Ballard Partners, a prominent lobbying firm with close ties to President Donald Trump, has experienced significant growth in its quarterly lobbying revenues. The firm is set to report $14 million in earnings for the first quarter of 2024, a substantial increase from the $6.2 million reported in the previous quarter. This marks more than a threefold rise compared to the $4.2 million generated in the same period last year.
Many firms in the lobbying industry, particularly on K Street, are still finalizing their first-quarter revenues. However, Ballard Partners is expected to rank among the top earners. The transition to a new administration often invigorates the lobbying sector, and this trend has continued with Trump’s return to office. Prior to Trump’s second presidency, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck led quarterly earnings with $16.9 million, though their revenue slightly decreased to $16.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld followed closely with $14.6 million.
Brian Ballard, a seasoned lobbyist from Florida, established the Washington office for Ballard Partners shortly after Trump’s initial election victory in 2017. The firm quickly became a key resource for companies and trade associations seeking insight into Trump’s unorthodox political maneuvers. While Ballard’s business saw a decline during the Biden administration, it remained within the top 20 K Street firms.
This year, Ballard’s resurgence reflects a broader pattern observed whenever there is a change in power in Washington, as corporate interests seek strategic connections with the new administration. This trend intensified with Trump’s re-election, with Ballard, along with firms like Miller Strategies, Mercury Public Affairs, Michael Best Strategies, and Continental Strategies, experiencing a surge in business since November. Although these firms have not yet disclosed their recent earnings, Ballard has secured over 130 new clients since the election, including major corporations such as JP Morgan Chase, Chevron, Palantir, Netflix, and Ripple Labs.
Additionally, the firm has registered to lobby for entities targeted by the Trump administration, including the governing body of Harvard University, the Public Broadcasting Service, and Kirkland & Ellis. Ballard is also lobbying for Axel Springer, the parent company of POLITICO. Several former Ballard lobbyists hold influential positions within Trump’s second administration, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Trent Morse, another former employee, serves as Deputy Director of Personnel for Trump.
The firm’s deep roots in Florida have facilitated connections with influential Floridians in Trump’s Washington, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, further solidifying its strategic position within the current political landscape.