Netflix Adds Greenberg Traurig to Its Roster of Lobbyists

The world's largest online video subscription service has added Greenberg Traurig to its lobbying team.

Netflix Inc., which boasts more than 23 million members, has deployed the firm to advocate for it on Video Privacy Protection Act amendments, according to a lobbying registration filing submitted to Congress on Friday. Passed in response to the publication of Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork's video rentals by the Washington City Paper, the 1988 law prohibits the disclosure of video rental or sales records without a customer's written consent.

Netflix is pushing Congress to pass legislation that would give its members the ability to use Facebook to automatically share details about movies and television shows they watch. The House in December passed a bill that would address Netflix's calls. The Senate Judiciary privacy, technology and the law subcommittee held a hearing in January on the measure.

Greenberg shareholders Edward Barron and Alan Slomowitz, as well as firm senior director Michael Williams, are handling the account.

Slomowitz directed a request for comment to Greenberg spokeswoman Jill Perry, who didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey declined to comment specifically on his company’s contract with Greenberg. But Netflix brings “the right folks on when we need them,” he said.

“Netflix is growing and evolving,” Swasey said.

Greenberg’s lobbying registration filing came two days before Franklin Square Group notified Congress that it ended its lobbying relationship with Netflix. The firm had lobbied for Netflix since June on the legislation to amend the Video Privacy Protection Act, receiving $90,000 for its government advocacy efforts, according to congressional records.

Netflix also used Kountoupes Consulting and Monument Policy Group to advocate for it last year on matters that included the Video Privacy Protection Act bill, congressional records show. The company paid Kountoupes $90,000 for its lobbying work in 2011. Monument received $140,000.

The online video subscription service spent $500,000 on federal lobbying done last year by its own employees and the outside lobbyists.