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Ballard dethrones Brownstein
With Katherine Long, Daniel Lippman Here are your Lobbying Disclosure Act revenue rankings for the second quarter of 2025: TOP FIRMS OTHER NOTABLE FIRMS — K&L Gates: $5.5 million (versus $4.7 million in Q1 2025 and $4.4 million in Q2 2024) — Van Scoyoc Associates: $5.3 million (versus $4.5 million in Q1 2025 and $5.2 million in Q2 2024) — Alpine Group: $5.1 million (versus $4.9 million in Q1 2025 and $4.8 million in Q2 2024) — Checkmate Government Relations: $4.5 million (versus $910,000* in Q1 2025 and $0 in Q2 2024) — Mindset Advocacy: $4.5 million (versus $3.8 million in Q1 2025 and $3.5 million in Q2 2024) — Vogel Group: $4.2 million (versus $3.3 million in Q1 2025 and $2.9 million in Q2 2024) — Hogan Lovells: $4 million (versus $3.3 million in Q1 2025 and $3.1 million in Q2 2024) — Monument Advocacy: $3.7 million (versus $3.7 million in Q1 2025 and $3.6 million in Q2 2024) *Estimated based on Senate disclosure filings. All other figures have been verified with the firms. TOP SPENDERS BIGGEST CONTRACTS: Happy Tuesday and welcome to PI. What are you watching for in tonight's LDA filing deadline? Add me on Signal at caitlinoprysko.17, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. WHAT THE NUMBERS MEAN: Six months into President Donald Trump's second term was all it took for a handful of newer firms with ties to the president or his administration to overtake many of the more established firms on K Street. Ballard Partners vaulted all the way to the top of the revenue rankings in the second quarter with an astonishing haul of $20.6 million — up from $14 million in Q1 and more than four times what the firm brought in during the same period a year ago. — Miller Strategies and Mercury Public Affairs, meanwhile, jumped into the top 10 earners on K Street last quarter, while Continental Strategy debuted at No. 15 in the rankings in Q2. — More broadly, the second Trump administration has ushered in a gold rush across K Street, as haggling over the GOP megabill, tariff and trade whiplash and more drove record-breaking business to firms around town. — 'There's certainly a hunger for information, and then analysis to help predict and plan for the future,' Will Moschella, who co-leads the Brownstein's lobbying practice, told PI. Though the firm lost the top spot in the rankings to Ballard, Brownstein's $18.5 million in lobbying revenues last quarter broke the firm's previous quarterly record set in Q2 of 2024. — BGR Group, meanwhile, leapfrogged Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld en route to the firm's own quarterly record of $17.7 million in Q2. 'We're sort of looking through all the numbers and trying to make some observations about it and the wild thing is … there's no one single issue that drove our growth,' Loren Monroe, the co-head of BGR's lobbying practice, told PI. 'It's across the board with multiple issues at the same time.' FARA FRIDAY, ON TUESDAY: Testimony from David Weiss, the former U.S. attorney tasked with investigating and prosecuting Hunter Biden, revealed prosecutors lacked the evidence needed to bring charges against the former first son under FARA, the New York Post's Josh Christenson writes. — Weiss admitted to House Judiciary Committee members June 6 that he 'personally' considered bringing charges that Biden acted as a foreign agent, but was unable to back up the charges, according to a transcript released by House Republicans Monday. — Biden's foreign business deals were uncovered amid House Republicans' efforts to impeach Joe Biden. They found that Hunter Biden would often invoke his father's name to secure deals with clients in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Russia and China. Weiss had previously hinted at FARA violations last August, citing an instance in which Biden attempted to lobby State Department officials amidst a probe of Romanian businessperson Gabriel Popoviciu during his father's vice presidency. ON THE AIRWAVES: MAHA Action, a 501(c)(4) organization, is launching an ad campaign in support of the Trump administration's MAHA agenda. The campaign, which begins Tuesday and runs through Aug. 12, features an ad titled 'A New Day in America' focused on the 'health revolution' enacted by President Donald Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The ad will run on cable outlets and online in the D.C. area and nationwide. — A spokesperson for MAHA Action told PI that while there are no specific markets for nationwide buys, the ad buy is in the high six figures. — The campaign seeks to highlight the growing public support behind Trump and Kennedy's MAHA agenda, specifically citing Kennedy's push to reform the food industry and dietary guidelines. — 'MAHA Action will amplify the voices demanding an end to the corruption that has led to the chronic disease epidemic, to an existential health crisis,' MAHA Action President Tony Lyons said in a news release. ALL IN ON ALL IN: 'The four tech investors and entrepreneurs who debate economics and tech on 'All-In' have amassed outsize influence, first in Silicon Valley and more recently in Washington,' The Wall Street Journal's Katherine Sayre and Isabella Simonetti write of the podcast hosted by David Friedberg, David Sacks, Chamath Palihapitiya and Jason Calacanis. —'Their mix of wonky policy talk and mentions of their affluent lifestyles has gained so much cachet that cabinet secretaries and senators now frequently join. On Wednesday, President Trump is expected to deliver a major address at a summit on 'winning the AI race' that 'All-In' is co-hosting with bipartisan group Hill & Valley Forum.' — 'The foursome are in some ways a media manifestation of the MAGA movement's ties to tech—a place where DOGE cuts, AI and crypto are celebrated. The hosts' proximity to power can draw big-name guests such as Jared Isaacman, whose nomination as NASA administrator Trump had withdrawn, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.' Jobs report — Ian Banks is joining the Foundation for American Innovation to run its new Science Policy Program, focused on reforms to restore the U.S.' scientific enterprise and competitive edge. He previously was at the Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions. — Christian Morgan will be head of government relations at BJC HealthCare. He currently is managing principal at HB Strategies and is an Ann Wagner alum. — Ben Friedmann is now vice president of external affairs at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. He previously was deputy assistant secretary of state for global public affairs in the first Trump administration and is a RGA, NRSC and Google alum. — Freya Charlesworth is joining Frontline Strategies as a digital account director. She most recently was an email marketing specialist at Push Digital Group. New Joint Fundraisers Duckworth Kim Victory Fund (Sens. Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim) New PACs Clear Voice Minnesota (Super PAC) OHIO FLYER PAC (Super PAC) Ready to Fight PAC (Leadership PAC: James Walkinshaw) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Acg Advocacy: Abbvie Acg Advocacy: Danone North America Acg Advocacy: Daric Technologies Alpine Group Partners, LLC.: Vertanical Gmbh American Defense International, Inc.: Almonty Industries American Defense International, Inc.: Autocar LLC American Defense International, Inc.: Bitdeer Technologies Group American Defense International, Inc.: Code Metal, Inc. American Defense International, Inc.: Kfi Engineering, Pc American Defense International, Inc.: Onmed LLC American Defense International, Inc.: Tectraum Inc. American Defense International, Inc.: The Lincoln Electric Company Arentfox Schiff LLP: Amrize North America Inc. Avenue Solutions: Maryland Hospital Association Axadvocacy Government Relations: Br Building Resources Company Axadvocacy Government Relations: Thalrix, LLC Az Dc Consulting, LLC: Sustainable Home Improvement Loans Of Arizona Baker & Hostetler LLP: Blackbird Laboratories Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Riverview Health Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Griffin Capital Company, LLC Bell & Lindsay, Inc. (Formerly White House Consulting Inc.): Gov Biz Advantage, Inc. (For Fortress Wildfire Insurance Group) Best Best & Krieger LLP: City Of Lake Forest Bgr Government Affairs: 160 Driving Academy Bgr Government Affairs: Association For Responsible Healthcare Investment Bgr Government Affairs: Kraft Heinz Company B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group Obo Siemens Healthineers Black Diamond Strategies LLC: On Demand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Bose Public Affairs Group: American Camp Association Bose Public Affairs Group: Security Industry Association Bracewell LLP: Dt Midstream, Inc. Bracewell LLP: Johnson Health Tech Retail Inc. Bracewell LLP: Targa Resources Corporation Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Engelstad Foundation Capitol Connections, LLC: National Fireworks Association Capitol Counsel LLC: L'Oreal USa S/D, Inc. Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Johnstown-Cambria County Airport Authority & Cambrian Hills Development Group Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Tonopah Solar Energy Cgcn Group, LLC: Manus Bio Inc. Cleancapital Holdings LLC: Cleancapital Holdings LLC Co2Efficient LLC: Ai Supply Chain Alliance (Informal Coalition) Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): 5E Advanced Materials, Inc Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Allegiant Air, LLC Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Arq, Inc. Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Assured Information Security Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Bush Brothers & Company Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Celiac Disease Foundation Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Consortium Management Group Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): General Dynamics Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Icd Group Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Martin Baker Aircraft Co., Ltd. Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Micro-X, Inc. Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Nextflex Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Pmb Defense Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Prichard Water Works & Sewer Board Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Rails-To-Trails Conservancy Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): Seven States Power Corporation Db3, LLC (Fka The Daschle Group): World Forestry Center Delta Development Group, Inc.: Alleghany College Public Funding - Alic Delta Development Group, Inc.: Rio Hondo College/ Lincoln Concepts Dgsr LLC: Patriot Voices Dla Piper LLP (US): Aerovironment, Inc. Dorsey & Whitney LLP: Campbell Scientific Eis Solutions: Arizona Rock Products Association Eis Solutions: Axon Enterprise, Inc. Eis Solutions: Highland Digital Eis Solutions: University Of Arizona Elevate Government Affairs, LLC: No Surprise Bill, LLC Enact Consulting, LLC: Drug Policy Alliance Foley & Lardner LLP: Cgi Federal Foley & Lardner LLP: Coherus Biosciences Foley & Lardner LLP: Kern County Medical Foley & Lardner LLP: Knowles Corporation Foresight Law + Policy Pllc: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company Fs Vector: Smartcontract Inc. Groundswell Strategy LLC: Corn Refiners Association Groundswell Strategy LLC: Link Snacks, Inc. Groundswell Strategy LLC: National Milk Producers Federation Groundswell Strategy LLC: Regenified Guidepoststrategies, LLC: Lithium Americas Corp. Guidepoststrategies, LLC: Whirlpool Corporation Hbw Resources: Jicarilla Apache Nation Health Equality Campaign Inc.: Health Equality Campaign Inc. Icebreaker Strategies, LLC: Health Supply US Invoke LLC: Adyton Pbc Inc J.A. Green And Company: Gartner, Inc. J.A. Green And Company: Westwin Elements James P. Keese: National Organization Of Rare Disorders, Inc Javelin Advisors LLC: Logical Strategies LLC Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates, Inc.: Microtransponder Jim Massie & Partners, LLC: Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. Jim Massie & Partners, LLC: Lower Colorado River Authority J M Burkman & Associates: Aclipse Therapeutics Kelley Drye & Warren LLP: Pet Resin Coalition (Informal Coalition) Kiley & Associates: Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District Kiley & Associates: Resource Conservation District Of Tehama County Lilette Advisors: Apple Inc. Lne Group: Hatfield-Mccoy Regional Recreational Authority Mcallister & Quinn, LLC: Frontier Pharmaceuticals Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Prime Healthcare Michael R. Pawlowski: Capitol Counsel, LLC On Behalf Of Share Our Strength Monument Advocacy: Coupang Mo Strategies, Inc.: Burkhan World Investments LLC On Behalf Of Fairchild Gold Corp. Mr. Brian Kelly: Salt River Project Mr. Gregory Cohen: American Automotive Leasing Association Mr. Gregory Cohen: Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association, Inc. Ms. Elizabeth Lavach: Forward Photonics Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Akwesasne Convenience Store Association Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Celonis, Inc. Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Covington & Burling LLP On Behalf Of The Shortwave Modernization Coalition Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Csi Aviation Inc. Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Niocorp Developments Ltd Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Shi International Corp. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Viasat, Inc. New Front Strategies Group, LLC: Absorbits, Inc. Dba Dryout Onmessage Public Strategies: International Legal Finance Association Onmessage Public Strategies: Press Ganey Associates LLC Pirelli Tire LLC: Pirelli Tire LLC Porter Group, LLC: Mark Iv Capital Prime Policy Group: Seneca Nation Of Indians S2R, LLC: Cencore Group Second Curve Strategies LLC: Montana Renewables, LLC Second Curve Strategies LLC: Woodside Energy Sobba Public, LLC: Crossover Markets Group, Inc Squire Patton Boggs: Consumer Healthcare Products Association Standard Chartered Bank: Standard Chartered Bank Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: American College Of Physicians Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Local Health Plans Of California Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Mathematica, Inc Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: National Association Of Accountable Care Organizations Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Priority On Demand Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Whoop Tenagrity Solutions, LLC: Emit Corporation The Artemis Group, LLC (Oklahoma): Ansys, Inc. The Bishop Consulting Group: Croplife America The Vogel Group: Aircraft Transport Service (Ats) The Vogel Group: Myland Company, Inc. The Vogel Group: Plz Corp The Vogel Group: Tabletrust Brands, LLC Todd Strategy Group: Insulet Corporation Todd Strategy Group: Ncta - The Internet & Television Association Todd Strategy Group: Valisure Todd Strategy Group: Wine & Spirits Wholesalers Of America Venable LLP: Cvp Corporation Victory Coalition Strategies LLC: Fahmy Hudome Intl., Inc. On Behalf Of Human Rights And Democracy Foundation Victory Coalition Strategies LLC: Fahmy Hudome Intl., Inc. On Behalf Of Richard Scrushy Victory Coalition Strategies LLC: Fahmy Hudome Intl., Inc. On Behalf Of The Population Council Victory Coalition Strategies LLC: Fahmy Hudome Intl., Inc. On Behalf Of The W Investor Group (Fka Veratis Limited) Victory Coalition Strategies LLC: Fahmy Hudome Intl., Inc. On Behalf Of Wellspring Capital Group Washington Navigators: Aero-Flite, Inc. New Lobbying Terminations Acg Advocacy: Ambac Assurance Corporation Acg Advocacy: Common Sense Media Acg Advocacy: Team Placement Incorporated Actum I, LLC: Board Of Regents Of The University Of Oklahoma Ajw, Inc.: Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Ajw, Inc.: International Liquid Terminal Association Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Attentive Mobile, Inc. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Black Moon Energy Corporation Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Center For Sportfishing Policy Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Central Romana Corporation, Ltd. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Dronedeploy Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Fortenova Grupa D.D. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Jcb Inc. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Lion Elastomers, LLC Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Sustana Group Inc. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: The United States Fund For Unicef Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: US Chamber Of Commerce Alcalde & Fay: Midwest Refrigerants LLC Alston & Bird LLP: Tivity Health, Inc. American Defense International, Inc.: Homeplate Solutions Group, Inc. American Defense International, Inc.: Limestone University American Defense International, Inc.: Skyfi Arentfox Schiff LLP: American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. Arentfox Schiff LLP: Monday Properties Arentfox Schiff LLP: Woodward Pharma Services LLC Assurant, Inc.: Assurant Inc Avenue Solutions: Omeros Corporation Avoq, LLC: Enstructure LLC Avoq, LLC: Epic Games, Inc. Avoq, LLC: Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. Avoq, LLC: Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Axadvocacy Government Relations: Professional Hospital Guaynabo Backstop Strategies, LLC: The Fideo Group, LLC Ballard Partners: Brain Aneurysm Foundation Ballard Partners: Fmg Procurement Services Pty Ltd Ballard Partners: Jacksonville Port Authority (Previously Through Alcalde & Fay) Ballard Partners: Servicenow, Inc. Banner Public Affairs, LLC: Carbon Advocacy Project Banner Public Affairs, LLC: First Bank Of The Lake Banner Public Affairs, LLC: Nerdy Inc. (Formerly Known As Varsity Tutors LLC) Batie & Associates, LLC: Coinbase Global, Inc. Batie & Associates, LLC: Dignitymoves Batie & Associates, LLC: Project On Predatory Student Lending Bgr Government Affairs: Biomerieux, Inc. Bgr Government Affairs: Embassy Of The Republic Of Azerbaijan Black Diamond Strategies LLC: Cintra US Blue Ridge Law & Policy, P.C.: Securitize, Inc. Bose Public Affairs Group: Pennsylvania School Boards Association Boundary Stone Partners: 280 Earth Boundary Stone Partners: Epc Power Boundary Stone Partners: Equatic Tech Boundary Stone Partners: Harbinger Motors Inc. Boundary Stone Partners: Natron Energy Boundary Stone Partners: Terawatt Infrastructure Boundary Stone Partners: The Coalition For Reimagined Mobility, A Project Of Safe Bracewell LLP: Cessation Therapeutics Bracewell LLP: Energy Vault Bracewell LLP: Range Resources Corporation Bracewell LLP: Steel Reef Infrastructure Corp Bracewell LLP: Yuga Labs, Inc. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP: Dialysis Clinic, Inc. Capitol Alliance Group, Inc: Redwire Space Capitol Alliance Group, Inc: Space Exploration Technologies Corp Capitol Counsel LLC: California Dental Association Capitol Counsel LLC: Food Fix Campaign Action, Inc. Capitol Counsel LLC: Physicians Advocacy Institute C.A.R. Consulting Services: Alliance For America'S Promise, Inc. C.A.R. Consulting Services: Food Fix Campaign Action Inc (F/K/A Food Fix Campaign) C.A.R. Consulting Services: Liberty Partners Group O/B/O Aptqi-Hschein-Pds-Santafe-Sound-Rccs-Afhc-Wellvana Carpi & Clay, Inc: City Of Vista Carpi & Clay, Inc: Women'S Transportation Seminar Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Fortescue Future Industries Center Road Solutions: Debbie Haine Center Road Solutions: Georgetown University Cgcn Group, LLC: Hazmat Tsdf Inc Cgcn Group, LLC: Investment Company Institute Cj Lake, LLC: Hb Strategies (Formerly Husch Blackwell Strategies) Obo County Of Merced Clark Hill Public Strategies LLC: Employ, Inc. Co2Efficient LLC: Digital Climate Alliance Colton Street Group: Harbinger Strategies, LLC On Behalf Of Cencora, Inc. Colton Street Group: Harbinger Strategies, LLC On Behalf Of Hilton Worldwide Colton Street Group: Harbinger Strategies, LLC On Behalf Of Principal Financial Group Commonwealth Research Associates, LLC: Atlanta Regional Commission Confluence Government Relations: Linde, Inc. Continental Strategy, LLC: Honduras Prospera Inc Continental Strategy, LLC: Ses Corporation Continental Strategy, LLC: The Gb Group S.A. Continental Strategy, LLC: Vorex LLC Corcoran & Associates, Inc. Dba Corcoran Partners: Vaya Space, Inc. Covington & Burling LLP: Bp America, Inc. Crowell & Moring LLP: 21 Air, LLC Crowell & Moring LLP: Cresco Labs Crowell & Moring LLP: Lonza Group Ag Crowell & Moring LLP: Sonova USa, Inc. Debrunner & Associates, Inc.: Jefferson Health - Northeast (Formerly Known As Aria Health) Dga Group Government Relations LLC: Cencora Inc. (Formerly Known As Amerisourcebergen) Dga Group Government Relations LLC: Nlx Railroad Dga Group Government Relations LLC: Prologium Dga Group Government Relations LLC: Supernal Dinino Associates, LLC: Cornerstone Government Affairs Obo Heliogen Holdings, Inc. Dinino Associates, LLC: Cornerstone Government Affairs Obo Yayasan Berbakti Semangat Indonesia Dla Piper LLP (US): Adp LLC Dla Piper LLP (US): Astroscale U.S., Inc. Dla Piper LLP (US): Aura Sub, LLC Dla Piper LLP (US): Bluehalo Corporation Dla Piper LLP (US): Independent Fuel Terminal Operators Association Dla Piper LLP (US): Rtx Corporation And Affiliates Dla Piper LLP (US): University Of St. Augustine For Health Sciences Echelon Government Affairs: Reciprocity Health Elevate Government Affairs, LLC: