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Reggie Babin, who was chief counsel to now Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Hunter Bates, ex-chief of staff to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, are working to pave the way for Nippon Steel’s $14.9B takeover of United States Steel Corp.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld’s Babin and Bates are supported by Brian Pomper, who was lead trade counsel at the Senate Finance Committee.
Pennsylvania’s Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman oppose the deal. Casey said the country's marquee steel company should remain under American ownership. The deal would be “bad for Pennsylvania and for Pennsylvania workers."
Fetterman, who lives across the street from USS’ Edgar Thompson plant in Braddock, called the takeover “outrageous” and a wrong move for workers and Pennsylvania.
Nippon claims the deal will strengthen the companies’ ability to meet the demand for high-growth steel in the US and globally. It promises to respect all collective bargaining agreements and maintain the USS name and HQ in Pittsburgh.
Teneo handles the US team for Nippon. The PR team includes Robert Mead, Americas chairman, and senior managing directors Monika Driscoll and Tucker Elcock.
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.
Anne Kierig, who was senior manager of public policy at Amazon, has joined the American Advertising Federation as VP-government affairs. She takes over for Clark Rector, who is retiring after a 37-year run at AAF.
TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, which was established in compliance with the executive order signed by President Trump, has hired Valcour LLC, which has close ties with his administration.
