Government: Government Relations: Nationwide

THE FIRM This firm is well established in DC and has a successful track record of lobbying on both sides of the aisle, at a legislative and an executive level. The team's diverse expertise enables it to act for a range of high-profile clients. Highlights include representing AT&T in advocacy before Congress regarding its proposed merger with T-Mobile and, demonstrating its versatility, advising the embassy of the Republic of Korea on matters relating to the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Commercial Awareness "The firm is outstanding. Akin Gump understands the intersection of politics, policy and the law. The firm brings to bear a great understanding of all these issues and the politics that drives it."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Joel Jankowsky receives universal praise from peers and clients alike. "He is terrific, a master of strategy," said one interviewee. Jankowsky leads the team representing AT&T. 

THE FIRM Hogan Lovells's international resources enable the firm to provide a market-leading government relations practice. The team acts for a number of key clients from a broad range of industry sectors, at state, federal and international levels. It combined these aspects in its representation of the Managed Funds Association in advocacy before the EU, in connection with short-selling regulations. Highlighting its breadth, the firm also acted for the Lower Elwar Klallam Tribe on the lobbying of Congress for legislation removing a dam, restoring a river central to the tribe's culture.

Client Service "The firm brought to bear a number of great people from different parts of the practice – the team was really good at helping us navigate the political environment."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Practice head Michael House is praised as "very talented" and regarded as "a class act – one of the leaders in Washington, DC." He is leading the team assisting the Housing Finance Allowance with the oversight and regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

THE FIRM This Washington, DC mainstay remains at the forefront of the government relations scene. The hugely respected team is experienced in a range of matters, and represents a diverse group of clients both nationally and internationally. Highlights include assisting the National Transitional Council of Libya with opening a representative office in the USA and obtaining US, NATO and UN support for the protection of Libyan civilians. The team has also been retained by the National Football League Players Association on a range of matters, including negotiating the league's collective bargaining agreement.

Client Service "The team relies on the facts and does the best for the client. The firm is always there to bat for us."

Commercial Awareness "Patton Boggs is my go-to firm for lobbying and regulatory assistance and helping me interface with state officials."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Hale Boggs is noted for the huge influence he wields on behalf of clients on lobbying matters. "He is the last of the great individual lobbyists," say impressed sources. Boggs plays a key role in the firm's most high-profile mandates, including advising the Korean Free Trade Association on the passing of the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Nicholas Allard is a new entrant to the rankings, having been praised an "an exceptional player" in the market. One source stated: "I do not know anyone who can operate so effectively on both the federal and state level, across so many substantive areas."

THE FIRM This growing practice maintains a strong position in the market with some significant client representations. It demonstrates wide industry sector expertise, and access to all sides of the legislative process. Standout matters include representing Qualcomm in connection with the development of US patent policy, and acting for the 1882 Project before Congress seeking redress for the Chinese Exclusion Laws.

Client Service "The team demonstrates utmost professionalism, skill and sophistication."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Practice cochair Roderick DeArment is "accessible and knowledgeable." He represented Ally Financial and GMAC Mortgages in a Congressional investigation into mortgage foreclosure procedures.

Fellow cochair Martin Gold is well respected in the market, and praised as "a high-caliber lawyer." He took the lead on the 1882 Project mandate, and is also the contact attorney for clients like the NFL.

Holly Fechner debuts in the rankings having impressed clients with her "transparency, accessibility and knowledge of the process." She led the team advising the Western Conference of Teamsters on pensions legislation.

THE FIRM DLA Piper has an almost unparalleled network of resources, enabling it to provide quality advice to a range of national and international clients. The team is particularly strong in international relations work and foreign policy matters, as demonstrated by its representation of the Lebanon Renaissance Foundation in the promotion of US-Lebanese relations. It has also assisted the likes of Bank of America and Diageo with government relations matters.

KEY INDIVIDUALS John Merrigan cochairs the firm's federal law and policy group and is described as "a fine man and a fine lobbyist." He assisted The Medicines Co with its successful effort to enact legislation protecting a lifesaving drug.

James Blanchard cochairs the government affairs team and is well respected in the market. He recently advised Public Affairs Associates in connection with the authorization of the construction of the US-Canada Detroit-Windsor bridge.

Thomas Boyd is a fellow cochair of the government affairs team. He notably advised a coalition formed of a number of well-known corporate entities on privacy and e-commerce matters.