City Of Moses Lake Elevate Government Affairs, LLC: Cooley, LLP On Behalf Of East Hampton Elevate Government Affairs, LLC: Ssab Enterprises, LLC Elevate Government Affairs, LLC: The Donohoe Companies, Inc. Farragut Partners LLP: Live Nation Entertainment Federal Hall Policy Advisors, LLC: Bipartisan Policy Center Action Federal Hall Policy Advisors, LLC: Mr. Cooper Federal Hall Policy Advisors, LLC: San Diego Housing Commission Federal Hall Policy Advisors, LLC: U.S. Mortgage Insurers Fierce Government Relations: Information Technology Industry Council Fierce Government Relations: Moorehouse School Of Medicine Fierce Government Relations: Oracle Corporation Fierce Government Relations: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC Fierce Government Relations: Tsmc Arizona Forward Global: Economic Innovation Group Forward Global: Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association Frost Brown Todd LLC: Armr Sciences Frost Brown Todd LLC: Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.) Frost Brown Todd LLC: Northwest Registered Agent Fs Vector: Audenzia Advisors LLC Fs Vector: Sf Operations, Inc Galileo Consulting Group, Inc.: Sonosite, A Subsidiary Of Fujifilm (Formerly Sonosite, Inc.) Geoffrey P. Gray: Consumer Data Industry Association Gephardt Group Government Affairs: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld (On Behalf Of Nippon Steel Corporation) Golden Group, LLC: Burnbot, Inc. Green Mountain Strategies LLC Dc: Compassus Hb Strategies: Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems Inc. (Formerly Berken Energy LLC) Health And Medicine Counsel: Pf Carrus Careers, LLC Hill East Group, LLC: Northeast Uas Airspace Integration Research Alliance, Inc. J.A. Green And Company: Adaptive Surface Technologies, Inc. J.A. Green And Company: Biolargo, Inc J.A. Green And Company: Consortium Management Group J.A. Green And Company: Deepsig Inc. J.A. Green And Company: Meta Logic Corporation J.A. Green And Company: Westwin Elements Jenner & Block LLP: County Of San Bernardino Jim Massie & Partners, LLC: Biotechnology Innovation Organization (Bio) John Napier: Burroughs And Chapin Company Inc Jose Fuentes: Empresas Fonalledas, Inc. Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton: Danimer Scientific Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton: Freeman Capital King & Spalding LLP: Amarin Pharma, Inc. King & Spalding LLP: Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. King & Spalding LLP: Becton, Dickinson And Company King & Spalding LLP: Bone Growth Stimulator Coalition (Informal Coalition) King & Spalding LLP: Solace Health King & Spalding LLP: United Cdpap, Inc. Klein/Johnson Group: Metropolitan New York Coordinating Council On Jewish Poverty K&L Gates, LLP: Equinix, Inc. Liberty Partners Group, LLC: Bayada Hearts For Home Care, Inc. (Fka Bayada Home Health Care) Lne Group: Discovery Therapeutics Caribe Lykos Therapeutics: Lykos Therapeutics Mcallister & Quinn, LLC: Chautauqua Institution Mcallister & Quinn, LLC: Japanese American National Museum Mccaulley&Company: Lorain County Agricultural Society Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Henrico County Economic Development Authority, Virginia Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Perdue Foods LLC Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Village Of Evergreen Park Mclarty Inbound LLC: Maha Energy Md Eastport Strategies LLC: Puerto Rico Statehood Council Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: Intuit, Inc. And Affiliates Meyers And Associates: Aker Arctic Oy Michael Best Strategies LLC: Adobe Michael Best Strategies LLC: Cais Af (Center For Ai Safety Action Fund) Michael Best Strategies LLC: Colosseum Rare Metals, Inc. Miller Strategies, LLC: Andretti Formula Racing LLC Miller Strategies, LLC: Drw Holdings, LLC Monument Advocacy: Bipartisan Policy Center Action Monument Advocacy: Monolith Materials Moran Global Strategies, Inc.: Global Heritage Alliance Moran Global Strategies, Inc.: Ideal Innovations Incorporated Ms. Erin Moffet: The Liaison Group On Behalf Of The National Cannabis Roundtable Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Boston Engineering Corporation Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Klas Government, Inc. Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Seminole Nation Of Oklahoma Navigators Global LLC (Formerly Dc Navigators, LLC): Unleash Prosperity, Inc. Nawar Strategy: Americas Voice Nawar Strategy: Casa, Inc. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Inmarsat D/B/A Inmarsat Aviation Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Tidelands Health O'Neill And Associates: Caribbean Connections Equitable Research O'Neill And Associates: Educational Partners International O'Neill And Associates: Sublime Systems Open Society Action Fund: Open Society Action Fund Passage Consulting Group LLC: Computer Access Technologies, LLC Passage Consulting Group LLC: Mcwane, Inc Passage Consulting Group LLC: Olin Corporation Passage Consulting Group LLC: Reliable Robotics Corporation Passage Consulting Group LLC: Spartan Corp. Passage Consulting Group LLC: Tamarack Aerospace Group Perry, White, Ross & Jacobson, LLC: B&O Railroad Museum Perry, White, Ross & Jacobson, LLC: Firstenergy Perry, White, Ross & Jacobson, LLC: Firstenergy Peyser Associates LLC: Hudson Yards Gen-Par, LLC Peyser Associates LLC: Trifiletti Consulting On Behalf Of City Of Inglewood, Ca Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP: Rivulis North America Porterfield, Fettig & Sears, LLC: Workiva, Inc. Portfolio Strategies LLC: Burd Health LLC Primacy Strategy Group: Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. (Fka Allianz Insurance Services, Inc.) Randall Davis Associates LLC: Bp America, Inc. Reyes Kurson Ltd.: Insight Institute Of Neurosurgery & Neuroscience Reyes Kurson Ltd.: Vantage Specialty Chemicals Ricchetti Incorporated: Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Roberti Global (F/K/A Roberti White, LLC): General Motors, LLC Roberti Global (F/K/A Roberti White, LLC): Green Lowe Gsa Roberti Global (F/K/A Roberti White, LLC): Performance Based Building Coalition Roberti Global (F/K/A Roberti White, LLC): Tracfone Wireless, Inc. Roberti Global (F/K/A Roberti White, LLC): United Safety Technology Inc. Rowland Strategy Group LLC: American Property & Casualty Insurance Association Rubin, Turnbull & Associates: Astrawatt Solar Rubin, Turnbull & Associates: Mastec, Inc. Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.: Expoflores Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.: Provefrut Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.: Syscend, Inc Dba Guardian Bikes Saxa Innovation LLC: Microsurgeonbot Inc. Dba Seward Square Group: Rite Aid Corporation Sexuality Information And Education Council Of The United States (Siecus): Sexuality Information And Education Council Of The United States (Siecus) Sideprize LLC D/B/A Prizepicks: Sideprize LLC D/B/A Prizepicks Smithbucklin Corporation: National Certification Commission For Acupuncture And Oriental Medicine Smith Garson Fka Smith Dawson & Andrews: 6K, Inc. Smith Garson Fka Smith Dawson & Andrews: E-Com 9-1-1 Dispatch Center Spark Therapeutics, Inc.: Spark Therapeutics, Inc. Stanton Park Group: Vertical Health Services Stellar Development Foundation: Stellar Development Foundation Steptoe LLP: Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. Steptoe LLP: Exxonmobil Steptoe LLP: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Steptoe LLP: Xb Fulfillment Sullivan Strategies LLC (Fka Sb Capitol Solutions): Skysafe, Inc Tai Ginsberg & Associates, LLC: City Of Lockport, Il The Artemis Group, LLC (Oklahoma): Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma The Artemis Group, LLC (Oklahoma): Special Aerospace Services (Sas) The Bishop Consulting Group: Croplife America The Duberstein Group Inc.: Bp America Inc The Vogel Group: Cormint Data Systems The Vogel Group: Magma Power LLC The Vogel Group: Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. Thompson Coburn LLP: Invest America Ventures, Inc. Thompson Consulting Group: Northwest Marine Technologies Tiber Creek Group: Biotechnology Innovation Organization (Bio) Tonio Burgos & Associates, Inc.: Twin Rivers Paper Company Townsend Public Affairs: Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District Van Ness Feldman, LLP: Little Pine Island Limited Partnership Victory Coalition Strategies LLC: Fahmy Hudome Intl., Inc. On Behalf Of Human Rights And Democracy Foundation Victory Coalition Strategies LLC: Fahmy Hudome Intl., Inc. On Behalf Of The W Investor Group (Fka Veratis Limited) Victory Coalition Strategies LLC: Fahmy Hudome Intl., Inc. On Behalf Of Wellspring Capital Group Washington Navigators: Valparaiso University Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale And Dorr LLP: Kia Corporation (Formerly Known As Kia Motors Corporation)
Politico
07-07-2025
- Business
- Politico
Flood heads back to Brownstein
With Daniel Lippman HOMECOMING: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has nabbed nearly half a dozen partners from Crowell & Moring, including the head of the firm's lobbying practice, Jim Flood. Flood's return to Brownstein comes 12 years after he first left to become vice president of government relations at Omnicare and follows a decade at Crowell & Moring. — Joining Flood in his leap to Brownstein is Aaron Cummings, who served as chief of staff to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) before landing at Crowell & Moring in 2023. Cummings and Flood will be shareholders in Brownstein's lobbying practice along with Evan Chuck, who was Crowell's Asia practice chief and will help Brownstein build out a geopolitical risk practice, and Anne Elise Herold Li and Paul Keller, who will join Brownstein's intellectual property department based out of New York. — Scott Douglas, who was a senior policy director at Crowell for more than 11 years, will join Brownstein as a policy director. — While Flood, who's an alum of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said in an interview that he was proud of the work he'd done leading Crowell's government affairs practice, Brownstein offers a 'tremendous platform from which you can service clients from A to Z,' which is an invaluable resource given the scale of disruption over the past six months in Washington, he said. — 'The Trump administration has brought more change in a shorter period of time than any administration I can recall,' he told PI, which demands a 'broad level of engagement' by clients who stand to be impacted by issues like tariffs. 