K Street experiences a gold rush as Trump returns
During the first quarter of 2025, lobbying revenues saw significant increases nearly universally, as several firms benefitted from their connections to the president and his close associates.
TroibNews 
Donald Trump’s return to Washington has ignited a fresh wave in an already robust lobbying market, with firms closely affiliated with the president experiencing the most significant benefits, according to a PMG analysis of disclosure filings.
Throughout the first quarter of 2025, lobbying revenues surged for many leading K Street firms as Trump settled into office and promptly started issuing executive orders, targeting perceived adversaries, and seeking to radically alter global trade and geopolitical dynamics, often with sudden retreats.
This lucrative period for K Street coincides with congressional Republicans working to dismantle key regulations from the Biden administration, specifically focusing on the regulation of the cryptocurrency and AI sectors, while seeking to extend Trump’s favored 2017 tax breaks and push forward the president’s domestic agenda. Additionally, the turmoil and uncertainty stemming from Elon Musk’s cuts to federal programs and the federal workforce have further complicated the landscape.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld reported $16.4 million in lobbying revenues, ranking just behind Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s $16.8 million and marking Akin's strongest quarter ever, as noted by Brian Pomper, co-head of Akin's lobbying practice. The firm's lobbying revenues rose more than 12 percent from the fourth quarter of 2024 and nearly 19 percent year-over-year. Akin’s new lobbying registrations last quarter were about three times the typical number of new registrations per quarter in 2024.
However, the most noteworthy trend can be seen in the small number of firms leveraging their connections to the president and his inner circle for significant financial gains.
Among these Trump-affiliated firms, Continental Strategy experienced the most substantial growth relative to previous quarters, bringing in over $3.6 million in lobbying revenues for the first quarter—an increase of nearly tenfold compared to the last quarter when the firm reported earnings of $373,000. In the same timeframe the previous year, Continental's lobbying revenues amounted to just $128,000. Founded in 2021 by Carlos Trujillo, a former Trump campaign adviser, the firm has also welcomed ex-Marco Rubio staffer Alberto Martinez and recently promoted Katie Wiles, daughter of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
“Competition breeds competition,” stated Nadeam Elshami, co-head of Brownstein's lobbying practice, discussing the influx of new business to Trump-associated firms. “We welcome that,” he added, emphasizing his firm’s own strong legal and international service offerings.
The longtime head of another prominent lobbying practice remarked that “the industry has developed a new type of firm” that is disrupting “the ‘normal’ transition” typically expected in Washington during times of turnover, hinting at the significant surge in business for well-connected Trump-affiliated firms.
As PMG reported recently, Ballard Partners saw its lobbying revenues soar to $14 million in the first quarter, up from $4.3 million from the same period last year. This remarkable increase jumped Ballard Partners, led by prominent Trump fundraiser Brian Ballard, from 16th in revenue rankings for all of 2024 to 4th in the first quarter rankings.
Also making strides into the top 20 this year are Miller Strategies and Mercury Public Affairs, the latter employing former Trump adviser Bryan Lanza and previously employing Susie Wiles. Miller amassed $7.2 million in lobbying fees last quarter, marking an 80 percent increase from the fourth quarter and a 152 percent rise compared to the first quarter of 2024. Mercury more than doubled its lobbying revenues to $5.2 million since the end of 2024.
Michael Best Strategies, which includes Reince Priebus among its leadership, saw a nearly 70 percent increase in lobbying revenues quarter-over-quarter, reaching $2.1 million. Other firms with connections to influential GOP lobbyists also reported gains. The all-Republican CGCN Group announced $3.8 million in lobbying income last quarter, a 47 percent increase from the final quarter of 2024. S-3 Group experienced a 45 percent boost, bringing its revenues to $5.6 million, while Squire Patton Boggs, Vogel Group, and BGR Group each reported increases of approximately 25 percent compared to the last quarter of 2024.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
Throughout the first quarter of 2025, lobbying revenues surged for many leading K Street firms as Trump settled into office and promptly started issuing executive orders, targeting perceived adversaries, and seeking to radically alter global trade and geopolitical dynamics, often with sudden retreats.
This lucrative period for K Street coincides with congressional Republicans working to dismantle key regulations from the Biden administration, specifically focusing on the regulation of the cryptocurrency and AI sectors, while seeking to extend Trump’s favored 2017 tax breaks and push forward the president’s domestic agenda. Additionally, the turmoil and uncertainty stemming from Elon Musk’s cuts to federal programs and the federal workforce have further complicated the landscape.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld reported $16.4 million in lobbying revenues, ranking just behind Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s $16.8 million and marking Akin's strongest quarter ever, as noted by Brian Pomper, co-head of Akin's lobbying practice. The firm's lobbying revenues rose more than 12 percent from the fourth quarter of 2024 and nearly 19 percent year-over-year. Akin’s new lobbying registrations last quarter were about three times the typical number of new registrations per quarter in 2024.
However, the most noteworthy trend can be seen in the small number of firms leveraging their connections to the president and his inner circle for significant financial gains.
Among these Trump-affiliated firms, Continental Strategy experienced the most substantial growth relative to previous quarters, bringing in over $3.6 million in lobbying revenues for the first quarter—an increase of nearly tenfold compared to the last quarter when the firm reported earnings of $373,000. In the same timeframe the previous year, Continental's lobbying revenues amounted to just $128,000. Founded in 2021 by Carlos Trujillo, a former Trump campaign adviser, the firm has also welcomed ex-Marco Rubio staffer Alberto Martinez and recently promoted Katie Wiles, daughter of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
“Competition breeds competition,” stated Nadeam Elshami, co-head of Brownstein's lobbying practice, discussing the influx of new business to Trump-associated firms. “We welcome that,” he added, emphasizing his firm’s own strong legal and international service offerings.
The longtime head of another prominent lobbying practice remarked that “the industry has developed a new type of firm” that is disrupting “the ‘normal’ transition” typically expected in Washington during times of turnover, hinting at the significant surge in business for well-connected Trump-affiliated firms.
As PMG reported recently, Ballard Partners saw its lobbying revenues soar to $14 million in the first quarter, up from $4.3 million from the same period last year. This remarkable increase jumped Ballard Partners, led by prominent Trump fundraiser Brian Ballard, from 16th in revenue rankings for all of 2024 to 4th in the first quarter rankings.
Also making strides into the top 20 this year are Miller Strategies and Mercury Public Affairs, the latter employing former Trump adviser Bryan Lanza and previously employing Susie Wiles. Miller amassed $7.2 million in lobbying fees last quarter, marking an 80 percent increase from the fourth quarter and a 152 percent rise compared to the first quarter of 2024. Mercury more than doubled its lobbying revenues to $5.2 million since the end of 2024.
Michael Best Strategies, which includes Reince Priebus among its leadership, saw a nearly 70 percent increase in lobbying revenues quarter-over-quarter, reaching $2.1 million. Other firms with connections to influential GOP lobbyists also reported gains. The all-Republican CGCN Group announced $3.8 million in lobbying income last quarter, a 47 percent increase from the final quarter of 2024. S-3 Group experienced a 45 percent boost, bringing its revenues to $5.6 million, while Squire Patton Boggs, Vogel Group, and BGR Group each reported increases of approximately 25 percent compared to the last quarter of 2024.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
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