We come from different political backgrounds and—at least on paper—different worldviews. Yet every morning, we walk into the same office at Ferox Strategies with a shared purpose: helping our clients navigate Washington in a moment when even the straightforward seems unnecessarily complicated.
People often ask us: How do two people with such different political DNA work so closely together? And then another question usually follows, usually with a tone somewhere between curiosity and concern: Why choose a bipartisan firm—and why build one?
Once we started working together, we realized our political DNA isn’t as different as people assume. Yes, we are from different political parties, but underneath the labels—and the cable-news versions of what those labels supposedly mean—are shared values: hard work, pragmatism, and respect.
Contrary to popular belief, working across the aisle does not require one of us to grow horns while the other hands out government checks for sport. Those common threads matter far more than the partisan sniping that dominates today’s political landscape.
Bipartisan Experience
Cristina: My path to Ferox began eight years ago after more than a decade at large, well-established lobbying firms. I learned a great deal in those 12 years, but I also felt the push to build something of my own—nimble, intentional, and aligned with how I had practiced advocacy throughout my entire career. I had always worked in bipartisan offices because the strongest strategies come from understanding all angles, not just the ones that poll well.
I’m also a realist—and a capitalist. I believe markets work, businesses drive growth, and smart policy should enable innovation rather than get in its way. Being a Democrat does not mean being anti-business, and effective advocacy certainly doesn’t mean collecting “good intentions” while ignoring real-world consequences.
So I took a leap. I launched Ferox Strategies with a laptop, a business plan, and the determination to prove that hard work still counts in Washington. It turns out it does. Within the first year, I secured early clients and built the foundation for the firm’s future. As proud as I was of the independence, I missed the dynamism that comes from true bipartisan collaboration. One perspective, no matter how confident, can only take you so far.
Mark: By that point, I had spent nearly two decades on the Hill, serving in senior roles across multiple GOP offices on Capitol Hill: Chief of Staff to Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas, former Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee; Legislative Director for former Ways and Means member Sam Johnson of Texas; and Chief of Staff to former Rep. Todd Rokita of Indiana. Along the way, I developed deep policy expertise across influential committees—and an understanding of how little gets done when politics turns into performance art.
Throughout my time on Capitol Hill, bipartisan work wasn’t optional—it was essential. Whether passing the 2018 Farm Bill or negotiating immigration deals that ultimately never saw the light of day, progress required understanding both sides of the aisle. When I began thinking about the next step in my career, I wanted a role that allowed me to build, stay nimble, and think creatively—rather than wait for permission. Meeting Cristina made the decision easy. The alignment of our values, approach, and ambition was about as close as I was likely to find.
Shared Values
From the start, our partnership felt natural. Beyond politics, we’re both Texans. We’re the same age, and so are our kids— with one set born just a day apart. Those personal similarities accelerated trust and made collaboration seamless.
More importantly, we discovered that our political instincts overlap more than they diverge. We both value practicality and results over partisan theater. That insight became the foundation for a firm built on bipartisan strategy, where disagreement sharpens ideas instead of derailing them. This approach has yielded numerous client successes. These can range from securing bipartisan agreement on a swath of appropriations requests, successfully incorporating tax provisions into partisan reconciliation legislation during periods of both Democratic and Republican trifectas, and significantly reducing the intensity of potentially adversarial scrutiny from committee chairmen toward our clients.
Together, we’ve grown Ferox into a 10-person firm, earning six consecutive BGOV Top Lobbying Firm recognitions. Our success comes down to one guiding principle: Bipartisan collaboration isn’t a compromise—it’s a competitive advantage. We both want—and frankly need—to know what the other side is thinking before the room does.
Bipartisan Work Matters
Working in a bipartisan firm doesn’t mean abandoning core principles. Cristina brings a Democratic perspective; Mark brings a Republican one. But we view partisanship as a tool, not a personality trait.
At Ferox, we don’t ask which party “owns” an issue. We start with questions that matter:
- What is the goal?
- Who actually has influence?
- And what strategy survives scrutiny from every angle—including the one most likely to derail it?
That approach requires discipline and humility. It means picking up the phone when political tensions run high and treating members and staff from both parties as partners, not obstacles. Most importantly, it means remembering that clients need results—not applause lines.
Straight-Talking Texans
We’re not immune to political frustrations. There are days when our backgrounds come into play. But when you genuinely respect—and like—the person across the table, differences become opportunities rather than barriers.
Our Texas roots help. Texans tend to cut through noise, value straight talk, and focus on outcomes. More importantly, our shared business instincts matter far more than party labels. We understand incentives, risk, and how policy decisions ripple through the private sector. That alignment allows us to work creatively and effectively for clients navigating complex policy environments.
Considering the Jump
To professionals who wonder whether they should join a partisan firm or a bipartisan one: There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But if you want your work to matter regardless of election outcomes, if you want strategies that survive political shifts, and if you want to understand how Washington actually functions when the cameras are off, bipartisan work will challenge you—and make you better.
Looking Ahead
Washington will always have partisans; we can both hold strongly to our political views when the moment calls for it. But it increasingly needs professionals who can navigate the divide, recognize shared incentives, and build strategies that last longer than a news cycle.
Bipartisan partnership isn’t naïve; it’s a winning strategy.
This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg Tax, and Bloomberg Government, or its owners.
Author Information
Mark Williams is the founding Republican principal at Ferox Strategies, and a seasoned Capitol Hill veteran with nearly two decades of experience and an extensive network of senior congressional, committee, and political relationships.
Cristina Antelo is the founding Democratic principal at Ferox Strategies, with more than a decade of experience representing multinational corporations.
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