'I'm seeing companies that never engaged in government affairs before hire lobbying firms in D.C. now,' Flood added. With so much at stake financially for clients, that 'really requires the ability to go to a platform that, frankly, is as broad as some of the change.' STEIL CHIEF HEADS TO GENERICS LOBBY: Mark Ratner has left the Hill after more than two decades to take a job leading government relations at the Association for Accessible Medicines, the top lobbying group for generic drugmakers. — Ratner most recently served as chief of staff to Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.). Before that, he was GOP coalitions director for the Senate HELP Committee and was a longtime aide for former Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who chaired the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. — Ratner joins AAM two years after the association laid off its former top lobbyist and head of public affairs amid budget constraints caused in part by the departure of prominent member companies. Now, the generics industry faces a stark threat in the form of the Trump administration's trade policies, which threaten to squeeze generic drugmakers' already thin profit margins. Happy Monday and welcome to PI. Send tips: Add me on Signal at caitlinoprysko.17, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. FIRST IN PI: The 2024 GOP presidential primary pitting President Donald Trump against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis put Brian Ballard and his firm Ballard Partners in an impossible position given Ballard's ties to both notoriously vindictive men — which included bundling tens of millions of dollars for their various campaigns while pulling in millions from lobbying clients with current or future business before Trump and DeSantis. — Ballard himself stayed neutral for most of the contest, but a new book out tomorrow sheds light on the pressure campaign by Trump to draw the Florida mega lobbyist off the sidelines, according to excerpts obtained by PI. — 'Trump wasn't kidding around when he pointedly accused Ballard of helping DeSantis' in a 2023 phone call, Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf (a PI alum) write in the book, '2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America.' — Though Ballard denied the claim, he conceded that other members of the firm, which employs numerous former DeSantis aides and had business before the governor, were raising money for DeSantis. The response wasn't good enough for Trump, according to the book, who demanded that Ballard 'put out a statement saying he's a bad governor' and that Charlie Crist, the former Republican governor who unsuccessfully challenged DeSantis in 2022, 'was a better governor.' — But Ballard pushed back and noted he approved of the job DeSantis was doing. 'Trump told him that DeSantis was going to lose,' the book notes, and 'Ballard assured Trump he would help him soon. Within days, he resumed his role as a top fundraiser for Trump.' — Ballard 'is a regular character in the book,' which includes appearances from other names on K Street like Nick Iarossi and David Urban, Dawsey told PI in an email. — Ballard pops up again in the book during a dinner in Trump's Manhattan apartment on the second day of his 2024 hush money trial, at which the lobbyist made an 'impassioned case' to the presumptive GOP nominee, co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita and unnamed health executives to pick then-Sen. Marco Rubio as Trump's running mate. (Trump also floated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was still running for president as an independent, for the role at this meeting, while LaCivita mentioned now-Vice President JD Vance.) COINBASE LOBBYIST HEADS TO INVARIANT: Alden Knowlton has joined Invariant as a senior director with the firm's economic policy and financial services team. Knowlton most recently led Democratic outreach at Coinbase and is a Mortgage Bankers Association and NRECA alum. WHAT ANTHROPIC WANTS: Fresh off Silicon Valley's defeated push to freeze enforcement of state and local AI regulations, Anthropic, one of the few artificial intelligence companies that opposed the moratorium's inclusion in the GOP reconciliation package, 'wants state or federal lawmakers to slap new transparency requirements on companies to help prevent potential harms,' POLITICO's Chase DiFeliciantonio writes. — Anthropic, the company behind ChatGPT rival chatbot Claude, said as part of a policy framework published today that until stakeholders in the public and private sector can agree on guardrails for the technology, AI companies should make public how their programs are prevented from causing harm to people or property or building weapons in the meantime. REALITY CHECK: 'CBS parent company Paramount Global's decision to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump not only rattled the media world — it prompted accusations of bribery from Democratic lawmakers,' POLITICO's Daniel Barnes writes. — It's the latest instance of Democratic officials 'crying foul at private sector companies kowtowing to the president.' But legal experts say that the bribery charges — leveled at both the Paramount settlement and at Trump's deals with top law firms — don't appear to run afoul of the criminal definition of the act. — ''A lot of these things have a bribey feel to them,' said law professor and former federal prosecutor Randall Eliason. 'These are the kind of things that feel corrupt … but the term 'corruption' is far broader than the term 'criminal bribery.''' — For example, 'charging Paramount executives with criminal bribery would require evidence that they negotiated with Trump to ensure Federal Communications Commission approval of the merger in exchange for the settlement payment to Trump's presidential library, experts say. … It wouldn't be enough for prosecutors to say Paramount executives decided to settle the case in the hopes that doing so would protect the merger or because they were trying to curry favor with Trump, Eliason said.' OOPSIE: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Thursday accidentally scooped who the White House may be planning to nominate for the National Labor Relations Board by telling members of its labor relations committee before the formal rollout of the picks, according to emails obtained by Daniel. — 'In the lead-up to the long Independence Day weekend, the White House today announced several much-anticipated appointments of two members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): Scott Mayer, Chief Labor Counsel at The Boeing Corporation, and James Murphy, a former career official with the NLRB,' the Chamber wrote in an email. — But the White House hasn't yet announced those picks. Fifteen minutes after its first email went out, the Chamber wrote to the same list: 'Please ignore our recent email on NLRB nominees. This was sent in error.' A Chamber spokesperson declined to comment on the mistake, except to confirm it was an error. A White House official told Playbook that no selections have yet been made. Mayer and Murphy didn't respond to requests for comment. Jobs report — Henry Liu has rejoined Covington & Burling as a partner and co-chair of the firm's global antitrust and competition law practice group. He most recently served as director of FTC's Bureau of Competition. — Blake Thelander has joined ArentFox Schiff as a government relations director. He was most recently legislative director for Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and is a Jeff Van Drew alum. — Nvidia is adding David Shahoulian and Flynn Rico-Johnson to its government affairs team as directors. Shahoulian previously served as director of government affairs at Intel and is a DHS, Zoe Lofgren and Jerry Nadler alum, and Rico-Johnson, who was most recently a policy adviser for FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, is a Doris Matsui, Amy Klobuchar and Commerce alum. — FanDuel is adding Shailagh Murray as senior vice president of public affairs and Jonathan Nabavi as senior vice president of federal affairs. Murray previously was executive vice president of public affairs at Columbia University and is an Obama White House alum. Nabavi previously was vice president of public policy and government affairs at the NFL and is a Hill veteran. — Olivia Davis is now press secretary at the Democratic Governors Association. She most recently was comms director for ModSquad and is a Tom Carper and Catherine Cortez Masto alum. — The Edison Electric Institute has added Holly Greaves as chief administrative officer. Greaves most recently served as CFO for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. EEI also promoted Kristine Telford to vice president of state engagement and public affairs and Kristen Siegele to executive director of government affairs for tax, accounting and finance. — Matt Swentkofske has joined Michael Best Strategies as a senior director in the Madison, Wisconsin, office. He was previously senior director of government relations at The College Board. — Duke Energy has promoted Pepper Natonski to senior vice president of federal affairs for sustainability and philanthropy and Louis Renjel to executive vice president and CEO of Duke Energy Florida and Midwest. New Joint Fundraisers Ossoff Schiff Victory Fund (Sens. Jon Ossoff, Adam Schiff, DSCC) Team Lindstrom (Brett Lindstrom for Congress, Conservative Cornhuskers PAC) New PACs Allegiant Alliance for America (Super PAC) America Party (AMEP) (Super PAC) Congress of America Party (CAP) (Super PAC) Conservative Cornhuskers PAC (Leadership PAC: Brett Lindstrom) The Diddy Party (Super PAC) Equal Future Together (PAC) Fearless for New Hampshire PAC (Super PAC) GEORGIA SENATE ACTION (Super PAC) The Jupiter Party (Super PAC) Mossbergia Civic Equity & Access Fund (MCEAF) (Super PAC) United Front PAC (PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: LLC Obo Digital Management, LLC Alston & Bird LLP: Healthtrackrx Bridgeway Advocacy: Commisimpex Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Atlas Frm LLC Burrell International Group LLC: Meteoric Resources Nl Dutko Government Relations: Centegix Holdings, LLC Dutko Government Relations: Cimpress USa Dutko Government Relations: Cubrc Dutko Government Relations: Excelsior College Dutko Government Relations: Fibernet Mercurydelta Dutko Government Relations: Friends Of Falun Gong USa Dutko Government Relations: H2L Solutions, Inc. Dutko Government Relations: Highway 36/City Of Boulder Dutko Government Relations: Hntb Companies (The) Dutko Government Relations: Liberty Steel Holdings USa Inc. Dutko Government Relations: Lima 7, LLC Dutko Government Relations: Michigan Research Institute Dutko Government Relations: Michigan Works! Association Dutko Government Relations: Midwest Urban Strategies Dutko Government Relations: National Association Of Workforce Development Professionals Dutko Government Relations: National Skills Coalition Dutko Government Relations: National University Dutko Government Relations: New York Association Of Training And Employment Professionals Dutko Government Relations: North Salt Lake, Ut Dutko Government Relations: Pattern Inc. Dutko Government Relations: Saginaw