Shuster and Crowley Join Top Lobbying Firm Squire Patton Boggs(1)

Former Reps. Bill Shuster and Joe Crowley have joined law and lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs, the firm announced Tuesday morning.

They join the firm’s public policy practice, which is led by former Sens. John Breaux (D-La.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.). The firm told Bloomberg Government the new hires intend to become registered lobbyists.

“Joe Crowley and Bill Shuster have been leaders in their respective parties and are two of the most effective legislators of their generation,” Breaux and Lott said in a statement. “The skills and experience Bill and Joe bring will be an asset for clients all over the world who are seeking to navigate the challenges of modern-day Washington. They are a blockbuster addition to our global, bipartisan public policy practice.”

The acquisition is a coup for the K Street firm, nabbing the former lawmakers highly sought by the lobbying industry after their departures from Congress.

“We were honored to hear from many of the great firms in town since leaving Congress, and chose what we think is the very best place to continue our careers,” Crowley (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Serving in Congress was an honor of a lifetime and I look forward to working on many of the same issues in this new role. It’s exciting to be joining a firm with such a storied history, great people and to be doing so with a dear friend.”

Crowley — who was defeated in his Democratic primary by freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — served as the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, the fourth-highest position among House Democrats. He joined the House Ways and Means Committee in 2007, and was known as a forceful Democratic voice on the tax-writing panel. In 2018 he called for repealing and replacing the 2017 tax overhaul, which Democrats have criticized for benefiting corporations and the wealthy.

Shuster (R-Pa.) was the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee when he retired at the end of his eighth term.

“I am proud of my service in Congress, especially the last six years as Chairman of the T&I Committee,” Shuster said in a statement. “Joining Squire Patton Boggs gives Joe and me an opportunity to work with the best in the business on tackling some of our nation’s most pressing needs, including prioritizing an infrastructure agenda.”

The former lawmakers have a one-year “cooling off” period before they can lobby their former colleagues in the House or Senate. They can, however, register as lobbyists and advocate before the executive branch before that period ends.

Squire Patton Boggs for many years boasted the highest revenue among Washington lobbying firms. It had the fourth-highest revenue in 2018, reporting $24.2 million in lobbying fees. Its clients include candy company Mars Inc., Procter & Gamble Co., and SpaceX, among others.

Its lobbying shop also includes former Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and former Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater. Former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is also at the firm, though he doesn’t lobby.

To contact the reporter on this story: Megan R. Wilson in Washington at mwilson@bgov.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Katherine Rizzo at krizzo@bgov.com; Loren Duggan at lduggan@bgov.com