Ballard Partners
Ballard Partners is a privately held lobbying and government relations firm founded in 1998 that provides legislative advocacy, policy strategy, and regulatory counsel to over 1,000 clients including Fortune 500 companies, professional sports leagues, and foreign governments across 17 global offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ballard Partners does
Ballard Partners is a privately held lobbying and government relations firm founded in 1998 by Brian Ballard in Tallahassee, Florida. The firm provides legislative advocacy, policy strategy, regulatory counsel, appropriations work, and crisis communications to enterprise, government, and organizational clients across federal, state, and local jurisdictions in the United States and internationally. It serves over 1,000 clients including Fortune 500 companies, major professional sports leagues, financial services firms, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, educational institutions, and foreign governments.
The firm operates as a relationship-intensive professional services platform rather than a technology business; its core capability is its bench of former members of Congress, former senior White House officials, former diplomats, and senior congressional chiefs of staff. Ballard has formalized seven specialty practice groups — Ballard Media Group, Critical Minerals Practice, Financial Services Group, Veterans Practice Group, Health Policy Advisory Group, Western Hemisphere Affairs Group, and the Emerging Technology and AI Practice Group — and extends its reach internationally through the Ballard Global Alliance (BGA), a network of ten-plus in-country public affairs partnerships spanning Japan, the UK, South Korea, Latin America, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, France, Brussels, Australia, and Chile/Peru.
Ballard generates revenue through professional services fees and retainer arrangements, with no standardized public pricing. As of Q1 2026, the firm reported $10.44 million in quarterly lobbying disclosure revenue, ranking second among Florida lobbying firms, following Q2 2025 disclosure revenue of $20.6 million that surpassed established national competitors such as Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. Total firm revenue exceeds the disclosed lobbying line, as state-level lobbying across eight Florida offices, international engagements, and media services are not captured in the disclosure figures. The firm maintains 17 global offices across the U.S., Middle East, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, and is led by founder Brian Ballard as President.
Ballard Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ballard Partners
- Legal name
- Ballard Partners
- Website
- https://ballardpartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ballard Partners is a privately held lobbying and government relations firm founded in 1998 that provides legislative advocacy, policy strategy, and regulatory counsel to over 1,000 clients including Fortune 500 companies, professional sports leagues, and foreign governments across 17 global offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ballard Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Relations and Lobbying Services
- NAICS
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Affairs, Government Relations & Lobbying (BPAFADAB)
Keywords
Where Ballard Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices17 records
Markets served
Ballard Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government Relations and Lobbying Services: Ballard Partners generates revenue through professional lobbying and government relations services, providing legislative advocacy, policy strategy, and regulatory counsel to corporate, government, and organizational clients. Revenue is derived from consulting fees and retainer arrangements with clients seeking influence in federal, state, and local government processes.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Ballard Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ballard Partners is a privately held lobbying and governmental affairs firm that provides legislative advocacy, policy strategy, appropriations navigation, and regulatory counsel to corporate, governmental, and organizational clients at the federal, state, and local levels. The firm represents more than 1,000 clients—ranging from Fortune 500 companies and professional sports leagues to foreign governments—through 17 offices across the U.S. and overseas, with engagement delivered by former members of Congress, former White House officials, former diplomats, and senior bipartisan strategists.
Product overview
Ballard Partners is a lobbying and public affairs firm offering comprehensive governmental relations services. The firm operates as a unified platform with multiple specialty practice groups: its core lobbying services are supplemented by specialized groups covering Ballard Media Group (communications), Critical Minerals Practice, Financial Services Group, Veterans Practice Group, Health Policy Advisory Group, Western Hemisphere Affairs Group, and the Emerging Technology and AI Practice Group. The Ballard Global Alliance extends the firm's reach internationally through strategic partnerships with public affairs firms across global markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Emerging Technology and AI Practice Group: Practice group helping clients navigate policy, procurement, and strategic challenges at the intersection of AI, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and government modernization
- Critical Minerals Practice
- Financial Services Group
- Veterans Practice Group
- Health Policy Advisory Group
- Western Hemisphere Affairs Group
Products and services
- Lobbying Services Comprehensive governmental and public affairs lobbying services including legislative advocacy, policy influence, and appropriations advocacy at federal, state, and local levels, delivered to corporate, governmental, and organizational clients.
- Ballard Media Group Media and communications specialty group offering press relations, digital campaigns, reputation management, coalition building, crisis communications, strategic corporate communications, and paid media services, including production of the 13th & Park podcast/video platform with more than 3.7 million YouTube subscribers.
- Critical Minerals Practice Practice group helping clients navigate policy, supply-chain, and regulatory issues related to critical minerals and the energy transition.
- Financial Services Group Financial lobbying services covering fintech, insurtech, banking, securities, consumer finance, virtual currency, blockchain, and insurance sectors.
- Veterans Practice Group Veterans advocacy services working with veteran organizations on rights, healthcare, and policy matters.
- Health Policy Advisory Group Health policy advocacy covering Medicare, Medicaid, pharmaceutical policy, pharmacy benefit management, telehealth, and healthcare regulatory issues.
- Western Hemisphere Affairs Group Strategic advocacy and advisory services for Latin America, Mexico, Canada, and Greenland, including a Venezuela Task Force for regulatory and commercial navigation.
- Emerging Technology and AI Practice Group Advisory services helping clients navigate AI policy, procurement, cybersecurity policy, digital infrastructure, broadband, government modernization, and emerging technology regulation.
- Ballard Global Alliance (BGA) International network of government relations and public affairs partnerships spanning Japan, the U.K., South Korea, Latin America, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, France, Brussels, Australia, and Chile/Peru through strategic alliance partnerships with local public affairs firms.
