(RALEIGH, N.C.)—The NC Center for Public Policy Research has named R. Bruce Thompson II, a partner with Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, as one of the “Most Influential Lobbyists” to the state legislature. The rankings are based on surveys of all legislators, registered lobbyists based in North Carolina, and the capital news media. Thompson is one of 13 newcomers to the list.
“A new generation of lobbyists is influencing public policy in North Carolina,” says Sam Watts, the Center’s policy analyst who conducted the survey. “The rankings of the most influential lobbyists help citizens understand which key interests and organizations have clout with legislators in North Carolina. They shed light on what is often an invisible process. They also show changes in the lobbying profession and illustrate which issues were the hottest.”
Thompson, the leader of Parker Poe’s Government and Public Policy Practice Group, is a registered lobbyist and handles legislative representation and counsel before the United States Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly, strategy formulation, bill drafting, preparation of testimony for legislative committees, and appearances before state and federal executive agencies. Thompson also focuses on economic development initiatives, having represented some of the nation’s largest companies in incentives negotiations with local and state officials.
This year marks the 15th time the NC Center for Public Policy Research has released its rankings of lobbyists. The new rankings are based on results from a survey conducted in November and December 2009. All 50 state Senators, 119 Representatives (one had resigned mid-session), 471 registered lobbyists (including the lead state agency legislative liaisons), and 14 state capital news correspondents were asked to list the 10 most influential lobbyists or state agency legislative liaisons during the 2009 session of the North Carolina General Assembly. Survey respondents received a list of all lobbyists and legislative liaisons who were registered with the Secretary of State at the end of the 2009 session.
About The NC Center for Public Policy Research
Created in 1977, the NC Center for Public Policy Research is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research corporation to evaluate state government programs and to study public policy issues facing North Carolina. Visit the Center’s website at www.nccppr.org for more information and to see the full list of lobbyist rankings.
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has 230 lawyers in six offices located in major markets across North Carolina and South Carolina. The Firm provides legal counsel to commercial and public organizations on corporate, finance, litigation, real estate and regulatory matters. It has been recognized in recent years as one of the fastest growing law firms in the United States and as an award-winning leader in the use of technology to provide clients with improved and more efficient service.