Lobbying

Squire Patton Boggs turns 1

by Megan R. Wilson - 06/01/15 7:00 PM ET

In the year since its blockbuster merger, Squire Patton Boggs has sought to redefine itself with a new image as a global policy-shaper.

On the anniversary of the combination, the firm’s Chairman and global CEO Mark J. Ruehlmann sent an email to staff and thanked the “individuals [that] have sacrificed to put the firm’s best interests first.”

“As I reflect back on the past twelve months, the list of what we have achieved together is far too long to single out individual accomplishments. Suffice it to say, we have come a long way and have made considerable progress in working together as a single global firm,” he wrote in the email on Monday.

“In many ways, the past year is the culmination of an extraordinary firm-wide effort to understand the full scope of the resources and opportunities now available to us, and how best to take advantage of them,” Ruehlmann said.

Squire Patton Boggs was formed when global law giant Squire Sanders combined with K Street powerhouse Patton Boggs — a firm that also had offices around the world, but was best known for its public policy work forged by the late Tommy Boggs.

At the time, Patton Boggs had forged through one of the toughest years in its history and the merger resulted in some big-time defections and a drop in revenues at the lobbying shop that once reined supreme as the most lucrative in Washington.

The firm officially fell to No. 2 in the K Street rankings last year, and revenues still ticked downward in the most recent quarter, but the firm continues to sign clients and shows signs of a renaissance.

Last July, former Sens. John Breaux (D-La.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who manage the entire public policy practice at Squire Patton Boggs, told The Hill they were committed to seeing the firm rise again.

“We’re looking to bring on more clients and bring on some more good people,” Lott said.

Indeed, earlier this year, the firm hired former Reps. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and the longest serving aide to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), David Schnittger.

“Much work and some challenges lie ahead, but the good news is that we are in a better position than ever to provide the diverse, high-quality service our clients expect,” Ruehlmann continued in his email. “I want to personally thank each of you for your contributions and tireless efforts. You should all be proud of what we have achieved and I am confident that our position will unlock even greater potential from the enormous talent and resources within our organization.”

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