New firm to offer ‘entrepreneurial’ model

A new lobbying firm plans to grow by offering employees the
opportunity to keep more of the earnings they generate from clients they sign.

Andrew Rosenberg and Chris Lamond left Ogilvy Government
Relations to start Thorn Run Partners. Rosenberg is a former staff aide to the
late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), and Lamond worked for then-Sen. Fred
Thompson (R-Tenn.).

{mosads}The income new lobbyists at large firms receive typically
comes from a base salary plus some incentives to encourage the development of
new business. The model offers less risk for new lobbyists, who get the security
of working at a firm with a prominent name and an already substantial client
base.

But often, lobbyists have to share the benefits of the
clients they attract with the firm partners.

Rosenberg said he and Lamond were developing what he
described as a more “entrepreneurial” model: lower base pay for greater
commissions.

“It’s difficult to find a firm that gives you a big piece of
what you generate off the bat,” Rosenberg said.

“We really want to be a firm of entrepreneurs and really
attract lobbyists who know how to bring in clients and how to service them and
keep them happy.”

Rosenberg’s and Lamond’s departures come amid reorganization
at Ogilvy as part of its ongoing integration with WPP.

Ogilvy started as a small, all-Republican shop known as the
Federalist Group. It grew into a top-10 earner on K Street after being bought
by the WPP Co., a giant advertising and public-relations firm.

Previously, three former Ogilvy lobbyists left to start
their own firm, a return to the all-Republican model Federalist Group was once
based on. Stewart Hall, John Green and Jim Baker, who were among the nine
Republican lobbyists at Ogilvy, have started Crossroad Strategies.

Rosenberg said both he and Lamond had envisioned starting
their own shops someday, too. While the reorganization at Ogilvy presented a
“natural time of transition,” Rosenberg said his and Lamond’s departure wasn’t
related to the changes.

Thorn Run has commitments for a dozen clients, most of which
are in the healthcare field, Rosenberg said.

Each side said the parting was amicable.

“It’s Washington — nobody stays in one place forever. We had
a great run with everybody. Everybody is entitled to do their own thing,” said
Drew Maloney, who was recently promoted to CEO of Ogilvy Government Relations.

Maloney said Ogilvy would soon announce additions to its
lobbying team. In addition to Maloney’s elevation to CEO, other management
changes included the naming of Moses Mercado and Wayne Berman as co-chairmen of
the group and Gordon Taylor as president.

Ogilvy earned $5.2 million in the third quarter of 2009, an
18 percent increase from the same quarter last year.

Maloney said the firm would announce the addition of
lobbyists to its team soon.

Rosenberg and Lamond also have worked for large, successful
lobbying firms in addition to Ogilvy.

Rosenberg formerly worked at Patton Boggs, the
legal and lobbying firm. Lamond is an alum of Cassidy & Associates, which
typically rates among the top five revenue earners on K Street.