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CORONAVIRUS RELIEF. Owens & Minor Inc., a health care services company, hired Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP to work on COVID-19 pandemic response, government funding and procurement, trade and supply chain issues. Clete Willems, former deputy assistant to President Trump, will be among those working on the account.

National Independent Venue Association, a trade group for event venues and promoters, also hired Akin Gump to work on coronavirus-related assistance. Willems and Arshi Siddiqui, former senior policy adviser and counsel to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), among others, will work on the account.

The Endurance Sports Coalition, comprised of groups organizing large-scale endurance competition events, hired ML Strategies to work on issues related to federal funding for COVID-19 relief for the sports industry. Former Rep. Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) and Alex Hecht, former chief council on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, among others, will work on the account.

Anschutz Entertainment Group Inc., a sports and live entertainment company, hired Hogan Lovells to work on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, among other issues. Aaron Cutler, who served as a senior aide to former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.); Ari Fridman, former legal fellow on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and Kevin Wysocki, former staffer on the House Financial Services Committee, will work on the account.

Cars.com, an automotive website, hired Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP to work on issues related to COVID-19 relief packages. Marc Lampkin, former general counsel for the House Republican Conference, and Greta Joynes, former deputy chief of staff and legislative director to Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), will work on the account.

The Hershey Co. hired Forbes-Tate Partners to work on issues related to the CARES Act. Ryan Welch, former legislative director to Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.); Rick Murphy, former chief of staff to ex-Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.); and Jeff Strunk, former deputy floor director to ex-Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), will work on the account.

Hazmat TSDF Inc., a hazardous waste and disposal company, hired CGCN Group to work on issues related to the proper and safe cleanup and disposal of materials related to the coronavirus. Sam Geduldig, former senior adviser to then-House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.); Mike Nielsen, former senior policy adviser to ex-Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah); and Jay Cranford, former policy adviser to Boehner.

Laundrylux Inc., a commercial laundry equipment supplier, hired Ballard Partners to work on securing designation as an essential business in response to COVID-19. Brian Ballard, the firm’s founder and former chairman of Trump Victory, will work on the account with Daniel McFaul, former chief of staff to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).