Locke Lord Remains at No. 1 of Capitol Inside’s Texas Law Firm Lobby Practices; Four Public Law Members Included in Top Rankings

January 27, 2017 – Locke Lord has again been ranked the No. 1 Texas law firm lobby practice by Capitol Inside in its Texas Lobby Power Rankings. According to the publication, the nationally-recognized bipartisan Public Law team has been “a fixture at the pinnacle of the list of law firm lobby practices since the category's inception 12 years ago.” In addition, Partner Robert Miller, Chair of the Firm’s Texas Public Law Section, is ranked among the Top 3 lobbyists in the state (out of 2,000), and three additional Locke Lord Public Law lawyers and professionals are included in the Power Rankings.

Capitol Inside, a closely followed Texas political and governmental affairs website based in Austin, credited the leadership of Miller and his “focus on a successful teamwork” as the driver behind the Firm’s consistent top rankings in the publication’s biannual lobby Power Rankings. Miller’s approach has created a public law team that “reflects the Capitol's bipartisan complexion and diversity with a prism of concentration that's tailored for each team member's unique background.”

“It’s always wonderful to see our Texas Public Law group recognized externally for what we have long known internally – they are the best of the best with their strength, talent and approach,” said Locke Lord Chair Jerry Clements. “This ranking reflects the unique capabilities of this highly sought-after team that provides great insight and results for our clients while adhering to the ethical standards in lobbying.”

Miller has established a stellar reputation in the last 25 years via his lobbying efforts on behalf of public and private concerns before local, state, and federal governments. The 2017 Capitol Inside rankings said Miller “has built the Locke Lord shop into a fixture at the pinnacle of the list of law firm lobby practices since the category's inception 12 years ago. Miller's focus on a successful teamwork approach has fueled his individual stock value…”

He successfully worked to keep the Houston Astros in Houston through the creation of a Sports Authority, which led to the construction of a retractable roof stadium. Miller also has held numerous leadership positions in civic organizations, including serving as Chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas

Also cited in this year’s Texas Lobby Power Rankings are:

• Public Policy Advisor Nef Partida is No. 54 on the Hired Guns list, moving from his status on the Rising Stars list in 2015. Partida has served on the strategy team as a communications consultant to a number of Republican and Democratic campaigns.

• Public Policy Advisor Crystal Ford is No. 6 on Capitol Inside’s Rising Stars list. Ford joined the Firm in July of 2016 after serving as chief of staff for Democratic State Rep. Carol Alvarado of Houston. According to Capitol Inside, Ford “has a chance to become one of the most influential African-American lobbyists in Austin” while working with the Locke Lord team. 

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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service, international law firm of more than 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 125 years and is a worldwide leader in the middle market sector. Locke Lord advises clients across a broad spectrum of industries including energy, financial services, fund formation, health care, insurance and reinsurance, private equity and venture capital, public finance, real estate, and technology, media and telecommunications, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, tax, regulatory and transactional teams.