S-3 GROUP LOBBYISTS NAB JOHNSON FUNDRAISER: As he looks to build off a record fundraising quarter to close out 2023, House Speaker Mike Johnson has got another K Street fundraiser on the books for the beginning of next month, according to an invite obtained by our Hailey Fuchs. — The Feb. 6 dinner will feature House Majority Leader Steve Scalise as a special guest, and is being hosted by a pair of Scalise allies downtown, S-3 Group’s Matt Bravo and Marty Reiser, along with Sazerac’s corporate PAC. Tickets for the fundraiser start at $2,500, with the option to pay as much as $10,000 to be named a sponsor or $15,000 to be named a host. RIVKIN RE-UPS: Charlie Rivkin has renewed his contract for a third three-year term as chair and chief executive of the Motion Picture Association. Rivkin became head of the Hollywood trade group in 2018, and oversaw the movie industry’s recovery from the pandemic and the group’s move for a more global footprint, including by dropping “of America” from the group’s name. — “Over the next three years, my team and I will continue to navigate paradigm shifts in technology, advances in distribution models, and changes in consumer tastes and behavior,” Rivkin said in a statement nodding at ongoing policy fights. Rivkin helped stand up the Streaming Innovation Alliance to push back on calls for changing streaming regulations last year, and MPA has been active in the AI policy debate on the Hill. HBS LAUNCHES PUBLIC AFFAIRS PRACTICE: Husch Blackwell Strategies, the Missouri-based lobbying firm that’s home to former GOP Sen. Roy Blunt and several of his former aides and children, is launching a new public affairs practice, HBS Public Affairs. — Marianna Deal and Kirsty McDonald are joining HBS to lead the new practice. Deal, who spent close to three decades with the PR firm FleishmanHillard, will be chair and most recently was senior adviser for communications for Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.). McDonald will be president and most recently was principal at Two Skies Group. FUJIFILM PHARMA ARM DROPS INTO D.C.: “Fujifilm Holdings America is establishing a Washington presence, hiring lobbyists to highlight its work in the biopharmaceutical industry as Congress considers ways to help avert drug shortages and increase domestic manufacturing of medicines,” our Megan Wilson reports. — “It’s focused on advocacy for Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, a subsidiary of the company that is a manufacturing partner to drugmakers — known as a contract development and manufacturing organization, or CDMO — for biologics, vaccines, advanced therapies and oncolytic viruses, a therapy used to treat cancer.” — “Crystal Fry-Vanuch, who started at the company last year but only recently registered to lobby, will oversee its government affairs and policy operation. … The company has also contracted with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, the second-largest lobbying firm in D.C. by revenue,” as well as GOP lobbying firm CGCN Group. — “The plan is to introduce the company to lawmakers and public health officials and its role in the domestic production of pharmaceuticals as the U.S. continues to grapple with supply chain issues in the wake of the pandemic, said Joe Metzger, the vice president of corporate communications at Fujifilm Holdings America.” SONGWRITERS TAP ROMNEY AIDE TO LEAD D.C. OFFICE: The National Music Publishers’ Association, which represents songwriters and music publishers, has hired Chris Barkley to lead its government relations team as senior vice president of government affairs. Barkley most recently served as deputy chief of staff to Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who is retiring at the end of his term after becoming one of the top deal-makers in the Senate over the past few years. — Barkley was previously policy director for the Senate Republican Policy Committee under Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and also did stints on the Senate Homeland Security and House Oversight committees. — “As AI and other evolving technologies threaten the value of music, it is more important than ever to have a strong voice in government on behalf of songwriters,” NMPA President and CEO David Israelite said in a statement. “As a critical advisor on influential committees and for senior lawmakers, his knowledge is virtually unmatched when it comes to understanding what it takes to make big things happen.” BARR FIRM ADDS 9: “The Torridon Group — a law and consulting firm founded by former Attorney General William Barr and former Facebook general counsel Ted Ullyot — is adding a team of new lawyers, including former White House counsel Pat Cipollone, and former deputy White House counsels Pat Philbin and Kate Todd,” Axios’ Mike Allen reports. — “Barr told Axios the firm, based in Virginia, will add a Washington office now that it’s equipped to take on ‘every facet of litigation, regulatory and enforcement proceedings, investigations, crisis management, and strategic counseling.’ Barr said Torridon lawyers have the perfect mix of public and private experience for complicated, high-stakes matters. But he said it’s still a ‘smaller boutique firm that can give individual attention at reasonable rates.’” — “Also joining Torridon are Tara Helfman and John Coghlan, as partners; Chase Harrington and Kyle West, as associates; plus former White House counsel Fred Fielding and former acting DEA administrator Tim Shea, who’ll be of counsel.”
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