Valley State University Dutko Government Relations: Sandy City Dutko Government Relations: Strawberry Waters USers Assn. Dutko Government Relations: Surface Tech, LLC Dutko Government Relations: The Central Iron Country Water Conservancy District Dutko Government Relations: The Metropolitan Water District Of Salt Lake & Sandy Dutko Government Relations: Inc. Dutko Government Relations: Vericarbon Dutko Government Relations: Wayfair LLC Dutko Government Relations: Western Governors University Holland & Hart LLP: Axadvocacy On Behalf Of Sepmi Holland & Knight LLP: Avports LLC Invariant LLC: Charter Brokerage LLC Invariant LLC: Pacific Steel Group, LLC Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates, Inc.: Heart Failure Advocates Of America LLC Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates, Inc.: One Call, Corp Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates, Inc.: Si-Bone, Inc. Kanter Strategies LLC: The Erisa Industry Committee (Eric) Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Knox County Area Partnership For Economic Development Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Open Ai Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Boviet Solar Technology (North Carolina) LLC Oshkosh Corporation: Oshkosh Corporation Squire Patton Boggs: Northwest Horticultural Council Telnyx LLC: Telnyx LLC Twenty-First Century Group, Inc.: Rafael Holdings, Inc. New Lobbying Terminations Adams And Reese, LLP: Colonna'S Shipyard Inc. Adams And Reese, LLP: Louisiana Department Of Wildlife And Fisheries Defazio And Associates Consulting LLC: American Trucking Association Defazio And Associates Consulting LLC: Trimet
Politico
06-06-2025
- Business
- Politico
The New York Times lobbies up
With Katherine Long, Daniel Lippman FIRST IN PI — NYT HIRES BROWNSTEIN: The New York Times has registered to lobby for the first time in more than a decade. The news giant has retained K Street heavyweight Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to represent it on a range of issues affecting the industry, from encroachments on press freedoms to the threats posed by artificial intelligence. — The Times' parent company first hired Brownstein last year, but the firm's work didn't trigger lobbying registration requirements until April, according to a spokesperson for the company and a draft disclosure filing shared with PI. More than half a dozen lobbyists are listed as working on the account for Brownstein: Republicans Marc Lampkin, Will Moschella and Greta Joynes and Democrats Al Mottur, Alice Lugo, Rob Robillard and John Menges. — One issue drawing the paper off the lobbying sidelines is the increasing ubiquity of artificial intelligence and the thorny issues it poses for news organizations. The Times, for example, introduced a suite of AI tools for internal use earlier this year. And many news outlets (including the Times, POLITICO and parent company Axel Springer) have partnered with AI companies on licensing deals and consumer-facing products. — But NYT is also one of several publishers facing off in court against ChatGPT creator OpenAI or other AI companies accused of copyright infringement for using outlets' content to train its models without permission or compensation. — In a congressional hearing on the issue last year, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) warned that AI was 'literally eating away at the lifeblood of our democracy' and contributing to an 'existential crisis' among local publishers in particular. The last Congress also mulled legislation that would require online platforms like Google and Meta to negotiate with and pay news publishers in exchange for hosting their content. — At the same time, Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger has been repeatedly sounding the alarm about threats to press freedom both around the world and from leaders in the U.S. — In a speech last month that was republished as an essay in the Times, Sulzberger took note of President Donald Trump's escalating pressure campaign against news outlets already in his second term — from curtailing access to certain mainstream outlets in favor of friendlier partisan ones to suing, seeking to defund or opening federal probes of others and calling for the jailing of reporters. — 'It takes significant time, effort, and resources to produce The New York Times's fact-based original journalism and other content. Because of that, we have for years taken steps to protect and defend our intellectual property rights and uphold its value,' a Times spokesperson told PI in a statement. — 'In line with these efforts, we have engaged a Washington, DC-based government affairs firm to ensure our rights and legal protections are clearly and accurately represented among policymakers and regulators focused on publishing, media, copyright law and press freedoms,' it added. — The Times hasn't lobbied at the federal level since 2014, when the company paid Keightley & Ashner $30,000 for three quarters of work related to a pension issue. TGIF and welcome to PI. This newsletter runs on tips, so let's hear 'em. You can add me on Signal, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. ALL ABOUT AVA: A coalition of budget airlines this week launched the Association of Value Airlines, a new industry group aimed at boosting low-budget carriers in policy debates often dominated by the trade association representing major carriers, Airlines for America. AVA's founding members include Allegiant, Avelo, Frontier, Spirit and Sun Country. — Chris Brown currently serves as the group's interim executive director. He previously was vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs at larger industry trade association Airlines for America, and lobbied for low-fare airlines at the National Air Carrier Association. — In an interview with PI, Brown said the goal of AVA is to amplify the priorities of budget airlines, as larger organizations encompassing a range of air carriers often lead to competing priorities. Those priorities, Brown said, include a focus on rising costs due to the pilot shortage and the implementation of simulator training programs within the current 1,500-hour training requirement for pilots. — While the budget airlines business model thrived during the pandemic, they're now at an inflection point, Brown said. Brown attributes these airlines' success to ancillary fees, a model that other high-budget airlines have started to mirror. Southwest Airlines, for example, announced in March plans to do away with its free checked bag policy. — 'It's a critical time for our carriers, because of where they are financially and wanting to take advantage of what should be a more favorable regulatory environment with the Trump administration,' Brown said. PAUL WEISS LOSES ANOTHER BIG NAME: Another prominent lawyer has left Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison after the law firm struck a deal with the Trump administration to avoid being punished by an executive order. — Damian Williams, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, left the firm after just five months to join Jenner & Block as the co-chair of its litigation department and investigations, compliance and defense practice. — Williams served as one of the nation's top federal prosecutors during the Biden administration, securing several high-profile convictions including those of former crypto kingmaker Sam Bankman-Fried and former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). — Williams is the latest in a string of notable departures from Paul Weiss in the aftermath of its deal with the White House. Top Democratic attorney Karen Dunn and former top DOJ official Jeannie Rhee left the firm along with two other partners last month. — But Williams' landing spot is almost more notable: Jenner & Block became one of the first white shoe law firms targeted by Trump to take the president to court over his executive orders — and so far, they've been winning. OFF TARGET: 'A top Democratic organization strongly encouraged state campaigns to do much of their digital ad-buying business with a company that one of its members is set to soon join as CEO — a development that has puzzled and concerned some party insiders,' POLITICO's Holly Otterbein and Daniel report. — 'At a meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas last week, the Association of State Democratic Committees — an umbrella group for state parties — voted to recommend state races use one liberal firm, TargetSmart, for a major portion of digital ad buys, which could be worth millions.' — 'TargetSmart announced on May 7 that Liz Walters, outgoing chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, is taking over as CEO this summer. Walters, who made her departure public in a post on X, said she would leave the state party role by June 30. And until the week before the group's meeting, she was part of the ASDC's leadership team as treasurer.' — Though Walters recused herself from the TargetSmart vote, the incident is prompting fears among the party of even the appearance of a conflict of interest as Democrats struggle to find their footing. BLAST RADIUS: 'The spectacular breakup between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump threatens to leave Tesla with few political friends,' POLITICO's David Ferris reports. 