Bottom Line

TRADE. The government of Mexico has hired FTI Consulting to “provide strategic communications services and public affairs counsel to the Secretariat of the Economy of Mexico” on the negotiations between the U.S., Canada and Mexico regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement. There is not yet a dollar amount on the contract and the payment is still being discussed. The work began in late October and will “run through [Nov.] 31, 2018 or whenever negotiations conclude and ratification is complete.”

HURRICANES. Barron Collier Companies — a company dealing with land development, agricultural production and real estate investment — hired the law and lobby firm Dentons to advocate for “disaster assistance funding for Florida Citrus growers.” The citrus farming industry is dealing with roughly $760 million in losses because of Hurricane Irma, which hit Florida in September, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. A $36.5 billion hurricane relief bill passed by Congress in the wake of the storm did not provide any funds for citrus growers. Local public officials like Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) and members of Congress are pushing for additional relief.

IMMIGRATION. Adrienne DerVartanian, the director of immigration and labor rights at Farmworker Justice, has registered as a lobbyist for the group. She’ll be working on issues relating to guest-worker visa regulations and legislation involving a state-sponsored visa pilot program, among other things.

FINANCIAL SERVICES. Federal Hall Policy Advisors, a new firm formed by lobbyists from DLA Piper and O’Rourke & Nappi, has taken on nine clients: Aflac Inc., Allstate Insurance Company, Experian North America, Fermat Capital Management, Global Trading Systems, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Rapid Ratings International, Risk Management Solutions and The Coalition Organized for the Future of Insurance Regulation (COFIR). The firm is the only one representing COFIR after it terminated its contract with Thorn Run Partners.