The Smith-Free Group
The Smith-Free Group is a bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. providing legislative, regulatory, and strategic advisory services to Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations seeking representation before Congress, executive agencies, and the White House.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Smith-Free Group does
The Smith-Free Group is a privately-held bipartisan government affairs consulting firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. (1001 G Street NW, Suite 375 West). Founded in 1995 by James Free and with roots tracing back to predecessor Walker-Free Associates from 1981, the firm provides legislative, regulatory, and strategic advisory services to Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations seeking representation before Congress, executive agencies, and the White House. Its service portfolio spans Congressional affairs and oversight, regulatory and executive branch affairs, strategic advisory, and advocacy across policy verticals including financial services, banking, intellectual property, energy and environment, tax, trade, transportation, housing, and healthcare.
The firm operates a professional services model with senior-level relationship management as its go-to-market motion. Smart specialization is its central differentiator: a bipartisan roster of strategists drawn from the highest levels of Capitol Hill, executive agencies, and the White House, including alumni of the Carter White House, EPA, HUD, Senate HELP Committee, and party leadership offices. Leadership includes Chairman James Free, President and CEO Jon Deuser (former Chief of Staff to Rep. Jim Bunning), and Managing Partner Bob Hickmott (former Counselor to the HUD Secretary and EPA Associate Administrator for Congressional Affairs). The firm generates thought leadership through its "Big Casino" political newsletter and "Reconciliation Watch" legislative tracker.
The Smith-Free Group is a small, partnership-style firm (1–10 employees) with no outside institutional investment, no disclosed subsidiaries, and no published financials. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is conducted through direct client engagement. The firm was recognized as a BGOV 2021 Top-Performing Lobbying Firm and has continued to add senior talent through 2025.
The Smith-Free Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Smith-Free Group
- Legal name
- The Smith-Free Group LLC
- Website
- https://smithfreegroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Smith-Free Group is a bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. providing legislative, regulatory, and strategic advisory services to Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations seeking representation before Congress, executive agencies, and the White House.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Smith-Free Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Smith-Free Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Affairs Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for government affairs, lobbying, and strategic advisory. Clients include Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations seeking representation before Congress, executive agencies, and the White House.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
The Smith-Free Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Smith-Free Group is a bipartisan government affairs consulting firm that provides legislative and regulatory advocacy, strategic advisory, and direct engagement services before Congress, executive agencies, and the White House. Its offerings span Congressional Affairs & Oversight, Regulatory Agencies & Executive Branch Affairs, Strategic Advisory Services, and specialized Policy Practice Areas covering financial services, banking, intellectual property, energy, tax, trade, transportation, housing, and healthcare. The firm also produces policy intelligence publications such as the 'Big Casino' newsletter and 'Reconciliation Watch' updates.
Product overview
The Smith-Free Group is a professional services firm offering comprehensive bipartisan government affairs and lobbying services. The core offering consists of government affairs consulting with expertise spanning Congressional Affairs & Oversight, Regulatory Agencies & Executive Branch Affairs, Strategic Advisory Services, and Advocacy & Engagement. The firm operates across specialized practice areas including Financial Services, Banking, Intellectual Property, Energy & Environment, Tax, Trade, Transportation, Housing, and Health Care. Additionally, the firm produces policy intelligence publications such as 'Big Casino' and 'Reconciliation Watch' that provide clients with legislative analysis and strategic insights.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Government Affairs Services Bipartisan government affairs consulting providing legislative and regulatory advocacy, strategic advisory services, and access to Congressional and Executive Branch relationships for Fortune 500 clients, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations.
- Congressional Affairs & Oversight Expertise in navigating Congressional processes, oversight activities, and legislative strategy for clients seeking to engage with federal legislators.
- Regulatory Agencies & Executive Branch Affairs Engagement with federal regulatory agencies and executive branch departments to advocate for client interests before administrative bodies.