'Musk has spent the past few months alienating the electric automaker's base of climate-minded car buyers by moonlighting as Trump's government-slasher-in-chief. Now, the billionaire's fixation on the GOP megabill has opened a dangerous rift with the president, who threatened Thursday to end all subsidies to Musk's companies.' — Musk's competitors in the space industry, meanwhile, are already moving to take advantage of the split, according to our Sam Skove. The SpaceX founder has long been an avid proponent of next bringing humans to Mars, rather than the moon. — But in some of the first significant pushback against Musk and SpaceX, 'a number of major space companies … are launching an ad campaign going big on the moon, according to two industry officials granted anonymity to discuss the effort.' — 'A separate letter addressed to the Senate Commerce Committee, and obtained by POLITICO, backs investments in the moon, and is signed by a lengthy slate of prominent space companies — but not SpaceX.' RELATED READ: 'What do Musk and Tesla want from the Republican megabill?' by E&E News' Kelsey Brugger. SHE MEANS BUSINESS: Casey Means, Trump's new nominee to be U.S. surgeon general, 'has repeatedly said the nation's medical, health and food systems are corrupted by special interests and people out to make a profit at the expense of Americans' health,' The Associated Press' Michelle R. Smith and Ali Swenson write. — But as Means 'has criticized scientists, medical schools and regulators for taking money from the food and pharmaceutical industries, she has promoted dozens of health and wellness products — including specialty basil seed supplements, a blood testing service and a prepared meal delivery service — in ways that put money in her own pocket.' — 'In her newsletter, on her social media accounts, on her website, in her book and during podcast appearances, the entrepreneur and influencer has at times failed to disclose that she could profit or benefit in other ways from sales of products she recommends. In some cases, she promoted companies in which she was an investor or adviser without consistently disclosing the connection, the AP found.' AI GROUP STAFFS UP: AI advocacy group Americans for Responsible Innovation is adding four new staffers to its policy team, Morning Tech reports. Brandie Nonnecke, previously an associate research professor at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy, is now a senior policy director, while Rachel Hovde is joining as director of policy. She previously served as a senior advisor at the Bureau of Industry and Security. — Sarah Kessel, who worked under former Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), is now ARI's manager of government affairs, and Evan Sarnor has joined as a legislative analyst from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. CORRECTION: Thursday's edition of this newsletter gave the incorrect state for former Gov. Jim Gilmore and misidentified the division at Seven Letter that has promoted three staffers. PI regrets the error. Jobs report — Chip Kahn will step down as president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals at the end of 2025, after 24 years with the group. — Shelly O'Neill Stoneman has launched StonePoint Strategies, a strategic consulting firm. She previously was senior vice president of government affairs at Lockheed Martin. — Chelsea Blink is now legislative director for Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.). She previously was director of farm animal legislation at the ASPCA. — Gustavo Torres is retiring as executive director of CASA, after more than three decades in the role. — Jerzy Piatkowski is now counsel at Fenwick. He most recently was vice president of contracts and associate general counsel at General Dynamics Mission Systems. — Kevin Orellana will be a legislative assistant for Rep. Vince Fong (R-Calif.), handling his financial services portfolio. He previously was a legislative aide for Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.). New Joint Fundraisers None. New PACs Earnin PAC Activehours Inc. Fund (Earnin PAC) (PAC) Our Virginia PAC (Super PAC) RIGHT TECH PAC (Hybrid PAC) Taproot Collective Fund (PAC) Vets Against Trump PAC (Super PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Bkv Corporation Arrow Group Consulting, LLC: Pelican Reef Of St. Augustine LLC Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Chicanos Por La Causa Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: City Of St. Pete Beach, Fl Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: National Iamerican Indian Housing Coalition Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Significance, Inc. Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Tampa Port Authority Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Treatment Alternatives For Safe Communities, Inc. Bgr Government Affairs: Ameresco, Inc. Bgr Government Affairs: Exelon Business Services Company LLC Bgr Government Affairs: Galaxy Digital Holdings Lp Bgr Government Affairs: Millennium Management LLC Bgr Government Affairs: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Bgr Government Affairs: Phantom Bgr Government Affairs: St Energy Bgr Government Affairs: Welbehealth Boundary Stone Partners: Carbonbuilt Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Pc: Bright Path Labs Capital City Consulting, LLC.: Miller Strategies, LLC On Behalf Of Merchants For America, Inc. Continental Strategy, LLC: Stubhub Inc. Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Archkey Solutions Hb Strategies: Viamericas Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Estar Partners Mindset Advocacy, LLC: Mark Foods LLC Red Carr LLC: Team Hallahan (On Behalf Of City Of Cleveland) Riley Executive Government Solutions: Okeefe Industries Squire Patton Boggs: Bitcoin Policy Institute The Jackson Group, LLC: 47G The Jackson Group, LLC: Pelion Venture Partners The Nuclear Company: The Nuclear Company Todd Strategy Group: Glaxosmithkline LLC Williams And Jensen, Pllc: Dupont Law Firm New Lobbying Terminations Bgr Government Affairs: Grail, LLC Bgr Government Affairs: Sandvine Kiley Capitol Solutions, LLC: Deckard Technologies Kiley Capitol Solutions, LLC: Leading Builders Of America Kiley Capitol Solutions, LLC: Lowe Syndrome Association Walker Strategies: Alliance Of Health Care Sharing Ministries
Politico
05-06-2025
- Business
- Politico
Brownstein launches a public affairs practice
With Katherine Long, Daniel Lippman FIRST IN PI: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is forming a public affairs practice, opening up one more stream of revenue for the law firm and K Street's top-earning lobbying shop. Brownstein has brought on Fora Partners co-founders Campbell Spencer and Max Hamel to lead the new practice, along with Sean Bartlett and Kristina Baum, who will be senior managers. — Spencer and Hamel founded Fora in 2019. They've both worked at some of D.C.'s biggest public affairs shops. Spencer is an alum of the Obama administration, and Hamel previously worked for Republican former West Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore. — Bartlett was most recently a deputy assistant secretary of State during the Biden administration and has served as a spokesperson for several top Democrats in Congress over the years. Baum joins from American Veterinary Medical Association, where she was director of strategic communications, and is an alum of the first Trump administration. — A growing number of D.C. lobbying firms have added in-house strategic communications or public affairs offerings in recent years — though plenty have practices already — or else hired out for big jobs. Public affairs campaigns have become a more integral part of advocacy work with the rise of social media and hyperpartisanship. — 'We're in this permanent political cycle, and that tends to reinforce the very reactive tendencies of either a closely divided Congress or state house or executive branch agencies,' Hamel told PI. 'I think the concept is very straightforward: that firms that can wage a multi-dimensional effort that combines lobbying with public affairs and communications are going to have an advantage.' — So in many ways, this was a long time coming for a firm that brought in more than $67 million in lobbying revenues last year. Nadeam Elshami, who co-chairs Brownstein's lobbying practice, said in an interview that the firm had been debating the idea of adding a public affairs group on and off for at least as long as he'd been there. But those discussions got more serious over the past three years. 'It took a while, but finding the right individuals, the right team, was paramount, and we did,' he said. — 'Brownstein's clients have really been asking for this, as have ours,' Spencer told PI. 'With the policy landscape being as fast-moving as it is, clients really want and are demanding strategic alignment across all of these advocacy verticals … and this partnership allows us to deliver that for them.' — Bringing public affairs work in-house 'completes the circle of giving our clients and prospective clients all the best ways to advance their priorities' within the Beltway and beyond, Elshami added. AFP DEFENDS MEGABILL'S PRICE TAG: As select Republicans in Congress and a certain tech mogul duke it out with the White House and party leadership over the reconciliation bill, Americans for Prosperity is working to tamp down angst over the megabill's effect on the national debt. — 'AFP fully supports efforts to root out more waste, fraud, and abuse now and in the future,' Emily Seidel, the Koch-funded conservative group's president and CEO, said in a statement. But, she argued, sinking the reconciliation bill 'because it doesn't solve our debt crisis is reckless and wrong.' — Seidel's backing of the megabill isn't new: AFP has pledged to spend $20 million getting Republicans' extension of the 2017 tax cuts, which AFP also supported, over the finish line. — But it's still a striking stand by an organization that made a name for itself in part for its demands to shrink the budget deficit. And it comes one day after a Congressional Budget Office forecast that the House-passed package would increase the debt by $2.4 trillion over a decade. — Seidel maintained that Republicans can and should get to tackling the deficit — after clearing the reconciliation bill. 'We didn't get here overnight, and Washington isn't going to fix it with one bill,' she continued, adding that 'even if this bill cuts enough spending to be fully offset, we're still on a course for bankruptcy that requires comprehensive reforms to how Congress makes spending decisions.' Happy Thursday and welcome to PI. What last-minute maneuvering are you doing over in the Senate? Which megabill lobbying battles are flying under the radar? You can add me on Signal, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. WE GOOFED: Yesterday's edition misstated which clients are joining Len Wolfson at his new firm. America's Credit Unions and DeFi Education Fund are staying with Fed Hall Policy Advisors. AUTOMAKER TROUBLES: The Alliance for Automotive Innovation has yet to present a unified public message on the Republicans' megabill, as automakers have failed to reach a consensus on the legislation, our James Bikales writes. The rift comes as the Senate considers major rollbacks to electric vehicle and manufacturing tax credits. — 'The trade group had strongly defended the credits in Democrats' climate law last year, and in recent months warned that rolling them back would threaten U.S. competitiveness and national security, given China's heavy investment in EV manufacturing.' — 'But even as the Senate has moved quickly to take up the bill, the Alliance has yet to take a public stance because its members have failed to reach consensus on changes to a key tax credit claimed by automakers for producing EV batteries, according to the four people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal dynamics.' ON THE AIRWAVES: Protect Our Jobs, a pro-clean-energy group, is running $1 million in TV and digital ads warning key Senate Republicans against following the House's plan to in some cases sunset — and in other places eviscerate — the green tax credits created by the Biden-era climate law, our friends at Inside Congress report. — 'These politicians promised to bring down our monthly costs. But cutting America's energy production will only make our costs go up,' the narrator says in the ad, which began running Monday on 'Fox & Friends' and