Group of Lobbyists Leaves Dow Lohnes for Thompson Coburn

A group of four lobbyists has left Dow Lohnes Government Strategies to create a new lobbying and policy group at Thompson Coburn in Washington.

Kenneth Salomon, James Burger and Christopher Murray joined Thompson Coburn as partners, while Haley Davis came aboard as senior manager of government affairs, the firm announced Monday. Salomon, who is the chairman of the lobbying and policy group, said Thompson Coburn presented him and his colleagues with a "wonderful opportunity" to work at a larger firm and be the founders of a new practice.

"As hard as it was to decide to leave, we couldn't be happier," Salomon said.

Clients among the four at Dow Lohnes included DeVry Inc., Overstock.com Inc. and Qualcomm Inc., according to congressional records. Salomon said he and his colleagues still are finalizing which clients will follow them to Thompson Coburn. But he said DeVry will be one of them. The higher education company paid Dow Lohnes $200,000 for its lobbying efforts in 2012.

In addition to the former Dow Lohnes lobbyists, the new lobbying and policy group includes former Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-Mo.), former Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D) and Jane Sutter Starke, all of whom are partners at the firm.

Currently, Thompson Coburn only is registered to lobby for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, congressional records show. The agency paid the firm between $10,000 and $20,000 for its government advocacy work in 2012.