Companies that use Ballard Partners
Customer profileNamed customers30 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ballard Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ballard Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Azerta (Chile and Peru)coreBased in Santiago with strong presence across Chile and Peru, Azerta is a leading public affairs and strategic communications firm specializing in government relations, public policy, regulatory strategy, and corporate communications.
- TG Public Affairs (Australia)coreBased in Canberra, TG Public Affairs is a premier government relations and strategic advisory firm renowned for its deep expertise within the Australian political and regulatory landscape.
- KyodoPRcoreKyodoPR is Japan's premier public affairs firm providing strategic communication and government relations counsel. Partnership enables Ballard Partners to offer services in the Japanese market through KyodoPR's local expertise and political relationships.
- SABI Strategy Group (United Kingdom)coreFounded in 2015, SABI Strategy Group is a leading strategic communications firm based in London specializing in public relations, campaign management, research, and government advocacy.
- The GR Company (Republic of Korea)coreKorea's leading public affairs firm specializing in strategic government relations counsel, regulatory expertise, and public affairs campaigns with deep understanding of the Korean political landscape.
- Cefeidas Group (Latin America)coreBased in Argentina, Cefeidas Group is a leading public affairs and strategic advisory firm with deep expertise in Latin America, specializing in public policy, regulatory affairs, and crisis management.
- MAIM Group (Italy)coreMAIM Group is a top public affairs and media relations firm in Italy specializing in government relations and regulatory affairs, providing clients with strategic counsel and access to key decision-makers.
- Esfera (Brazil)coreBased in São Paulo, Esfera Brazil is a leading civic organization and think tank focused on public affairs, policy analysis, and economic insight with deep expertise in Brazil's political and regulatory environment.
- Global Nexus (Mexico City)coreGlobal Nexus LLC is a government and public affairs advisory firm based in Mexico City and Washington, D.C., providing strategic counsel on public policy, legislative monitoring, crisis management, and geopolitical risk.
- Forward GlobalcoreBased in Washington, Paris, and Brussels, Forward Global partnership unites leading lobbying expertise with geopolitical risk advisory and public affairs. Collaboration expands Ballard Partners' presence in Europe while enhancing U.S. footprint.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ballard Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Holland & Knight: Major US law firm with a leading federal and state government lobbying practice. Comparable to Ballard in providing comprehensive public affairs, legislative advocacy, and regulatory counsel to large corporate clients.
- Squire Patton Boggs: Global law and public policy firm with a robust government relations practice. Comparable to Ballard in providing lobbying and policy advocacy across multiple sectors including energy, healthcare, and financial services.
- Mehlman Consulting: A bipartisan government relations firm with strong Republican and Democratic ties. Comparable to Ballard in providing federal lobbying and strategic counsel with particular strength in healthcare, tax, and budget policy.
- BGR Group: A bipartisan lobbying and public affairs firm headquartered in Washington DC. Directly comparable to Ballard in offering federal and state government affairs, advocacy, and strategic communications for Fortune 500 and international clients.
- Forbes Tate Partners: A bipartisan public affairs and government relations firm. Directly comparable to Ballard in providing strategic lobbying, communications, and policy advocacy for corporate, nonprofit, and association clients.
- Capitol Counsel Group: A bipartisan government affairs firm in Washington DC focused on legislative advocacy and strategic counsel. Directly comparable to Ballard as a high-touch lobbying firm serving Fortune 500 and major institutional clients.
- Cornerstone Government Affairs: A bipartisan government affairs firm with offices in Washington DC and around the US. Directly comparable to Ballard in offering lobbying, strategic consulting, and policy advice to corporate and organizational clients.
- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: One of the largest lobbying and law firms in Washington, with a globally recognized public law and policy practice. Directly comparable to Ballard in serving Fortune 500 clients, foreign governments, and providing bipartisan federal and state-level advocacy.
- Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck: A leading Washington DC-based lobbying and law firm consistently ranked among the top revenue-generating lobbying shops. Directly comparable to Ballard as a bipartisan powerhouse serving Fortune 500 clients across energy, healthcare, finance, and technology; Ballard recently surpassed its quarterly revenue.
Broad incumbents
- K&L Gates: Global law firm with a significant public policy and lobbying practice. Comparable to Ballard in serving large corporate clients across healthcare, energy, finance, and technology, but operates as a much broader full-service law firm rather than a focused lobbying shop.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ballard Partners social profiles
Digital presenceBallard Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ballard Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles40 records
Ballard Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Ballard Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ballard Partners
What does Ballard Partners do?
Ballard Partners is a privately held lobbying and governmental affairs firm that provides legislative advocacy, policy strategy, appropriations navigation, and regulatory counsel to corporate, governmental, and organizational clients at the federal, state, and local levels. The firm represents more than 1,000 clients—ranging from Fortune 500 companies and professional sports leagues to foreign governments—through 17 offices across the U.S. and overseas, with engagement delivered by former members of Congress, former White House officials, former diplomats, and senior bipartisan strategists.
Is Ballard Partners a public or private company?
Ballard Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ballard Partners founded?
Ballard Partners was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ballard Partners based?
Ballard Partners is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ballard Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Relations and Lobbying Services.
Who are Ballard Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Holland & Knight, Squire Patton Boggs, Mehlman Consulting, BGR Group, Forbes Tate Partners, Capitol Counsel Group, Cornerstone Government Affairs, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. K&L Gates is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ballard Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ballard Partners.
What industry is Ballard Partners in?
Ballard Partners's product category is Government Relations and Lobbying Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFADAB, Public Affairs, Government Relations & Lobbying. Its NAICS code is 8139.