Firm Ranks Second among New Jersey Lawyer-Lobbying Firms, Another Strong Result after Big Gains in 2020 and 2021
McCarter & English’s New Jersey lobbying practice continued its streak of stellar performance and increased its 2022 lobbying revenue over the record-breaking year it had in 2021. Today the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) released its annual ranking of lobbying firms, and McCarter ranked second among lawyer-lobbying firms statewide, placing the firm in the top 10 for the third year in a row. It ranked ninth among lobbying firms of all kinds, moving up one spot over last year.
The firm’s New Jersey lobbying revenue exceeded $2 million in 2022 and topped all but one of the state’s lawyer-lobbying firms. This second-place ranking comes after the firm broke into the top 10 in the ELEC ranking in 2020 and moved up to second place among lawyer-lobbying firms in 2021.
“Our New Jersey lobbying team is enjoying a strong run” said Guillermo Artiles, chair of McCarter’s Government Affairs Practice. “We’re attracting dynamic new lobbyists to the team and delivering results for clients in traditional and emerging sectors of the state’s economy. Our clients not only trust us with their most critical issues but also recommend us to others in recognition of our knowledge and experience, the results we achieve, and the diverse team we have built.”
In addition to Artiles, the firm’s lobbying team includes New Jersey veteran Bill Palatucci; seasoned advisors Omar Bareentto, Catherine Tung, and Michael Maitland; and up-and-coming lobbyists Alexandra Viqueira and Azreen Rehman. Team member Carlos Gimenez is based in the firm’s Miami office and assists nationally in Washington, DC, and elsewhere as a lawyer-lobbyist.
In 2022, working on both sides of the aisle, the firm represented 26 companies and organizations in more than a dozen industry sectors, including pharmaceutical, energy, financial services, real estate, telecom, healthcare, cybersecurity, cannabis, alcohol, technology, transportation, waste management, and manufacturing. Members of the group focus on the legislative and regulatory issues that affect clients’ business and provide strategic counseling to help achieve their business and regulatory objectives.
Last year, the firm expanded its New Jersey ranks by adding Grace Power. Power has more than 20 years of energy industry experience and a deep understanding of the public policy issues, legislation, and regulations that impact the utility and energy sectors in New Jersey and nationally. The team is poised for more growth in 2023; in January, it welcomed Catherine Tung, a former senior advisor to New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.
The firm’s commitment to diversity is evident in the makeup of the team. “We know that a diversity of perspectives results in the best outcomes for clients,” said Palatucci. “I’m proud of the team we’re building, which is not only diverse in party affiliation but also in who we are.”
In addition to the team’s maintaining its strong record in Trenton in 2022, Artiles, Palatucci, and Maitland successfully represented clients’ interests at the federal level in Washington, DC.