 Lori Otto Punke |
Starbucks has hired LOP Strategies as federal lobbyist for a raft of corporate social responsibility issues.
Lori Otto Punke, who did a ten-year stint at the coffee chain before exiting as director of government affairs in 2015, heads the Mercer Island-based firm.
At Starbucks, she is remembered for helping to launch the company's high-profile College Achievement Plan to send baristas to college for free.
Earlier, Punke was Microsoft's manager of government affairs, dealing with intellectual property, antitrust, tax, trade, cybersecurity and regulatory matters. She also served on the board of the software giant's political action committee.
LOP will advise Starbucks on workforce employment, benefits, training, ethical sourcing, family leave and sustainability issues.
Starbucks spent $8.4M for DC lobbying during the first nine months of 2018 at firms including Monument Policy Group, K&L Gates and Petrizzo Group.
Flock Safety has hired Off Hill Strategies, a boutique lobby firm that boasts of its commitment to conservative principles.
Ballard Partners has signed South Korea’s SK Americas unit for representation on US semiconductor policies and developments.
Ballard Partners has signed to a represent the US unit of Rheinmetall, Germany’s biggest defense contractor, on Army procurement issues.
BGR Group signs on to provide lobbying and PR services for Terzo, an AI financial intelligence platform. Douglas Lute, chair of BGR’s international and defense practices, will join Terzo’s board of directors.
Avoq has landed Palantir Technologies, the controversial surveillance company founded by right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel, as a client.
