The federal practice group of Husch Blackwell Strategies is enhancing its client service with the addition of Lynn Jacquez, founder and Managing Partner of CJ Lake, LLC, as Senior Advisor and her firm’s advocacy team. In addition to Lynn’s services, the firm’s professionals, John Assini, Kevin Forgett, and Pat Daley will join HBS as Senior Policy Associate, Policy Associate, and Executive Assistant, respectively.
HBS CEO Gregg Hartley said at today’s announcement, “Over the years I have found that securing the engagement of really strong and capable co-workers is vital to building successful organizations. Teams constructed with folks like Amy Field, Brian Diffell and Brian Gaston, at Team Blunt and Jordan Bernstein and Kai Anderson at Cassidy & Associates prove that. At HBS federal we have a solid core with advocates John Ariale, Eric Lausten, Christian Morgan, Rocky Fox, and Joe Novotny. The CJ Lake team under the leadership of Lynn Jacquez will significantly upramp our reach and capabilities. Lynn is one of the smartest, most dialed in, and astute lobbyists with whom I have ever had the pleasure to collaborate.”
Lynn Jacquez added, “HBS has an outstanding reputation and record of success. Gregg Hartley has assembled a stellar group of professionals that are a lobbying force in Washington that truly delivers for clients. I know their work first-hand and am very pleased to be able to offer that additional depth and expertise to CJ Lake clients and also to help deliver continued success to HBS.”
Gregg noted the expansion of the federal practice group will enhance the firm’s capabilities while opening new policy fronts and opportunities for clients in state and local funding, immigration, transportation and technology, emissions reductions programs and public health.
With more than thirty years in Washington Lynn Jacquez has earned a bipartisan reputation as one of the most effective advocates in immigration and refugee public policy. She also advises local governments and businesses in developing technology transfer projects to aid local economic development and has secured funding for district transit systems as well as advanced transportation technology projects and emissions reductions programs. Lynn is active in national organizations devoted to the introduction of alternative fuel vehicles. Earlier in her career on Capitol Hill, Lynn helped draft and process the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) and refugee reauthorization legislation.
John Assini provides clients key insights into the legislative process on Capitol Hill. He earlier served as a senior legislative assistant for U.S. Rep Jimmy Panetta where he was responsible for a policy portfolio covering health care, social security, immigration, judiciary, housing, transportation, and labor.
Pat Daley managed the day-to-day operations of CJ Lake. During her long tenure in Washington she served 15 years at the Department of Veterans Affairs in a number of administrative roles including for the Deputy Secretary.
Kevin Forgett has extensive experience in running legislative programs and strategies for municipal governments. Prior to CJ Lake, he served as a senior aide to the Mayor of Denver, the 19th-most populous city in the United States, where managed the day-to-day legislative process, ushering through over 1,000 legislative actions per year.
In addition to its federal practice group in Washington, D.C., HBS has state capital offices in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and Wisconsin.
HBS COO Andy Blunt noted, “Our federal team in DC continues to grow smart. Across our footprint in Annapolis, Austin, Denver, Jefferson City, Lincoln, Madison, Topeka, Phoenix, or in Washington, we are committed to helping our clients solve the most complex government problems. Our announcement today reinforces that commitment.”
