Drew Wilson
Full-service law firm Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney earned up to $750,000 in lobbying pay during the second quarter, new compensation reports show.
Senior principal Mac Stipanovich and the team of Keith Arnold, Brett Bacot, Marnie George, Michael Harrell, Jim Magill and Kimberly McGlynn raked in those funds across 55 legislative and executive lobbying contracts.
The bulk of the cash — up to $500,000 — was earned lobbying the Legislature. The balance came in through executive branch work.
Florida lobbyists report their earnings from each of their principals in ranges covering $10,000 increments up to $50,000, after which a firm must report the exact amount they received. Compensation reports also list overall compensation ranges for the quarter.
Using the middle number of each range, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney earned $555,000 over the three-month span — $350,000 in the Legislature and $205,000 in the executive.
Topping the legislative compensation report was U.S. Sugar Corporation with an estimated $35,000 in payments. The Florida League of Cities and Marsy’s Law for All tied for runner-up with each paying between $20,000 and $30,000 for the firm’s services.
Another 13 clients paid up to $20,000 a pop for Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney’s help in the back half of the 2019 Legislative Session. The remainder of their client roster paid up to $10,000 apiece.
CGI Technologies & Solutions was the top client on the executive side, paying between $20,000 and $30,000 for help persuading the Governor and Cabinet.
Experian Information Solutions, Witt O’Brien’s were marked down in the $10,000 to $20,000 bracket, as was U.S. Sugar, making the Clewiston based outfit the firm’s most lucrative contract of the reporting period.
The seven-member team reeled in an estimated $5,000 apiece from its 27 other paid executive lobbying contracts.
The second-quarter reports keep Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney on track to beat their overall compensation for 2018, when they earned an estimated $2.82 million.
Florida lobbyists and lobbying firms must name their clients when they sign lobbying agreements and must report their earnings from each client on a quarterly basis. Reports for the second quarter are due August 14.
