Husch Blackwell Strategies to Provide Lobbying and Strategic Consulting Services across Multiple Industries and Geographic Markets
JANUARY 9, 2018 – Husch Blackwell LLP, Statehouse Strategies LLC, and Cloakroom Advisors LLC announced today the creation of a joint venture, Husch Blackwell Strategies LLC, to provide federal and state legislative government affairs consulting and lobbying. The venture will be headquartered in Jefferson City, Missouri, and will combine much of Husch Blackwell’s existing Government Affairs team with the existing operations of Statehouse Strategies LLC and Cloakroom Advisors, LLC, both of which will be rolled into the Husch Blackwell Strategies venture and will do business going forward under the Husch Blackwell Strategies brand.
Andy Blunt, the founder and chairman of Statehouse Strategies, will join Husch Blackwell Strategies as Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer. Blunt will focus primarily on expanding the venture’s state-level practices. Gregg Hartley, founder and principal of the federal lobbying firm Cloakroom Advisors LLC, will become the Executive Vice-Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Husch Blackwell Strategies and will concentrate on growing the venture’s federal practice group. Husch Blackwell partner Kyle Gilster will serve as the venture’s General Counsel. Several leading government affairs consultants and attorneys will join the venture from Husch Blackwell.
“Providing clients access to the full suite of government affairs services under one roof is increasingly important in coordinating overall corporate strategy,” said Husch Blackwell Chief Executive and Managing Partner Greg Smith. “Husch Blackwell Strategies represents a natural evolution in presenting clients with a strong value proposition in what is a very competitive business.”
“Combining the expertise of Husch Blackwell with Statehouse and Cloakroom makes good business sense and will ultimately benefit clients,” said Blunt. “This combination will provide clients with access to a trusted advisor whose footprint covers Washington, D.C. and several key state capitals during a time when policy-making at both levels is critical to organizations.”
“Husch Blackwell Strategies is built on the notion that clients want and need a vertically-integrated approach to tactics and strategy at both the state and federal levels,” said Hartley. “We live in a turbulent political era, and business goals and challenges can change drastically in the blink of an eye. Husch Blackwell Strategies provides a scalable, all-in service.”
“This combination marks serious growth in our team’s ability to help clients anticipate and shape the laws and regulations that affect their businesses most,” said Catherine Hanaway, former Speaker of the Missouri House and the head of Husch Blackwell’s Government Solutions team.
Husch Blackwell Strategies’ Washington presence will be located within Husch Blackwell’s current office location and a satellite office near Capitol Hill. The firm is nationally headquartered in Jefferson City, Missouri, at offices now occupied by Statehouse. The firm will work to develop a significant presence in multiple key capital cities.
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About Husch Blackwell LLP
Husch Blackwell is an industry-focused litigation and business law firm with offices in 18 cities across the United States. The firm represent clients around the world in major industries including energy and natural resources; financial services and capital markets; food and agribusiness; healthcare, life sciences and education; real estate, development and construction; and technology, manufacturing and transportation. For more information, visit huschblackwell.com.
About Husch Blackwell Strategies
Husch Blackwell Strategies operates as a joint venture limited liability corporation formed by Husch Blackwell LLP, Andy Blunt and Gregg Hartley. It provides full-suite lobbying and government affairs consulting. HB Strategies does not provide legal advice or services, and communications between Husch Blackwell Strategies and its clients are not protected by the attorney-client relationship, including attorney-client privilege.
About Cloakroom Advisors LLC
Cloakroom was founded in 2014 by Gregg Hartley the former vice chairman and chief operating officer of Cassidy & Associates and the former longtime chief of staff to now Senator Roy Blunt. Utilizing three decades plus of experience in managing government operations, guiding a large federal government affairs firm, devising political strategies, shepherding political campaigns and supporting legislative processes, Cloakroom provides a high value vertical to any public affairs team as they strive to assure success for client initiatives. Cloakroom’s relationships are enhanced by accumulated political insights and the ability to develop effective legislative and public affairs strategies. Cloakroom believes client strategies must include a strong and thorough understanding of how partisan agendas complicate movement of any issue within the U.S. federal policy realm, and appreciation for the role of key players in determining the fate of policy initiatives.
About Statehouse Strategies LLC
Statehouse Strategies was founded in 2016 by Andy Blunt and a talented team of government affairs professionals including Jay Reichard who has been a key member of Blunt’s team since 2004 and was ultimately promoted to Partner in 2016. Previous to the creation of Statehouse Strategies, the practice group was housed in the law firm of Schreimann, Rackers, Francka and Blunt LLC since 2002. The firm represents over fifty clients in the state of Missouri and has risen to become one of the premier firms in Jefferson City by consistently producing real results for their clients. The entire team at Statehouse Strategies as well as all of the clients they serve will be making the transition to Husch Blackwell Strategies.