Florida's Biggest Lobbyists: Turning Up the Heat
 [Photo: Colin Hackley] |
While Washington lobbyists reported record revenue in 2010, Florida's influence industry registered a dip in activity last year. Interest groups, governments and business interests spent $112.5 million to lobby the Florida Legislature in 2010 — a 3.6% decrease from 2009 that most in the industry attribute to corporate belt-tightening in a poor economy. Spending on executive branch lobbying, reported separately, ranged from $152 million to $227 million.
The 10 most highly compensated lobbying firms in Florida took in between $32 million and $67 million in 2010. That amounted to 21% to 30% of total spending on lobbying in the state last year, according to a Florida Trend analysis. Because lobbyists file compensation reports with fees listed in ranges, the firms are ranked on the following pages based on their averages.
Brian Ballard, managing partner of the state's top-earning firm, Smith & Ballard, says lobbying budgets are a good leading economic indicator because they're often the last thing to be cut when companies scale back and the first thing to be reinstated when companies are feeling more confident about the future.
» Florida's Biggest Lobbyists: #10 - #610. Floridian Partners - $3.1 million (average)
Legislative branch lobbying: $1,360,070 - $2,979,838Executive branch lobbying: $360,080 - $1,439,892
Total fees: $1,720,150 - $4,419,730
Background: Founded in 2000 by Rodney Barreto, Charlie Dudley, Brian May and Patrick Maloy, with offices in Miami, Tallahassee and most recently Fort Lauderdale. Over the past five years, the firm has added partners Robert Reyes, Gary Guzzo and Jorge Chamizo. It has three associates: Scott Ross, Ken Granger and Elizabeth Wester.
Notable clients: Florida Cable Telecommunications Association; Las Vegas Sands; St. Joe; John Deere; Harley-Davidson; TECO Energy; Allstate; Florida Power & Light; Liberty Mutual; CNA; Alma DDB; Blackstone; Florida International University; Suffolk Construction; Motorola; U.S. Sugar; ValueOptions; Florida Hospital Association; Florida Insurance Council
?
9. Dutko Worldwide - $3.3 million (average)
Legislative branch lobbying: $640,132 - $2,589,805Executive branch lobbying: $660,138 - $2,689,797
Total fees: $1,300,270 - $5,279,602
Background: Managing principals Van Poole and Will McKinley both have served as chairman and executive director of the Republican Party of Florida. Poole also was a member of the Florida House and Senate and the former secretary of Department of Business Regulation. McKinley also was deputy secretary the Department of Professional and Business Regulation. The firm's lobbyists include Fred Dickinson, Nancy Texeira and Sophie Patent.
Notable clients: Accenture; Charter Schools USA; Comcast; General Motors; HCA; Laser Spine Institute; Motion Picture Association of America; Seminole Tribe of Florida; St. Joe; University of Phoenix; Coventry Health Care; Miami-Dade County; Universal Studios; Motion Picture Association of America; United Technologies Corp.
?
8. Capital City Consulting - $3.6 million (average)
 Nick Iarossi is one of the founding members of Capital City Consulting. Among his firm's clients: Business lobby Associated Industries of Florida. [Photo: Colin Hackley] |
Legislative branch lobbying: $1,662,071 - $3,429,817
Executive branch lobbying: $170,169 - $2,019,815
Total fees: $1,832,240 - $5,449,632
Background: Started in 2003 by Nick Iarossi, Gerald Wester, Ron LaFace Jr. and Pat O'Connell, the firm is active in political fundraising and governmental affairs consulting. The firm recently hired Chris Schoonover, a former legislative analyst for the Florida House of Representatives.
Notable clients: Aetna; Associated Industries of Florida; Cigna; Distilled Spirits Council of the United States; Florida Association of Health Plans; Las Vegas Sands; Swisher International
?
7. Johnson and Blanton - $4.31 million (average)
Legislative branch lobbying: $1,567,042 - $2,739,862Executive branch lobbying: $1,567,042 - $2,739,862
Total fees: $3,134,084 - $5,479,724
Background: Founded in 1995 by Jon Johnson, who earned his political stripes working as a fundraiser for the Republican Party of Florida and was appointed deputy finance director of the group at age 20. Other lobbyists include Travis Blanton, former chief of staff for the Agency for Health Care Administration, and Amy Christian, who most recently served as the policy coordinator for former House Speaker Allan Bense.
Notable clients: Adventist Health Care System; BayCare Health System; Florida Chamber of Commerce; Florida Hospices & Palliative Care; Orange County; GEO Care; Pfizer
?
6. Foley & Lardner - $4.35 million (average)
Legislative branch lobbying: $1,393,048 - $2,779,850Executive branch lobbying: $1,604,050 - $2,919,845
Total fees: $2,997,098 - $5,699,695
Background: The national law firm has 122 attorneys working in its five Florida offices and employs six lobbyists in Tallahassee, including Michael Harrell, Jonathan Kilman, Robert Hosay and Marnie George.