- Strategic Advisory Services Consulting on public affairs strategy and political landscape navigation for corporate decision-making, including anticipatory risk identification and opportunity assessment.
- Policy Practice Areas Specialized bipartisan advocacy and advisory expertise across Financial Services, Banking, Intellectual Property, Energy & Environment, Tax, Trade, Transportation, Housing, and Health Care sectors.
- Policy Intelligence Publications (Big Casino Newsletter & Reconciliation Watch) Regular policy intelligence publications including the 'Big Casino' newsletter covering political landscape and Trump administration developments, and 'Reconciliation Watch' tracking Senate reconciliation and appropriations activity for clients and policymakers.
Companies that use The Smith-Free Group
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Smith-Free Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Smith-Free Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The Smith-Free Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cornerstone Government Affairs: Bipartisan federal lobbying and government affairs firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. Direct competitor offering similar advocacy services to corporate and association clients with Hill and executive branch access.
- Cassidy & Associates: Long-standing Washington, D.C. government relations firm with strong bipartisan practice and Fortune 500 client base. Comparable boutique model focused on lobbying, advocacy, and strategic advisory before Congress and federal agencies.
- Van Scoyoc Associates: Washington, D.C. government relations firm providing federal lobbying, strategic consulting, and appropriations services. Comparable boutique lobbying competitor serving corporate and association clients.
- BGR Group: Washington, D.C.-based bipartisan government affairs and lobbying firm serving Fortune 500 clients across multiple practice areas. Directly comparable boutique lobbying competitor with similar bipartisan positioning and Hill-veteran leadership.
- Forbes Tate Partners: Bipartisan public affairs and government relations firm in Washington, D.C. Direct competitor combining lobbying, strategic communications, and advocacy services for corporate clients.
Broad incumbents
- K&L Gates: Global law firm with significant government affairs and public policy practice in Washington, D.C. Competes for corporate lobbying mandates with broader full-service legal offering.
- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Major international law firm with one of the largest government affairs practices globally. Competes for the same Fortune 500 lobbying and policy advisory work with broader international footprint and bundled legal-services offering.
- Holland & Knight: Large law firm with a top-tier Washington, D.C. federal lobbying and government affairs practice. Serves overlapping Fortune 500 clients across many of the same policy areas as Smith-Free.
- Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck: Large Washington-based law and lobbying firm with one of the largest federal affairs practices in the U.S. Serves many of the same Fortune 500 and trade association clients across lobbying, regulatory, and legal advisory — broader incumbent with significantly more resources.
- Squire Patton Boggs: Global law and public policy firm with substantial Washington lobbying practice. Comparable policy verticals (energy, financial services, healthcare, trade) and competing for similar Fortune 500 client mandates.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Smith-Free Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Smith-Free Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Smith-Free Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
The Smith-Free Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Smith-Free Group 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 The Smith-Free Group
What does The Smith-Free Group do?
The Smith-Free Group is a bipartisan government affairs consulting firm that provides legislative and regulatory advocacy, strategic advisory, and direct engagement services before Congress, executive agencies, and the White House. Its offerings span Congressional Affairs & Oversight, Regulatory Agencies & Executive Branch Affairs, Strategic Advisory Services, and specialized Policy Practice Areas covering financial services, banking, intellectual property, energy, tax, trade, transportation, housing, and healthcare. The firm also produces policy intelligence publications such as the 'Big Casino' newsletter and 'Reconciliation Watch' updates.
Is The Smith-Free Group a public or private company?
The Smith-Free Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Smith-Free Group founded?
The Smith-Free Group was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Smith-Free Group based?
The Smith-Free Group is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Smith-Free Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Affairs Consulting Services.
Who are The Smith-Free Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cornerstone Government Affairs, Cassidy & Associates, Van Scoyoc Associates, BGR Group and Forbes Tate Partners. Broad incumbents are K&L Gates, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Holland & Knight, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and Squire Patton Boggs.
Does The Smith-Free Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Smith-Free Group.