THE FIRM This large government relations group offers significant strength in depth, providing expertise across a broad range of industries. The team is particularly effective in representing trade associations, as demonstrated by its assisting the American Forest & Paper Association in its work with the EPA to achieve reasonable regulation under the CAA. The team also provides public policy advice to a range of corporate clients, including Thomson Reuters.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Group leader Richard Gold is a highly respected member of the government relations community. He led the team representing the American Forest & Paper Association.

David Whitestone is a valued member of the team and is responsible for some of its most significant instructions. He has particular expertise in the transport industry.

THE FIRM This firm combines access to many levels of government with a wide industry sector reach to form a prominent government relations practice. Recent highlights include representing Water Advocates in securing $315 million of federal government funding for the implementation of the Water for the Poor Act, and representing the Commercial Spaceflight Association in obtaining federal funding to promote commercial spaceflights.

Commercial Awareness "K&L Gates has immersed itself in our business – the team is integral to our business strategy."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Emanuel Rouvelas is widely respected as "the essence of what a good lobbyist and lawyer should be." He represents a range of corporate entities and trade associations in a number of government relations matters.

THE FIRM Alston & Bird has made some high-profile additions, building a competitive team with broad access to the many levels of the legislative process. The group is noted for its strength in telecom regulations, as demonstrated by its advice to AT&T on its proposed merger with T-Mobile. Demonstrating its deep industry expertise, the team is also providing ongoing assistance to Safeway, including on healthcare reform-related matters. 

Commercial Awareness "Alston & Bird is extremely competent and plugged in. The firm has resolved several problems for us that we could not do alone."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Jones heads the firm's government relations practice and is responsible for a number of key mandates, including work for Safeway and Autoliv.

THE FIRM Arnold & Porter's government relations practice is particularly strong in the healthcare, financial services and energy sectors. From a financial services perspective, the team represents a number of clients such as Federated Investors and the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting on matters arising out of the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act. Other clients include Reckitt Benckiser and Energy Future Holdings.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Martha Cochran is a well-respected practitioner in the market and played a significant role in both the Federated Investors and Association for Advanced Life Underwriting mandates. One source remarked that she has "an intellectual capital, the likes of which we have never seen."

THE FIRM This team utilizes the firm's wide resources to act for a number of high-profile corporate clients on a range of public policy matters. The group is noted for its expertise in the telecom sector, as demonstrated by the government relations advice it provided to Vonage. Other highlights include representing GE in connection with proposed changes to climate change legislation.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Gary Slaiman is the group's key contact.

THE FIRM Blank Rome's varied expertise enables it to advise a diverse range of clients on a number of government policy matters. The firm's significant national and global reach means the team is able to represent clients on a state, federal and international platform. For example, it advised Shell on securing authorization rights for foreign vessels operating in the Arctic, and assisted Comcast with issues arising out of its transaction with NBCUniversal.

Client Service "The firm has our best interests at heart. This sets the team apart."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Kristi Remington is a key contact at the firm.

THE FIRM SNR Denton's broad geographic spread enables it to act on a range of matters from a nationwide platform, with significant practices in both Washington, DC and Los Angeles. One particular practice highlight was representing the California State Parks Foundation in its effort to prevent the construction of a toll road through San Onofre State Park. The firm has also acted on government relations matters for AARP and the California State Chamber of Commerce, among other clients.

Client Service "The team is always incredibly focused and always gets things done. I really appreciate the attention I receive."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Mike McNamara in Washington, DC is the firm's key contact, while Darry Sragow runs the team in Los Angeles.

THE FIRM Dickstein Shapiro is renowned for its bench strength, and its government relations practice has access to a number of government departments and Congressional committees. The team has noteworthy strength in the energy, tobacco and education sectors, and has advised Peabody Energy on a range of government relations matters. However, the firm is best known for its innovative State Attorneys General practice, which represented DuPont in developing a nationwide strategy to defend against anticompetitive practices in the biotechnology sector.

Client Service "The firm has a lot of resources, is able to get things done in great detail, and can always offer more if you want it."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Bernard Nash is the key figure in the firm's State Attorneys General practice, with one source remarking: "He invented this business!" Nash is involved in the group's key mandates, representing the likes of DuPont, Pfizer and AT&T.

