PPAG leads list of top lobbyists; Gibbons is again top lawyer-lobbying firm

Princeton Public Affairs Group and Public Strategies Impact were the top two lobbying firms in the state, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, which released its report on 2020 lobbying expenditures in the state this week.

Gibbons P.C., the only law firm among the Top 10, was ranked No. 6 — marking the 13^th consecutive year it was the top lawyer-lobbying firm in New Jersey.

Here is the Top 10:

1. Princeton Public Affairs Group: $10,114,702;
2. Public Strategies Impact: $7,122,570;
3. CLB Partners: $3,888,950;
4. MBI-GluckShaw: $3,835,908;
5. Kaufman Zita Group: $3,167,97;
6. Gibbons P.C.: $3,110,770;
7. Optimus Partners: $2,329,711;
8. Capital Impact Group: $1,913,592;
9. Komjathy & Kean: $1,734,904;
10. River Crossing Strategy Group: $1,680,500.

Gibbons Chairman and Managing Director Patrick Dunican said the ranking reflects his firm’s commitment to Trenton.

“These rankings reflect our lawyer-lobbyists’ significant influence in Trenton and their growing presence in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “They are able to participate in the state and federal legislative and regulatory processes in constructive ways that help our clients seize the business opportunities and navigate the challenges that can result from those processes.”

David Pascrell, co-chair of Gibbons’ Government & Regulatory Affairs Department, agreed.

“2020 was an extraordinary year in so many ways,” he said. “It demonstrated the power that all levels of government have to impact our lives and businesses, and in ways none of us — even those who work in government and regulatory affairs — could have predicted.

“While we expanded our practice in 2020, our approach to assisting clients was the same it has always been: We use our skill as advocates and our familiarity of process and people to help clients with their most important governmental issues.”

According to the report, lobbying expenditures hit a record $105 million in 2020, as lawmakers enacted scores of bills to address the COVID-19 crisis, marijuana advocates pushed hard for legalization and a major health insurer secured legislation letting it reorganize.

Overall spending jumped nearly 3.4%, from $101.6 million in 2019.

Here are the Top 10 special interest lobbying groups, which spent nearly $23 million.

1. New Jersey Education Association: $6,255,530 (+0.2%);
2. New Direction NJ Corp.: $4,963,431 (+26.9%);
3. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.J.: $4,283,242 (+198%);
4. Move Health Care Forward NJ Inc. (Horizon): $3,155,075 (+271.2%);
5. Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative: $1,249,220 (+83%);
6. Public Service Enterprise Group: $872,933 (+13.4%);
7. Hackensack Meridian Health: $577,986 (-20.2%);
8. Prudential Financial: $564,568 (-4.1%);
9. J. State League of Municipalities: $558,137 (-7.0%);
10. AARP NJ: $ 504,219 (-31.8%).