in the D.C. area, and will on Friday move into Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, North Carolina and Utah. — Sens. Jerry Moran of Kansas, John Curtis of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have all urged GOP leadership not to follow through with a full-scale repeal of the credits, warning it could harm investments back home. Tillis, who faces a potentially difficult reelection fight in his purple state, expressed some cautious optimism Wednesday that Senate Republicans want to find a 'glide path' for businesses that already have projects in motion using the credits, but didn't elaborate. FLYING IN: The American Fleet Leadership Coalition, launched earlier this year to try and salvage the IRA's tax credit for commercial electric vehicles, wrapped up a two-day fly-in today aimed at rallying support for the provision. The tax credit would wind down this year under the House-passed megabill. — The coalition was slated to meet with members of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee to make the case that incentivizing fleet upgrades will reduce overhead costs for businesses, nonprofits and municipalities, while boosting domestic manufacturing goals. — And health executives across the industry convened in D.C. this week for the Healthcare Leadership Council's membership meeting, where they heard from officials including CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz and Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.). — On the Hill, executives met with lawmakers from both parties, including Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) to press for permanently extending enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits and telehealth permissions, among other things. AI GOES TO WASHINGTON: Two privately held AI companies, OpenAI and Anthropic, are now ramping up their lobbying efforts and chasing contracts from the roughly $75 billion federal IT budget that largely focuses on AI, our Mohar Chatterjee writes. The two companies are increasing their Washington staff, and are among a handful of other AI companies expanding their lobbying efforts. — Scale AI, a specialist contractor with the Pentagon and other agencies, has plans to expand its lobbying teams. And AI-focused chipmaker Nvidia hired its first in-house lobbyist in late March. — 'This lobbying push aims to capitalize on a wave of support from both the Trump administration and the Republican Congress, both of which have pumped up the AI industry as a linchpin of American competitiveness and a means for shrinking the federal workforce.' DOG DAYS: Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of the more moderate House members of the Democratic party, is launching a super PAC and nonprofit to take unlimited donations, Shane Goldmacher and Reid J. Epstein write for The New York Times. — 'The new nonprofit, which has not been previously reported, will be called the Blue Dog Action Fund, with Aisha Woodward, a former chief of staff to [Rep. Jared] Golden, serving as executive director and overseeing a staff of five.' — Blue Dog's new fundraising efforts took place on the heels of WelcomeFest, a conference held Wednesday for center-left groups to discuss winning strategies for the Democratic Party. HERE COMES HYDROGEN: 'More than 200 organizations — including the regional hydrogen hub developers and major oil and gas trade groups — are pressing Republican senators to preserve the Inflation Reduction Act's hydrogen production tax credit' in the reconciliation bill, per POLITICO's Kelsey Tamborrino. — 'In a letter to Senate leaders sent on Thursday, the organizations call for the hydrogen tax credit to remain in place for projects that commence construction by Dec. 31, 2029. That timeline would provide a runway for the industry to advance projects already in multiyear development cycles, they argue. 'Anything less puts billions in committed investments — and tens of thousands of jobs — at risk,' the groups wrote on Thursday.' — The letter's signatories include the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, American Petroleum Institute, National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Chemistry Council, Plug Power, Cummins and Toyota Motor North America. SPOTTED on Wednesday at an Amazon reception for the launch of the Republican Asian American Staff Association, per a tipster: Reps. Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Vince Fong (R-Calif.), RAASA co-Chairs Christopher Zhen of Rep. Jeff Hurd's (R-Colo.) office and Jinwook Hwang of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Miguel Mendoza, Julia Satin and Nate Blake of Amazon, James Min of Miller Strategies, Ashley Juhn of Rep. Bob Latta's (R-Ohio) office, Saat Alety of Federal Hall Policy Advisors, Yong Choe of YC Consulting, Neal Patel of Patel Partners, Charles Gann of Rep. Randy Fine's (R-Fla.) office, Clayton Fong of the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, Stephanie Penn of Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) office, Haley Tran of Rep. Zach Nunn's (R-Iowa) office, Charli Huddleston of Heritage Action, Dylan Jeon of the National Retail Federation, Shine Lee, Jaliya Nagahawatte and Linette Choi of Kim's office, Daniel Chung of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ken Farnaso and Ninio Fetalvo of the Brunswick Group and Ayush Nallapally of Rep. Rich McCormick's (R-Ga.) office. Jobs report — Former British Prime Minister David Cameron has joined DLA Piper as a consultant. — The Clean Energy Buyer's Association is adding Rich England as senior director of government affairs. He was most recently U.S. government affairs lead at Corio Generation and is a National Ocean Industries Association and Pete Olson alum. — Josh Korn is now at Whatnot, the live shopping platform, as head of public policy, overseeing U.S. and global policy. Korn previously was tech policy head at Netflix. — GuidePost Strategies has added Kate Beaulieu and Alex Large as principals, Pam Kinsey as senior adviser, Hailey Womer as director of research, Luke Midura and Tim Frei as associates and Mya Steir as an administrative assistant. — Access Partnership has named Gordon Tempest-Hay as its new CEO. He was previously the chief executive at Lansons and is a Teneo alum. — Seven Letter has promoted Blair Taylor to partner and Aida Farah and Cate Biegun to managers. The firm's research division, Seven Letter Insight, promoted Jessa Scott-Johnson to managing director and Annie Pfifer, Macsonny Onyechefule and Robin Calleja to directors. — Caroline Farrell is joining Foley Hoag as counsel in its health care practice. She most recently was at HHS as lead counsel advising the CMS on Medicaid and Medicare policy. — Eden Alem is now deputy comms director for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Dems. She previously was national press secretary at Climate Power. — Nicole Fondots is now digital marketing director for the RNC. She previously was vice president of strategy at Techne. — Hana Tadesse is now vice president of communications for the Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 local organizing committee. She previously was comms director for Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.). — Dezenhall Resources is adding Phillip Bogdan and Diane Chaaban as senior directors. Bogdan previously was director of research and comms at Reach Global Strategies. Chaaban previously was head of comms for the City of El Segundo and is a State Department and National Geographic alum. — GPS Impact is adding Mariafernanda 'Marifer' Zacarias as vice president of campaigns and Lidya Mesgna as vice president of digital mobilization. Zacarias previously was national engagement director at the DCCC and Mesgna previously was director of paid media at Voto Latino. — Courtney Rhodes is now head of news and media relations at the U.S. Travel Association, Morning Transportation reports. She was previously a spokesperson at the FDA. — Amy Hopcian is now a strategic adviser at Comella & Co. She most recently was head of state and local public affairs at CLEAR. — Allison Smith is now a vice president at Lot Sixteen. She previously was deputy assistant USTR for environment and natural resources. New Joint Fundraisers Debbie Dingell Majority Fund (Rep. Debbie Dingell, Wolverine PAC) New PACs Maryland's Future Political Action Committee (Super PAC) Technology Alliance for Green Energy Transition (PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Arentfox Schiff LLP: Association Of American Railroads Balch & Bingham, LLP: Modesto Irrigation District Balch & Bingham, LLP: Turlock Irrigation District Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Chaldean Community Council Boom Technology, Inc.: Boom Technology, Inc. Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates, L.L.C.: Society Of Behavioral Medicine Cgcn Group, LLC: Outschool, Inc. Cgcn Group, LLC: Continental Strategy, LLC: Medical Micro Instruments (Mmi, Inc.) Conventum Group, LLC: Association For The Improvement Of American Infrastructure Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Eagle Energy Metals Corp. Economic Policy Strategies: Pinterest, Inc. Hogan Lovells US LLP: Fifa World Cup Dallas 2026 Hogan Lovells US LLP: Fifa World Cup Houston 2026 Hogan Lovells US LLP: Fifa World Cup Los Angeles 2026 Hogan Lovells US LLP: Fifa World Cup Miami 2026 Hogan Lovells US LLP: Fifa World Cup New York New Jersey 2026 Hogan Lovells US LLP: Fifa World Cup San Francisco Bay Area 2026 J M Burkman & Associates: Conx-USa J M Burkman & Associates: Nextdet LLC Jti Marketing & Communications, Inc. Dba Jti, Inc.: Controltek Jti Marketing & Communications, Inc. Dba Jti, Inc.: Crane Payment Innovations Jti Marketing & Communications, Inc. Dba Jti, Inc.: Diebold Nixdorf Jti Marketing & Communications, Inc. Dba Jti, Inc.: Ncr Atleos Jti Marketing & Communications, Inc. Dba Jti, Inc.: Western Union K&L Gates, LLP: The Port Authority Of New York And New Jersey Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: Gen Digital Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: National Electrical Manufacturers Association Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Highland Community College Mgb Consulting: Beam Therapeutics Mindset Advocacy, LLC: Mark Food LLC Natural State Consulting And Strategies: Turbare Manufacturing Old North Strategies, LLC: Qualexa Healthcare, LLC Polaris Government Relations, LLC: Hartz Capital, Inc. Rubiner Strategies: Court Accountability Action (Global Impact Social Welfare Fund) Schagrin Associates: Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association Tholos Government Relations: Delta Airlines Tholos Government Relations: Medforth Global Tholos Government Relations: Ttm Technologies,Inc. New Lobbying Terminations Butterfield Evans & Associates LLC: Institute Of Cetacean Research Law Offices Of Frederick H. Graefe, Pllc: Hypatia Group, Inc.
