Eric Tanenblatt, co-leader of the firm's US public policy and regulation practice, recruited Amy Odom, lobbyist for health insurer Anthem, last autumn to get the effort off the ground. Both are based in Atlanta, the former headquarters for McKenna Long & Aldridge, which Dentons acquired a year ago.

Extensive network

Ms Odom said Dentons has its own full-time lobbyists in Georgia, New York, California, Colorado and Missouri, as well as people with public affairs experience in Texas and Illinois who aren’t registered as lobbyists. The firm also has a large federal lobbying practice in Washington.

Covered by year’s end

Dentons is affiliating with local public affairs firms in the remaining states. Ms Odom said Dentons has signed letters of agreement with eight network members that cover 17 or 18 states and expects to have all 50 states covered by year’s end.

No referral fee or kickback

She added that there is no financial relationship between Dentons and the lobbying firms in the new Dentons 50 network: ‘Our clients pay the firms directly. There is no kickback or referral fee.’ Instead, the network is intended to expand opportunities for Dentons and the network members.

Source: The American Lawyer