Capitol Counsel nabs lobbying, campaign veteran

Capitol Counsel has hired veteran lobbyist and fundraising guru Jeff Walter to become a partner in its Washington office, the firm announced on Tuesday.

Walter will leave the firm he founded in 2001, the Walter Group, and said he “jumped at the chance” to work at one of the top 20 highest grossing government relations firms in Washington. Last year, Capitol Counsel reported collecting $12.1 million in lobbying fees.

“I have worked with the firm before and know how good they are,” he said in a release.

{mosads}Walter began lobbying in 2001 after spending 14 years working in the halls of Congress, in a federal agency and helping candidates drum up money for elections. In addition to his firm, he has held senior posts at MWW Group and the Washington Group.

“Jeff’s vast experience in all facets of government and politics makes him the perfect addition to our firm,” said John D. Raffaelli, Capitol Counsel’s founding partner, in a statement.

Though federal records show that his firm’s annual lobbying revenue only hovered around $1.7 million in 2012, the Walter Group still signed and maintained big clients on its roster — including JP Morgan Chase, Time Warner Cable, Lockheed Martin, Comcast and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

“His work with Congressional leaders, heads of corporations and administrations has helped promote sound policy across multiple areas of focus,” Raffaelli continued.

Among his public sector experience, Walter spent four years running the national fundraising efforts for former Sen. Al D’Amato (R-N.Y.) and subsequently managing the lawmaker’s political projects in his Capitol Hill office from 1995 to 1999.

During the 1998 congressional election season, Walter led the finance division of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee and served as former Sen. Connie Mack’s (R-Fla.) political director during his 1994 reelection campaign following a yearlong stint in the senator’s office.