Politico
02-06-2025
- Business
- Politico
Bernhardt hangs a shingle
With help from Katherine Long and Daniel Lippman FIRST IN PI — BERNHARDT STRIKES OUT ON HIS OWN: Former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is launching his own shop on K Street to help companies navigate the second Trump administration. Bernhardt, a longtime former lobbyist at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, was originally tapped by President Donald Trump to serve as deputy Interior secretary before moving up to lead the department in the second half of Trump's first term. — The Bernhardt Group will primarily provide strategic advice, but the former secretary said in an interview that the firm may do some lobbying work on an as-needed basis. — 'We're at an incredibly dynamic time right now where things are moving at an incredible pace in government,' Bernhardt told PI, and people 'are really seeking the need to identify creative solutions, figure out how to navigate a pathway and then be able to execute a strategy in a way that will have a durable and meaningful result.' — Bernhardt returned to Brownstein after Trump left office in 2021, and landed back at the firm earlier this year after taking time to, among other things, help steer Trump's transition team for the department Bernhardt once led. — Also this year, he took on an expanded role as executive vice president at the pro-Trump think tank America First Policy Institute, joined the board of Trump's social media company and teamed up with former Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette in an effort to promote Trump's energy agenda. — Several of his former colleagues at Brownstein will join Bernhardt as partners at the new firm. They include Bill McGrath, who also served as staff director for the House Oversight subcommittee that oversees the Interior department, Jon Hrobsky and Luke Johnson. — Kate Gonzales, who worked for former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), is joining as a vice president from Brownstein; Samantha Hebert, who worked under Bernhardt at Interior, is joining from Brownstein as a senior adviser; and Phoebe Miner, a former Sinema and Kurt Schrader alum, is joining from Brownstein as director of operations and administration. — A trio of Bernhardt alums is also coming over from RBW Group. Cole Rojewski, who is also a former chief of staff to top GOP lawmakers including former House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger, is joining as a partner along with Todd Willens, who was Bernhardt's chief of staff at Interior. Faith Vander Voort, a Hill GOP, Interior and Mike Pence alum, is joining from RBW as vice president of public affairs. — Bernhardt, who wrote a book in 2023 outlining his takeaways on the 'failing administrative state,' told PI that his new team's 'tremendous expertise' on both the legislative and regulatory fronts will allow the firm to draw on various policymaking tools across the government. The goal is that the results, he said, 'will stand the test of time and potentially stand the test of administrations changing.' — 'It's very different if you've been in the room, if you've made the decision, if you know what the decision maker is going to think about,' he said. 'I think that provides a unique perspective.' — Bernhardt declined to name any of the new firm's clients. But he said its work won't be limited to natural resources policy and could encompass a number of issues the firm's staff have been involved in, from telecom and privacy to financial services and appropriations. Happy Monday and welcome to PI. We hope you had a relaxing recess — now that you're back, send all the reconciliation tips. You can add me on Signal, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE ADDS TRADE LEAD: Business Roundtable has tapped Nasim Fussell to serve as vice president of trade and international policy. Fussell joins the business lobbying organization at a time of growing uncertainty and concern over Trump's tariff plans. — Fussell previously served as senior vice president at government affairs and communications firm Lot Sixteen, where she led its international trade practice. She has also served as international trade counsel for the Senate Finance Committee and trade counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee. — According to Business Roundtable, Fussell will work with member CEOs to 'develop and promote trade and investment policies that support a competitive American economy.' — Fussell 'will play a critical role as we work with the Administration to advance policies that level the playing field for U.S. exporters, remove harmful tariffs and provide certainty for U.S. businesses,' Joshua Bolten, Business Roundtable's CEO, said in a press release. SCHUMER AIDE LANDS AT RESOLUTION: Resolution Public Affairs, the lobbying firm started by former Chuck Schumer aide Heather McHugh, has brought on another former longtime aide to the Senate minority leader. Meghan Taira has joined the firm as a principal after almost two decades in Schumer's office, most recently as legislative director. Before joining Schumer's office, Taira worked for Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and as a lobbyist at Arnold & Porter and Avalere Health. THE ART OF NOT MAKING A DEAL: Big law firms that struck deals with the Trump administration to avoid punishment for perceived slights — in exchange for pro bono work on Trump-friendly issues — did so to avoid the glare of the spotlight and prevent an exodus by skittish clients. But folding amid the pressure, rather than fighting Trump in court, is beginning to impact firms' bottom lines anyway, The Wall Street Journal's Erin Mulvaney, Emily Glazer, C. Ryan Barber and Josh Dawsey found. — 'At least 11 big companies are moving work away from law firms that settled with the administration or are giving—or intend to give—more business to firms that have been targeted but refused to strike deals,' including Oracle and Morgan Stanley. — 'In interviews, general counsels expressed concern about whether they could trust law firms that struck deals to fight for them in court and in negotiating big deals if they weren't willing to stand up for themselves against Trump. The general counsel of a manufacturer of medical supplies said that if firms facing White House pressure 'don't have a hard line,' they don't have any line at all.' AND YET: 'Trump's attempts to punish law firms that employed his perceived foes or handled cases he disliked have been bitingly rejected by courts, with three federal judges lambasting them as retaliatory and unconstitutional. … But the president's court losses, with a fourth case pending, are only part of the story,' per The Washington Post's Mark Berman. — 'Lawyers say both the sanctions and the negotiated deals have had a chilling effect, with some firms declining to work on issues counter to the administration's goals, including on immigration.' FLYING IN: The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association is kicking off a fly-in tomorrow, during which members will lobby for the repeal of a Biden-era rule requiring financial institutions to submit information about the race, ethnicity and gender of small-business loan recipients. The association will also push for the restoration of full expensing of capital investments, immediate deductions of research costs and full deductibility of business interest in the reconciliation bill. AFP DROPPING $4M ON MEGABILL ADS: Americans for Prosperity is dropping another seven figures on an ad blitz to contain Republican defections on the House-passed reconciliation package and steer the bill through the Senate as lawmakers return from the Memorial Day recess. — The campaign, part of a $20 million commitment from the Koch-backed group, will include 'video and digital ads that will air on cable, connected TV, and other digital platforms' with the TV ads initially slated to run in North Carolina, Louisiana, Maine, Idaho and D.C., CBS News' Hunter Woodall reports. — ''The sooner the Senate advances the bill, the sooner Americans start seeing relief where they need it most,' said Brent Gardner, the organization's chief government affairs officer in a statement. The statement also noted the group is well aware that as the process being used to fast track the bill progressed 'the hill to climb was only going to get steeper.'' TRUMP VS. LEO: Trump openly attacked Leonard Leo, former Federalist Society chair, calling him a 'real sleazebag' in a Truth social post late Thursday evening. But Trump's allies have expressed discontent with Leo and his operation, which helped place hundreds of judges across the federal judiciary and tilt courts in conservatives' favor, long before Trump's public critiques, our Hailey Fuchs and Daniel Barnes write. — 'Frustration had been growing among Trump and MAGA loyalists as a series of court rulings have hampered elements of Trump's second term agenda — including by the Supreme Court, appellate courts and district courts — and by judges Trump installed on the bench during his first term with Leo and the Federalist Society's guidance.' —'On Thursday, Leo said in a statement, 'I'm very grateful for President Trump transforming the Federal Courts, and it was a privilege being involved. There's more work to be done, for sure, but the Federal Judiciary is better than it's ever been in modern history, and that will be President Trump's most important legacy.'' — 'Leo and the Federalist Society have been boxed out of the judicial nomination process as the second Trump White House has begun to name jurists for vacancies. But the Federalist Society had already been making moves in anticipation of some tension with Trump, given his recent rhetoric on the judiciary, said one person in conservative legal circles granted anonymity because of the sensitive dynamics.' ALL IN ON AUTONOMY: Elon Musk is working to garner support from members of Congress to clear the way for driverless vehicles, as the Tesla CEO recenters his priorities on his business empires following his departure from the Department of Government Efficiency, David Welch, Edward Ludlow and Kara Carlson write for Bloomberg. — Musk and those who work for him have been calling lawmakers in recent weeks to lobby on the effort, one that remains a large priority for electric carmaker company Tesla. He has also been weighing in on revisions to the 'Autonomous Vehicle Acceleration Act of 2025,' introduced May 15, which would begin implementation of a general framework for autonomous vehicles. — 'The Trump administration has said it's amenable to federal rules for AVs and Musk has used Tesla's earnings calls to advocate for a federal framework for self-driving cars.' — Musk will continue to advise Trump after his departure from DOGE. But his focus for Tesla remains largely on autonomy and robotics. — 'Tesla plans to launch its long-anticipated rideshare service in Austin on June 12, using a small fleet of existing Model Y SUVs, Bloomberg reported. Tesla also aims to add purpose-built Cybercabs, expected to reach volume production next year, to its rideshare service.' Jobs report — Monica Welt is joining the Retail Industry Leaders Association as general counsel of RILA and president of the Retail Litigation Center. Welt previously served as deputy general counsel at Big Lots. — Julia Schechter is now senior manager of policy comms at Snap. She previously was a PR manager at Apple. — Jamison Cruce is launching Cruce Capitol Consulting. He previously was vice president of government affairs at USA Rice. — Anna Newby is now director of global policy comms at Micron. She previously was director of comms at the National Nuclear Security Administration. — Justin Vail has rejoined Protect Democracy as counsel and head of coalition advocacy. He previously was special assistant to the president for democracy and civic participation in the Biden White House. — Brian Reich and Eric Hollister Williams are now senior vice presidents at One Strategy Group. Reich previously was deputy assistant secretary for strategic planning and director of speechwriting at HHS and is a Clinton White House alum. Williams previously was director of corporate communications at Apple. — Reilly McBride is now vice president of policy and advocacy communications at JPMorgan Chase. She previously was deputy communications director for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and is an Invariant alum. — Philip Bednarczyk is now director of the German Marshall Fund's Warsaw office. He previously was an adviser for Europe and Eurasia for the House Foreign Affairs Committee. — Maggie Sklar has joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as senior director of public policy and advocacy. Sklar was most recently a senior complex financial institutions policy specialist at the FDIC. — Christian Calvert is now press assistant for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He previously was SEC program officer for campus advancement at Young America's Foundation. — Patty Stolnacker is joining Cohesity to stand up its global government affairs team. She was previously public policy head of U.S. and Canada for Google's platforms and devices team and is a George W. Bush and Rick Santorum alum. New Joint Fundraisers None. New PACs AMERICA FIRST AGRICULTURE ACTION INC. (Super PAC) Matthews First (PAC) Solar for American Energy Dominance PAC (Super PAC) Unbound PAC (PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Anndyl Policy Group, LLC: The National Association For State Community Services Programs Aquia Group, LLC: Podimetrics Ballard Partners: Can Community Health Ballard Partners: Composite Technology International, Inc. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: 3E, LLC Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Sterling Ranch, LLC Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Trajectory Energy Partners, LLC Chamber Hill Strategies: Let Lahaina Rebuild Coalition Colton Street Group: Recognition Music Group Hither Creek Strategies, LLC: Leonardo Drs, Inc Kelley Drye & Warren LLP: Ftc Modernization Coalition (Informal Coalition) K&L Gates, LLP: Federated Hermes, Inc. Miller & Chevalier, Chtd: American Staffing Assn Nestpoint Associates LLC: Anchor Hocking Company Nestpoint Associates LLC: Faraday&Future Inc. Nestpoint Associates LLC: Lawn And Garden LLC Ragnar Group LLC: Gypsum Resources Materials, LLC. Ragnar Group LLC: Redding Rancheria The Bennett Consulting Group: City Of Moab The Bennett Consulting Group: Salt Lake County The Bennett Consulting Group: Valid8 The Bennett Consulting Group: Vaquero Resources Tsg Advocates Dc, LLC: American Airlines, Inc. Tsg Advocates Dc, LLC: The Nemours Foundation New Lobbying Terminations Diroma Eck & Co. LLP: Konecranes Finland Corp. Invariant LLC: Solugen, Inc.
