Richard Burt
Richard Burt

Rustavi Steel, which is based in former Soviet republic of Georgia, has hired McLarty Inbound to push for relief from president Trump's tariffs.

Richard Burt, former US ambassador to Germany, chief negotiator for the strategic arms reduction talks with the Soviet Union and New York Times national security correspondent, spearheads the push. He also will tackle trade issues and promote better relations between Georgia and the US.

Claire Kaiser, director of strategic initiatives and leader of McLarty Inbound's marketing and external communications push in Russia, Ukraine, the Caucasus and Central Asia, also represents Rustavi.

McLarty Inbound provides foreign businesses with analysis, strategy, and advocacy efforts in Washington. It is part of McLarty Associates, which was co-founded by President Clinton's chief of staff, Mack McLarty.

Rustavi also uses the Washington expertise of former Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), a senior counsel at Hogan Lovells.

He's joined by Hogan Lovells partners Jared Wessel, who was counsel in the Office of the US Trade Representative, and Ivan Zapien, ex-chief of staff to Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) & national outreach director for the House Democratic caucus.

Rustavi Steel paid Hogan Lovells $50K for its DC savvy during the fourth-quarter of 2019.