Divonne Smoyer is equally prevalent in the State Attorney's General practice. Clients enjoy her confident manner and her client management skills.

THE FIRM This firm can call on expertise across its significant global network to advise clients on a number of matters, particularly Congressional investigations. The team is notably strong in the healthcare sector, and also retains a healthy following in homeland security matters for defense contractors. Regular clients include Raytheon, PhRMA and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Theodore Hester is very well regarded in the market, and is described as a "first-class guy." He is particularly active on Congressional investigations for pharmaceutical entities. 

Clients enjoy working with Thomas Spulak, who has an excellent reputation for his ethics practice. He is notably prevalent on the team's homeland security matters.

Lloyd Hand enjoys a "stellar reputation" in the government relations sphere, and brings his gravitas and many years of experience to bear in a range of matters.

J.C. Boggs recently joined the firm from Blank Rome. Clients enjoy his proactive approach, with one saying: "He thinks about his clients all the time." Boggs is particularly well regarded in the financial services sector and represents the likes of Prudential Financial in a range of matters, including those arising out of the Dodd-Frank Act.

THE FIRM Mayer Brown enters the rankings having had a successful year and been noted for its access to every level of government. The firm offers a nationwide practice, with solid groups in Washington, DC and Los Angeles. It is notably strong in the telecom sector, as evidenced by its representation of CTIA - The Wireless Association in matters relating to privacy, data security and cyber security legislation. Key clients for the government relations practice include Google and Motorola.

Client Service "The quality is extremely high – I can't imagine any other firm providing this level of service."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Howard Waltzman stands out for his work in the privacy and data security arena, and was responsible for the CTIA - The Wireless Association mandate. One source remarked: "He has fundamental knowledge of the politics. He is responsive, proactive and extremely smart."

THE FIRM This team can call on expertise from a range of practice areas in order to provide a balanced service, with a focus on lobbying and Congressional investigations. It is particularly strong in the energy sector, and notably represented Puget Sound Energy in promoting its federal energy regulation agenda. Other highlights demonstrating its broad industry reach include advising Fellowes on its appearance before a House committee in connection with the exploitation of high-value US IP in Asia. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Practice group head Elizabeth Moeller earns praise from a variety of market sources. She is very active in the government relations sphere, and leads on the firm's most high-profile matters.

THE FIRM This group stands out for its expertise in Dodd-Frank legislation, advising well-known clients on a range of financial services regulation matters. Highlights include representing CRE Finance Council in connection with the protection of the CMBS industry under the Dodd-Frank regime. The group also has noteworthy experience in the healthcare sector, and has advised clients such as CIAB, NACS and CIGNA on protecting their individual interests under the new federal healthcare provisions.

Commercial Awareness "The team is excellent. There are two things that stand out about the firm: the attorneys are not yes men, and the group gets the job done – it always finds a way."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Department chair Scott Sinder is well respected within the market and is the key contact for a number of the team's clients, including CRE Council and the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers. One source remarked: “He is basically our general counsel – his client service is second to none.”

THE FIRM Van Ness Feldman's government relations group stands out for its significant experience in the energy and natural resources industry, where it advises a number of key clients. Of particular note, the team is representing North Slope Borough, Alaska before several Congressional committees on the development of offshore Arctic natural resources. The group is also prominent in the transport sector, as highlighted by its representation of Consumers United for Rail Equity before various executive agencies in matters relating to competitive rail policy.

KEY INDIVIDUALS The key contact is Washington, DC-based Bob Szabo.

THE FIRM This specialist group in DC has many years' experience advocating before a number of levels of the legislative process, in a wide range of industry sectors. The firm particularly stands out for its thriving financial services practice. The team represents clients from the banking, insurance, derivatives and securities sectors, advocating on a variety of legislative and regulatory reforms and proposals. It is also active in the telecommunications and transport sectors.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Firm chairman and CEO Steven Hart is highly regarded by interviewees. He is a hugely experienced practitioner and has expertise in advocating for clients on a wide range of matters, including tax, energy and transportation.

THE FIRM WilmerHale is widely recognized for its substantial expertise in the government relations sphere, and its broad resources make it a prominent player in DC. The team is notably strong in the defense and national security sector.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jamie Gorelick is greatly respected in the government relations field, and stands out for her regulatory and enforcement work on behalf of many high-profile clients.