seek a second term as governor. After leaving office in January 1988, Governor Allain resumed the private practice of law in Jackson, Mississippi. He remained active in legal, political and civic affairs including offering political and business consulting services to various clients on the federal, congressional, state and local levels. Governor Allain was an accomplished attorney, legal scholar, statesman, political and
business consultant, consumer advocate and true friend of the people.
Lane Murray President and Senior Consultant
Lane is a Mississippi native who has worked over 62 years providing political, legal and business consulting services to various clients. He has worked and consulted in political campaigns in 7 states and 5 foreign countries. His political consulting work includes campaigns
for federal, state, and local offices in which he has enjoyed a high rate of success. In the business arena, he has provided consulting services to a wide range of companies and individuals in 36
states and 25 foreign countries. Lane has provided consulting services to various plaintiff and defense law firms in 36 states and 25 foreign countries focusing primarily in the areas of investigations and jury selection. He along with the late Governor William (Bill) Allain is a
founder of what is now known as The Allain Group and he currently serves as the President and Senior Consultant for The Allain Group, Inc.
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C. Louis Clifford IV General Counsel and Consultant
Louis is a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He holds an Associate’s Degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gautier, Mississippi, a Bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Juris Doctorate degree from the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi. Louis grew up in local and state politics and throughout his life has been involved as a consultant and advisor to a number of political campaigns at the federal, state and local levels. He has also provided strategic business planning and consulting services to both small and large businesses. In addition to serving as a consultant and General Counsel for The Allain Group, Inc., he maintains his private law practice in Jackson, Mississippi, practicing primarily in the areas of business and commercial law, which is separate and apart from his work with The Allain Group, Inc.
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Larry l. harvey Consultant & advisor
A Mississippi native, Larry has over 35 years of experience in governmental relations and political consulting to benefit his clients. He has worked on numerous political campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels throughout the nation. Larry’s political consulting experience ranges from the field operations such as get out the vote operations at the grass roots level through the planning, development stages and executions stages of the campaign. As a former Economic Development Director, Larry’s experience focused primarily on new business development, transportation, and agribusiness. As a business consultant, he has provided business and marketing consulting services to various industries and businesses concentrating on strategic planning, business development, management, operations, public relations, customer service, customer retention and general marketing. Larry has also served as a consultant for many clients who required real experience to guide them through the multifaceted workings of the legislative process in several state capitals and in Washington, D.C. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University in Agriculture and Business Management. Larry also serves as an event planning coordinator for the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute located in Washington D.C. Currently, he serves as a political and business consultant for The Allain Group, Inc.
ASHLEY rAE bRIGHT Consultant
Ashley Rae Bright is a Texas native and longtime resident of Mississippi. Ashley was educated in Mississippi and attended Holmes Community College. She has lived in numerous states across the nation. In addition to formerly owning several small businesses, Ashley has worked over the years in the fields of computer technology and social media. Ashley has worked in a number of political campaigns as a computer technology and social media advisor. She also has worked with political campaigns assisting with event planning, campaign technology, research, grass roots organizing, and GOTV organizing focusing on the millennial generation. Currently, she serves as a political and business consultant and advisor for The Allain Group, Inc. with an emphasis in the areas of computer technology, social media, campaign technology, and small business assistance.
Rickey C. Rowan Consultant
Rickey is a native and lifelong resident of North Mississippi. He attended Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville, Mississippi and Greater Ephesians Bible College in Vassar, Michigan. He has experience as a businessman and consultant as well as possesses a political background. Rickey has worked as a consultant with numerous companies, large and small, in a number of states and several foreign countries. An effective communicator, he has also been involved as a consultant in numerous political campaigns at the state, congressional and local levels in several states. Rickey also enjoys a musical background and is an accomplished singer and songwriter. Rickey now serves as a business and political consultant for The Allain Group, Inc.
M. L.
Irelina Fereria Consultant
Irelina was born in Venezuela, and has resided in Houston, Texas for over 15 years. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Legal Science from Universidad del Zulia in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Irelina graduated at the top of her class with honors. She has a number of years of experience working with different law firms representing both businesses and individuals. During her career, Irelina has provided consulting services to businesses and political campaigns. She has also worked as a volunteer with several non-profits’ organizations, both in United States and in Venezuela. Irelina is fully bilingual (English/Spanish) and has a special talent - helping people. In addition to serving as a consultant and advisor for The Allain Group, Inc., she owns and runs her own small business.
Jorge L. Raggoza
Jorge L. Raggoza is a native of Mexico where he received his education in the field of technology. Jorge has lived in the United States for over 20 years where he has furthered his education and training in the areas of technology and business. He is bilingual and has worked in a number of political campaigns as an information technology and social media consultant. Jorge also has worked as an information technology advisor and computer technician for a number of private businesses. He currently serves as a political and business consultant for The Allain Group, Inc. with an emphasis in the areas of technology and social media.