Services
From the beginning, Blank Rome Government Relations LLC has been focused on providing an insider's view on the developments and opportunities related to financial reform. Through Financial Reform Watch, we keep our clients ahead of the curve in the enactment and implementation of massive new programs.
Blank Rome has been intimately involved in recent financial modernization and reform legislation. The regulatory environment surrounding the financial services industry is constantly evolving and we are uniquely qualified to assist asset managers, banks, and financial services firms dealing with the implementation of these programs and reassessing and tailoring their business strategies and objectives.
Our bipartisan team has deep experience and relationships among the governmental agencies involved and the Congressional leaders who created and oversee these programs. Hardly a day goes by without some contact between Blank Rome professionals and the senior policymakers serving within the financial services or tax-writing congressional committees, the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, Commodities Futures Trading Corporation, Securities and Exchange Commission, Internal Revenue Service, and any number of federal banking regulators or other government entities.
Through our relationships with these key policy makers, we are able to secure opportunities for clients to make their case before the right committee, agency, or individual. We arrange legislative hearings, draft and obtain sponsors for critical legislation, successfully amend legislation and regulations, and draft testimony on financial service matters on behalf of our clients. We are also able to draw upon the deep knowledge and talent of our colleagues at Blank Rome LLP with significant experience in the financial sector.
We are prepared to immediately assist clients with the following:
Government Relations and Advocacy
Blank Rome's team of government affairs professionals is comprised of top lobbying and communications professionals who are subject matter experts and have in-depth knowledge of the issues of interest to the financial industry. We help our clients understand the legislative process and the implications of regulatory developments and provide strategic advice regarding the political and regulatory climate including emerging issues, proposed regulations and changes, rulemaking, and corporate compliance.
We work hand-in-hand to design strategies that allow our clients to directly participate in the legislative process to effectively address their issues and how to navigate the complex issues that cut across all branches of federal, state, and local governments.
We are able to advance provisions at each phase of the legislative process, including in the critical, private informal negotiations that take place at each stage providing complete legislative support.
Congressional Oversight & Investigations
The level and intensity of congressional oversight and investigations is expected to increase substantially with the 111th Congress. Congressional oversight authority is extremely broad and congressional investigations can be fast-paced and unpredictable. Blank Rome is uniquely qualified to guide our clients through the politically charged environment of a congressional investigation. The oversight and investigations group includes individuals who have held high-level positions with both Senate and House investigative committees and who have personally conducted congressional investigations and public hearings. Members of Blank Rome’s oversight and investigations group have extensive experience in representing businesses and individuals before Congress; and in providing full-service representation to its clients, we develop comprehensive strategies to respond to congressional investigations and formulate strategic communication plans to address the media issues that arise with such inquiries.
Strategic Communications
Blank Rome combines proven communications and public relations expertise with established lobbying skills, all tailored to address the unique business needs of our clients. Our team includes former government officials, communications strategists, public relations executives, and political strategists from both sides of the aisle and can advise clients on effective strategies for framing issues and using both paid and earned media including opinion pieces, spokespersons, and surrogates to communicate their message. We have particular experience developing preemptive communications and lobbying campaigns for clients who expect to become the target of negative campaigns or find themselves in the midst of a media crisis.
In addition to outreach to the political community, broader strategic communication to audiences in the investor community and beyond can be used to raise a client’s overall profile and meet specific corporate objectives. Our services also extend to creating and coordinating grass roots lobbying campaigns and coalitions to support our clients’ goals. These third party efforts can provide validation to the client’s arguments and are an important part of a complete campaign.
Our strategic communications team will review a client’s mission, vision and goals to craft a comprehensive communications plan including targeted investor relations, outreach to key business and trade media, and thought leadership activity. Combined with our government relations outreach, this is a powerful formula for overall communications success.
