A baker’s dozen plus one.
That’s how many years Gibbons P.C. has been ranked the No. 1 lawyer-lobbying firm in the Garden State, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, based on a Thursday release of ELEC’s report on 2021 lobbying expenditures in the state.
The firm, whose Government & Regulatory Affairs Group celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, also ranked sixth in the state among all lobbying practices.
Another impressive feat: McCarter & English was ranked second. Last year was the first time the firm broke the Top 10, and it quickly moved up to No. 2.
McCarter said its move up six spots in the rankings this year can be attributed to the trust its clients put in its team to advocate on their behalf and provide the guidance necessary to navigate complex legislative and regulatory issues.
In 2021, the group continued its expansion throughout the firm, welcoming Michael Maitland to manage federal government affairs in Washington, D.C., and Sean Finnigan to grow the team in Wilmington, Delaware. The team is poised for more success in 2022 following record years for McCarter firmwide in revenue, profits and pro bono commitment to the community.
In 2021, the Gibbons Government & Regulatory Affairs Group increased its revenues over the prior year, even while overall lobbying expenditures in the state fell by over 12%.
“Our lawyer-lobbyists are equally focused on helping clients achieve their business goals and maintaining excellent working relationships in the executive and legislative branches in both Trenton and Washington, regardless of which party is in power,” said Patrick Dunican, executive chairperson of Gibbons.
Peter Torcicollo, the firm’s managing director, added, “Our presence, influence and longstanding relationships allow us to provide creative, strategic solutions to a wide-ranging client base that has, for 20 years, turned to Gibbons as New Jersey’s ‘go-to’ lawyer-lobbying firm for tackling the legislative and regulatory issues that impact bottom lines.”
Gibbons opened its Trenton office and launched its Government & Regulatory Affairs Group in 2002 to offer public, private and nonprofit sector clients the legal, policy and government affairs guidance needed to most effectively execute their missions.
The firm built a team of lawyer-lobbyists who provide cutting-edge advocacy to make clients’ voices heard at the right times and by the right people.
Over the past 20 years, Dunican in particular has worked to ensure that the team has had all the necessary resources to build its award-winning practice, and he has established and strengthened the firm’s relationships with various elected officials and other policymakers throughout the legislative and executive branches at the local, state and federal levels.
Based just steps from the State House in Trenton and supported by additional resources from the firm’s Newark and Red Bank offices, the Gibbons Government & Regulatory Affairs Group today offers a broad range of services and experience in state legislative affairs, regulatory affairs and departmental actions, administrative law, business incentives, government procurement and contracting, and political and campaign finance compliance. In addition, the firm’s Washington, D.C., office provides Gibbons lawyer-lobbyists a base from which to more efficiently handle federal regulatory concerns and government relations strategies with on-the-ground guidance wherever client issues may arise.
“I am so proud of our firm’s 20-year legacy as advocates in Trenton and around New Jersey. Our knowledge and experience of government relations and regulatory advocacy have had a significant influence on our overall approach to counseling clients at the firm. As one of the founding members of the group, I take tremendous pride in this,” said David Pascrell, co-chair of the Government & Regulatory Affairs Group. “It is satisfying to know that the results of this approach have, for the last 14 years, put Gibbons at the top of all law firms with such practices.”
Added the group’s co-chair, Kevin G. Walsh: “Clients have benefited for 20 years from our understanding that advocating for their businesses in the State House is no different than advocating for clients in the courthouse: We marshal the facts, understand the law and persuade decision makers that our client’s cause is just and correct. For almost 100 years, Gibbons has recognized that no client is too large and no issue is too small.”
As for the lobbying firms in the state, Princeton Public Affairs Group and Public Strategies Impact were the top two according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Here is the Top 10:
Princeton Public Affairs Group: $10,496,670;
Public Strategies Impact: $7,439,342;
CLB Partners: $4,504,650;
MBI-GluckShaw: $3,904,559;
Kaufman Zita Group: $3,599,506;
Gibbons P.C.: $3,180,657;
Optimus Partners: $2,727,875;
Mercury Public Affairs $ 2,406,656
Capital Impact Group: $2,007,149;
McCarter & English: $2,007,149;
To view the report issued by ELEC, click here.
