Hogan Lovells is representing Venezuela, which is on the brink of economic collapse due to plunging oil prices below $60 per-barrel, on its relations with the US.
President Obama on Dec. 18 signed legislation that imposed sanctions on Venezuela for its crackdown on demonstrators protesting the rule of strongman Nicolas Maduro.
The sanctions freeze assets and deny visas to Venezuelan officials responsible for the violence that has led to 43 deaths over the past three months.
Energy revenues, which accounts for 95 percent of Venezuela's exports, bankroll the extensive social services programs that buy goodwill for Maduro's government. Venezuela needs oil priced at $120 per-barrel to maintain government spending.
Hogan Lovells has neither a formal written contract nor exchange of letters to cover its representation of Venezuela for legal analysis, counsel, strategy development and policy advocacy before US officials and public policy activities.
The firm may contact members of the media on behalf of Venezuela. It also may select and engage professional strategic communicators and PR firms to assist the Venezuelan effort.
Senior international advisor HP Goldfield, who also advises Saudi Arabia, and Charles Simpson, ex-US Energy Dept. Associate Deputy Secretary and American Gas Assn. government affairs staffer, are part of the four-member team works the Venezuela account.
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