Notable clients: Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida; Cisco Systems; Dosal Tobacco; Florida East Coast Industries; Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association; Kellogg Brown & Root Services; Verizon Wireless; Xerox; Electronic Arts (EA Sports); Habitat for Humanity; Palm Beach County; CSX
» Florida's Biggest Lobbyists: #5 - #15. Colodny Fass Talenfeld Karlinsky & Abate - $4.7 million (average)
 Katherine Scott Webb became a partner at Colodny Fass Talenfeld Karlinsky & Abate, Florida's fifth-biggest lobbying firm, in 2009. [Photo: Colin Hackley] |
Legislative branch lobbying: $1,250,044 - $2,439,881
Executive branch lobbying: $1,740,120 - $4,059,768
Total fees: $2,990,164 - $6,499,649
Background: Former four-term North Miami Mayor Mike Colodny founded the firm in 1972. Its lobbyists include Fred Karlinsky, who leads the firm's governmental consulting practice, Katherine Scott Webb, Trevor Mask and Timothy Fordham Stanfield.
Notable clients: Boyd Gaming; Dombia of Illinois; Dosal Tobacco; Florida Economic Development Council; FCCI Insurance Group; G4S Youth Services; Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; USA Managed Care Organization/USA Senior Care Network; Wackenhut
4. Ronald L. Book - $5.6 million (average)
Legislative branch lobbying: $3,791,822 - $5,559,767
Executive branch lobbying: $837,502 - $979,963
Total fees: $4,629,324 - $6,539,730
Background: Ron Book, a former aide to Gov. Bob Graham, founded his firm in 1987 after five years with Sparber, Shevin, Shapo, Heilbronner & Book. Two other non-lawyer lobbyists practice with him: Kelly Mallette, former chief of staff for the mayor of Miami and former Biscayne Park commissioner, is the firm's director of governmental affairs. Rana Brown, who was a legislative assistant in the Florida Senate and senior vice president of advocacy at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, works on appropriations matters and also focuses on local governments and regional planning councils. The firm helped lobby for the billion-dollar port tunnel project in Miami-Dade, the $80-million human genomics grant for the University of Miami's Leonard Miller School of Medicine, and the establishment of the Life Sciences Park on the medical school campus.
Notable clients: AshBritt; AT&T; AutoNation; Bail Agents Independent League of Florida; Carlisle Development Group; Creditguard of America; Children's Home Society; Florida Panthers; Florida Power & Light; GEO Group; University of Miami; West Flagler Kennel Club; White Rock Quarries; numerous Florida cities
?
3. Southern Strategy Group - $7.5 million (average)
 Southern Strategy's Paul Bradshaw talks with Senate President Mike Haridopolos. [Photo: Colin Hackley] |
Legislative branch lobbying: $1,450,196 - $4,679,677
Executive branch lobbying: $2,440,212- $6,449,599
Total fees: $3,890,408 - $11,129,276
Background: Paul Bradshaw, a campaign consultant for Jeb Bush and Florida counsel for the George W. Bush for President campaign, founded the firm in 1999. He has since built a network of 16 offices in 12 states, with more than 300 clients. Its Tallahassee team includes T.K. Wetherell, former Speaker of the House and president of FSU; Electra Bustle, former director of Florida Highway Safety; Tom Arnold; former secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration; Stacey Webb, former assistant chancellor for community colleges; and Paul Mitchell, former chief of staff to the CFO. A recent addition, David Browning, served on Gov. Rick Scott's campaign team and also was the lead fundraiser for Speaker Dean Cannon, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, CFO Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
Notable clients: Amtrak; Apple; Associated Industries of Florida; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida; CVS/Caremark; Embraer Aircraft Holding; Fidelity Investments; Florida Crystals; International Speedway; Mosaic; TECO Energy; Wachovia; Walt Disney World
?
1. (tie) GrayRobinson — $7.9 million (average)
Legislative branch lobbying: $3,087,114 - $5,619,701Executive branch lobbying: $2,507,101 - $4,597,749
Total fees: $5,594,215 - $10,217,450
Background: Founded in 1970, the firm has 240 attorneys in 10 offices around the state, including Tallahassee. The firm's Tallahassee lobbyists include Pete Antonacci, John Harris, Chris Hansen, Mike Huey, George Meros and Jason Unger. Chris Carmody, Fred Leonhardt and Robert Stuart work out of the Orlando office. Byrd F. "Biff" Marshall Jr., president of GrayRobinson, has managed the firm since 1992.
Notable clients: Bayer HealthCare; CB Richard Ellis; Dosal Tobacco; Florida Association of Blood Banks; Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association; JP Morgan Chase; Laboratory Corp. of America; Orlando Magic; U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform; WellCare Health Plans
?
1. (tie) Smith & Ballard - $7.9 million (average)
 "Business has picked up over the past six months," says Brian Ballard. "Once it goes through folks like us, it's a good sign the economy's picking up." |
Legislative branch lobbying: $2,678,156 - $5,489,688
Executive branch lobbying: $2,528,152 - $5,149,707
Total fees: $5,206,308 - $10,639,395
Background: Founded in 1995, the firm is headed by former Secretary of State and Attorney General Jim Smith and his son-in-law, Brian Ballard. Ballard, former Gov. Bob Martinez's chief of staff, was chairman of the finance committee for Gov. Rick Scott's inauguration. The firm, headquartered in Tallahassee, has an office in West Palm Beach and a Jacksonville office headed by former Jacksonville Jaguar Tony Boselli and Susie Wiles, who ran Scott's gubernatorial campaign.
Notable clients: 3M; Amazon.com; Baptist Healthcare; Bethesda Healthcare System; Computer Sciences Corp.; Deloitte Consulting; Florida Concrete & Products Association; Florida Power & Light; Geico; Harris Corp.; Liggett Group; Nemours Foundation; U.S. Sugar Corp.; Universal Health Care