Washington, D.C.'s newest super-firm has registered its first lobbying clients since it was formed with the merger of law firm Squire Sanders and the reigning kings of K Street, Patton Boggs. The registrations say more about the old Squire Sanders than the newly combined firm since the clients, mostly from Florida, are holdovers from Squire Sanders' comparably small public advocacy wing.
Squire Patton Boggs officially opened its doors earlier this month. The new firm boasts more than 1500 lawyers and offices in 21 countries. Prior to the merger, Patton Boggs topped the list of Washington lobbying firms for more than a decade running. Squire Sanders is more well-known for its legal expertise and had a comparatively small lobbying operation.
Despite its ranking, lobbying revenue has decreased for Patton Boggs in recent years and the firm has lost some of its top talent, causing some to frame the merger as a rescue.
The latest Squire Patton Boggs registrations include Monroe County, Florida, the University of Miami and Florida retirement community the Villages. Squire Sanders had a foothold in Florida, having offices in Miami, Tampa and West Palm Beach. Founded in Cleveland, the old Squire Sanders lobbied mostly for clients from Florida and Ohio, including the Cleveland Clinic and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The old Patton Boggs lobbying operation was much broader, with no particular region dominating its client list.
