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| Brian Ballard |
CBI Acquisitions has hired Trump-connected Ballard Partners to intervene in its squabble with the National Park Services over the Caneel Bay Resort eco-lodge located within the Virgin Islands National Park.
Once the biggest employer on St. John, CBR has been closed since 2017 after it was smashed by two Category Five Hurricanes. Its shutdown has rocked VI's tourism-tied economy.
CBI took over the CBR in 2004. It owns the structures but not the land. The Norwalk, CT-based entity has refused to rehab the facility until NPS extends its lease on the land, which is to expire in 2023.
Established by Laurance Spelman Rockefeller, grandson of industrialist John D. Rockefeller, CBR has hosted luminaries such as Mitch McConnell, Meryl Streep and John Steinbeck.
The Rockefeller family donated the real estate to the NPS.
Brian Ballard, who chaired the Trump Victory organization in Florida during the 2016 presidential campaign, is working the CBI business.
He’s joined by Daniel McFaul, legislative director for ex-GOP Congressman Joe Scarborough and chief of staff to staunch Trump supporter Rep. Matt Gaetz, and Justin Sayfie, ex-commissioner of the Commission of White House Fellows.
Knob Petroleum, which is based in Panama City, has retained Ballard Partners to explore opportunities in Venezuela.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has signed to represent Eastern Air Holdings, which operates deportation flights for Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
Ballard Partners has lined up Australia’s Energy Transition Minerals company, an explorer and developer of rare earths minerals opportunities. It touts its Greenland property as having the potential to become the biggest rare earths producer in the western world.
Abbvie has retained Trump-connected Winston-Salem-based Checkmate Government Relations for healthcare matters and issues related to the life sciences sector.
Netflix has retained Bloom Strategic Counsel for regulatory matters regarding its proposed $83B merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
