Introducing the First Street 30

This is a test header.

---

First Street Research Group Unveils First-Ever List of Lobbying Heavyweights

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First Street Research Group today released the First Street 30, a list of the top earning lobbyists in Washington in 2011. The First Street 30 paints a clear picture – the professionals on this list make the most money, have the most clients, and represent the biggest corporations – they are the true lobbying heavyweights in Washington. The full report can be found here.

“Collectively, the First Street 30 billed their clients $209M in the first three quarters of 2011. The First Street 30 represented 1,175 unique clients. This is an influential group of individuals commanding top dollar for their service,” said Stephen Stesney, Product Manager of First Street™. “The individuals in the First Street 30 are in rarefied air, they are the biggest stars in the $3.5B lobbying industry.”

Data analysis uncovers several interesting trends surrounding the lobbyists in the First Street 30.

• It’s good to be an ex-member of Congress: The average amount received by ex-members of Congress per client topped $178,000 – significantly higher than ex-congressional staffers, and professional lobbyists.
• Big companies spend the most to hire the best. 55 of the Fortune 100 are represented by the First Street 30.

To be compiled annually, First Street 30 includes three categories, each with 10 names: ex-members of Congress; ex-congressional staffers, and professional lobbyists. Here are the top lobbyists of 2011:

Ex-Members

• Senator John Breaux - Breaux Lott Leadership Group & Patton Boggs
• Representative Thomas Downey - Downey McGrath Group
• Representative Victor Fazio - Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
• Representative Richard Gephardt - Gephardt Group Government Affairs
• Senator Tim Hutchinson - Dickstein Shapiro
• Representative Robert Livingston - The Livingston Group
• Senator Trent Lott - Breaux Lott Leadership Group & Patton Boggs
• Representative James McCrery, III - Capitol Counsel
• Representative Bill Paxon - Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
• Representative Vin Weber - Clark & Weinstock

Ex-Staffers

• Randall Gerard - Podesta Group
• Christopher W. Hatcher - Williams and Jensen
• Kate Hull - Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock
• Drew Maloney - Ogilvy Government Relations
• Jeffrey McMillen - Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
• Michael Merola - Winning Strategies Washington
• Daniel Meyer -The Duberstein Group
• Jonathan Talisman - Capitol Tax Partners
• Alex Vogel - Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti
• Letitia White - Innovative Federal Strategies

Professional Lobbyists

• Wayne Berman - Ogilvy Government Relations
• Jack MacAuley Burkman - J M Burkman & Associates
• Jack Steven Hart - Williams and Jensen
• Lindsay Hooper - Capitol Tax Partners
• Mark McInytre - Russ Reid Company
• Anthony Podesta - Podesta Group
• John Raffaelli - Capitol Counsel
• Barney Skladany - Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
• Michael Smith - Cornerstone Government Affairs
• H Stewart Van Scoyoc - Van Scoyoc Associates & Capitol Decisions

Launched in April of this year by CQ Press, First Street™ is a groundbreaking political intelligence platform built to develop coalitions, craft winning business development strategies, achieve advocacy goals, and track money and influence in Washington. The First Street Research Group is comprised of lobbying and government data experts from the First Street™ product team. The group carefully reviews, investigates, and analyzes the data in First Street to publish weekly Research Reports and other articles on the people and organizations influencing policy in Washington. The First Street Research Group also analyzes lobbying data in order to identify trends and to provide a thorough look at the lobbying industry.

To compile the list, the First Street Research Group reviewed available 2011 lobbying data from the First Street™ database, based on two criteria: the number of clients they represented and the cumulative amount of money their firm was paid by the clients. Once the data was crunched and the initial lists created, further factors were analyzed to narrow down the lists, including the number of Fortune 100 clients the lobbyists represented and the diversity of those clients.

About First Street™

First Street™ is brought to you by CQ Press (www.cqpress.com). With a focus on digital content and delivery, CQ Press products specialize in U.S. government information, legal affairs, and national and international politics. Based in Washington, DC, CQ Press is an imprint of SAGE (www.sagepub.com), an international publisher of journals, books and electronic media for academic, educational and professional markets. Since 1965, SAGE has helped inform and educate a global community of scholars, practitioners, researchers and students spanning a wide range of subject areas, including business, humanities, social sciences and science, technology and medicine. SAGE has offices in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington, DC. For more information on First Street™ visit firststreet.cqpress.com or the First Street™ Twitter and Facebook pages.

For First Street Research Group:Shawna Seldon, 212-255-7541[email protected]orTara Higgins, 202-862-4372[email protected]

Source: First Street Research Group

---

Are you missing key trading opportunities? Upgrade to StreetInsider Premium and get a step ahead of the market - FREE TRIAL!