GOVERNMENT + PUBLIC POLICY PRACTICE Legal know-how plus political ‘muscle’ add up to success for a breadth of blue chip clients BY JIM ROSICA Reflecting on their governmental practice, Jonathan Kilman is proud of the team he has helped build with Foley & Lardner. Kilman, who co-chairs the practice, especially likes what one might call the quiet successes they’re able to achieve, the ones “that are drama free and publicity free.” “We often measure optimal success when we deliver client results without our clients showing up in the blogs or news publications around the state,” Kilman says. Of course, he’ll take some good press too. One recent story from a prominent Florida political news site described the practice as being involved in nearly every major issue in the policymaking process — and for good reason. As Foley & Lardner has focused on talent-building in its government practice, it’s become a think tank with political muscle to deliver results. “We lead with our people and their passion to deliver results for our clients,” said Robert Hosay, the practice’s other co-chair. “Our mantra is to operate in the highest professional manner, using trusted relationships and protecting client confidences.” Hosay is a good example. The top-tier procurement lawyer and lobbyist was a former interim secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services under Gov. Jeb Bush. He recently represented St. John & Partners, a Jacksonville-based advertising and PR firm. It protested a five-year services contract worth $125 million with the Florida Lottery that went to PP&K, a Tampa-based advertising agency. Rather than St. John walking away with nothing, the protest resulted in an undisclosed but “amicable agreement,” according to a joint statement from both firms this August. Other high-profile clients offer their own endorsements, including Craig Hagen, head of global WINTER 2016 INFLUENCE | 85
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