MEDIA. Fox Corporation recently hired multiple shops to lobby on a host of issues, including the expiration of the Satellite TV Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization, retransmission consent, online privacy, spectrum, media ownership, the First Amendment, sports betting, children’s educational TV programming and advertising.
{mosads}CGCN Group will have Sam Geduldig, former director of coalitions to the House Financial Service Committee, among others, work on the Fox account. EFB Advocacy will have John Feehery, who managed the communications operation for former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and who is also a columnist for The Hill, working on the account. The Cormac Group will have Patrick Williams, former aide to ex-Rep. Dennis Hertel (D-Mich.), on the account. The Fritts Group will have Edward Fritts, the firm’s founder, working on the account. At The Glover Park Group, Gregg Rothschild, former chief counsel to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, among others, will work on the account. And, Wiley Rein will have Scott Weaver, former chief of staff to ex-Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.), on the account.
AGRICULTURE. Florida-based Orius Biotech USA, which grows organic agricultural products, hired the Estopinan Group to promote the company as it looks to sell its products more widely after Department of Agriculture certification. The firm’s founder, Art Estopinan, a former chief of staff to ex-Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), will work on the account.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS. Global long-term investor GIC Private Limited, which is based in Singapore, hired the law firm Sidley Austin to work on issues regarding implementation of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018. James Mendenhall, former general counsel at the Office of the United States Trade Representative, will work on the account.
TAX. South Carolina Research Authority hired Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough to work on issues dealing with the deduction of contributions for federal tax purposes. David Wilkins, former ambassador to Canada, will work on the account.