ParfumGigi@aol.com
3 janvier, 2007 18:28
Steptoe & Johnson Bolsters Lobbying Practice With Acquisition of Scott Group
Joe Crea
Legal Times
12-21-2006
In an effort to expand its lobbying presence, Steptoe & Johnson acquired the Scott Group last week, the spinoff lobby shop from the April merger of Collier Shannon Scott and Kelley Drye.
Steptoe's lobbying practice has a heavy international trade and regulatory practice with clients that include Walt Disney Co., the American Council for Thermal Imaging and the Canadian Wheat Board.
With the addition of the Scott Group, a firm with an equal mix of regulatory and legislative work, Steptoe gains a score of new clients such as the National Association of Convenience Stores, the Tobacco Products Manufacturers Coalition, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and the Financial Services Roundtable.
Along with the merger, Steptoe acquires the talents of Scott Sinder, who was on the executive committee of Collier Shannon Scott; R. Timothy Columbus; James Barnette; and Douglas Kantor. All will join as partners. Former Rep. Thomas Bliley, R-Va., Suzie Brewster and Leslie Belcher will be named senior advisers for government relations, and John Fielding will join as counsel.
Kantor says his firm began discussions this fall with Steptoe about a possible merger. He adds that the Scott Group was formed because of some client-conflict issues that arose after the Collier-Kelley merger this spring.
"Structurally, we felt we had to make a change," he says. "That piece is unfortunate."
