WASHINGTON (June 17, 2003) – "Some firms grew mightily, others modestly," and still others "saw their numbers fall" victim to a sluggish economy. Certainly no doubt as to where law firm Venable LLP fell on latest Revenue Report issued by Influence magazine, which tracks the ups and downticks among leading lobbying and legislative firms in the nation’s capital.
Influence’s just released annual Report, which is based on reported revenue, noted that "Venable’s lobby practice rocketed into the upper echelon in 2002." Indeed, the firm notched a 90% jump in billings for legislative-related work, placing it Number 12 among law firms with lobbying arms.
With over 20 members that include lawyers and legislative advisors, Venable’s legislative group reported approximately $9.6 million in revenues in 2002, working on behalf of such clients as American Airlines, Pinkerton’s, Marriott and other large corporations, as well as private financial firms, emerging companies and national associations.
"We're very pleased with the recognition and are exactly where we wanted to be in terms of our competition. More importantly, however, we're very proud of the clients we're serving and the representation we've been able to provide on key policy issues as well as the superb roster of professionals we've assembled," said Michael Ferrell, the Venable partner who heads the legislative group.
Among the areas in which the firm concentrated in the past year were aviation/transportation, health care, insurance and homeland security. Venable was one of the first law firms to establish an integrated homeland defense practice, combining aspects of its legislative work with the firm’s established government contracts practice, as well as related FDA, litigation, banking/finance and other practices.
Mr. Ferrell noted the all-around contributions from the legislative group, which has come together only in the last two years and features a number of familiar players in Washington from both major parties. Included are former Congressman and California Attorney General Daniel Lungren; former U.S. Senator from Indiana Birch Bayh; former U.S. Secretary of Transportation James Burnley; former New York Congressman Robert Garcia; and longtime DC lawyer-lobbyists Thomas Quinn, Patrick O’Donnell and Jeffrey Kurzweil.
"We expect to continue our expansion and believe there are advantages to having built our practice out of a corporate and business law firm with strong ties in Washington," Mr. Ferrell said. "We anticipate that in the coming months leading up to the '04 elections there will be active movement on a number of fronts and we look forward to staying close to the action."
One of the American Lawyer’s top 100 law firms, Venable LLP has attorneys practicing in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property and government affairs. Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world from its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and offices in California, Maryland, New York and Virginia.