LawMedia Group
LawMedia Group -- also referred to as LMG -- is a secretive Washington DC public affairs firm. The firm's website says it "unites the worlds of law, communications, strategic counseling and crisis management into seamless campaigns for Fortune 100 companies, trade associations, start-ups and non-profits." [1] Ads for LMG describe its services as including "government relations" (lobbying), "grassroots lobbying," "issue / initiative / petition management," "media production" and "opposition research." [2]
Contents
Ghost-written op/eds
The firm has been associated with several ghost-written opinion columns. In July 2008, LMG was linked to an op-ed criticizing a bill that would reduce credit card fees, which was attributed to Charles Steele Jr., the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The column -- which neither Steele nor his office authorized -- complains that the bill "would boost the profits of Wal-Mart," an SCLC sponsor. Steele's attorney blamed "the K Street public relations shop LMG" for the mix-up. LMG admitted that it had "reached out through its contractors" to send "advocacy materials" to the SCLC and "urged the group to go public with opposition to the bill." Among LMG's clients is the Electronic Payments Coalition, a group of credit card and financial companies that opposes the legislation. The SCLC investigated and concluded that "the wrong draft of the op-ed" had been sent to papers. "The correct draft should not have referenced Wal-Mart or Home Depot," another SCLC sponsor. [3]
In August 2008, LMG was linked to a Harvard Crimson op/ed supposedly by Mel King, a community organizer and network neutrality advocate. However, King's column questioned the need for net neutrality provisions. King admitted that LMG was involved and refused to say whether "he was paid for the use of his name," reported CNET News. LMG's clients include Comcast, which opposes net neutrality, and Microsoft, which hired LMG in an attempt to block a Google-Yahoo advertising deal. Another strange aspect of King's anti-net neutrality column is that "portions are identical to a Rainbow Push coalition statement attributed to the Rev. Jesse Jackson and dated three months before." A source told CNET News that "LMG has a relationship with Jackson that includes ghost-written articles on behalf of corporate clients." [4]
Astroturf coalitions
In May 2008, Microsoft retained LMG on what was reportedly a "six-figure monthly retainer," to oppose a Google-Yahoo advertising deal. "Immediately afterward, anti-Google coalitions of dubious provenance--an LMG specialty--sprouted. The American Corn Growers Association, the League of Rural Voters, and a group called the Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA) sent a letter to the Justice Department asking it to investigate Google's 'search monopoly.' Prior to that time, those groups had no history of aggressive anti-Google advocacy," reported CNET News. [4] [5]
In October 2007, LMG was linked to "a coalition of influential minority labor groups" -- including Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the League of United Latin American Citizens and the A. Philip Randolph Institute -- that "publicly denounced the proposal by Northrop Grumman Corp. and its partner, the European consortium that owns Airbus, arguing that the team's offering of the KC-30, based on the Airbus 330 airframe, would result in thousands of skilled jobs sent overseas." LMG was working for Boeing -- the competitor for the contract -- at the time. [6]
Lobbying
As of August 2008, Comcast was listed as LMG's only lobbying clients, according to the subscription database Lobbyists.info. [7]
Personnel
- Julian Epstein, founder, principal and registered lobbyist
- Gil Meneses, vice-president
- Kevin Parker, senior adviser
- Alexandra Esser
- Joe Velasquez, lobbyist
- Beth Windisch, lobbyist
Former personnel, from various sources: [4] [8] [9]
Clients
Contact information
LMG
1717 Rhode Island Ave, NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-785-2100
Fax: 202-785-2611
Website: http://www.lawmedia.net/
Articles and resources
Related SourceWatch resources
Sources
- ↑ "Homepage," Lawmedia.net, accessed August 2008.
- ↑ "2007-2008 minority political companies directory," The Democratic Party, accessed August 2008.
- ↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, "The Man Behind the Byline Isn't Behind the Article. So, Who Is?," Washington Post, July 29, 2008.
- ↑ Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Declan McCullagh, "Wanted: Writers for D.C. tech lobby group, secrecy mandatory," CNET News, August 14, 2008.
- ↑ Declan McCullagh, "Secretive D.C. firm says corn growers' anti-Google letter is legit," CNET News, June 12, 2008.
- ↑ Jump up to: 6.0 6.1 Megan Scully, "Outside Influences," National Journal's CongressDaily, October 24, 2007.
- ↑ Jump up to: 7.0 7.1 "Law Media Group," Lobbyists.info, accessed August 2008.
- ↑ "William Jusino," LinkedIn profile, accessed August 2008.
- ↑ "People," National Journal's CongressDaily, October 5, 2007.
- ↑ Declan McCullagh, "Corn farmers take anti-Google fight to Washington," CNET News, June 11, 2008.
