Leading GOP Lobbyist Michael Harrell, Former Florida Department of Management Services Secretary Robert Hosay Join Firm
Tallahassee, Fla. – Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that prominent Republican lobbyist Michael Harrell and former Department of Management Services Secretary Robert Hosay have joined the firm’s Tallahassee office. The announcement marks the first step in the firm’s strategic plan to expand the scope and depth of services in Tallahassee in the coming years.
“This is a watershed day for the Tallahassee office, as well as for Foley’s Public Affairs Practice in Florida and beyond,” said Tallahassee Managing Partner Thomas Maida. “The tremendous executive and legislative experience held by Mike and Robert will benefit all of our clients who do business in Florida.”
Harrell and Hosay will focus their practices on public affairs and government procurement, as their combined experience will help guide clients through all stages of the bid process, from creating the opportunities to interpreting bids and assisting with contract awards and litigation of bid protests.
“Foley has well-established public affairs practices in California, Florida, Illinois and Wisconsin as well as in Washington D.C., where we have strong ties on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate,” said George Ash, chair of the Government & Public Affairs Practice at Foley. “Mike and Robert have the ability and desire to successfully integrate their state and federal practices, which is consistent with our national model for working with clients at all levels of government service.”
Harrell, 41, comes to Foley as public affairs director. He joins from Capitol Resources Florida, where he was managing partner. His 20 years of lobbying experience in Washington, D.C., and Tallahassee includes both legislative and executive branch advocacy on a wide range of business and regulatory issues. His clients include The Cleveland Clinic, EDS, and Verizon Communications, Inc. Harrell received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi.
“Foley’s combination of national law firm resources and the boutique-firm mentality will allow us to work with clients through the entire government procurement life cycle,” said Harrell. “With Tallahassee’s influence on national and international politics and this influx of new talent in the office, the opportunities are endless.”
Robert Hosay, 33, joins Foley as special counsel in the Government & Public Affairs Practice. His practice helps clients develop, acquire and/or manage business in the government sector. Hosay’s clientele is as varied as the products and services they market to government agencies but is weighted heavily in information technology and outsourcing. He partners with clients by helping them interpret the needs and opportunities within government agencies, assisting with all steps of the acquisition process, and counseling his clients regarding contract awards and litigation of contract disputes. His clients include Informatica, Northrop Grumman, Symantec, and Trane, and prior to joining Foley he was managing partner of Harrell & Hosay, P.L. His extensive government experience includes being appointed by Governor Jeb Bush as Secretary of the Department of Management Services (DMS), serving as State of Florida Purchasing Director, and serving as Director of the Governor’s Center for Efficient Government. He received his bachelor’s degree (cum laude) from Valdosta State University and his J.D. degree from Florida State University College of Law.
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Foley & Lardner LLP provides the full range of corporate legal counsel. Our attorneys understand today’s most complex business issues, including corporate governance, securities enforcement, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property counseling and litigation, outsourcing and information technology, labor and employment, and tax. The firm offers total solutions in the automotive, emerging technologies, energy, entertainment and media, financial services, food, golf and resort services, insurance, health care, life sciences, nanotechnology, and sports industries.
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Editor’s Note: Please contact Jocelyn Brumbaugh at 312.832.4506 or jbrumbaugh@foley.com for photos of Michael Harrell and Robert Hosay.
