Ballard Partners

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.

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

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

• Government relations consulting
• Federal lobbying services
• Legislative advocacy
• Public affairs firm
• Regulatory affairs advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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.

Named customers30 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Azerta (Chile and Peru)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Based 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026Based 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.
• KyodoPRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKyodoPR 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorea'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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAIM 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal 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 GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ballardfirm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPIMmE-kV_Vde-AbIqP_y1w
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ballard-partners-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles40 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ballard Partners