TALLAHASSEE Two weeks after announcing founding partner Jim Smith was stepping aside, Florida super-lobbyist Brian Ballards firm announced it was opening a new office in Miami and scooping up two ex-government workers.

Ballard Partners is hiring former House Transportation Committee director John Johnston to work in the shops Tallahassee office, and bringing former federal HHS staffer and DC lobbyist Sylvester “Syl” Lukis back to Miami to hang a shingle.

The firm formerly known as Smith & Ballard has one of the longest client lists in Florida, and grossed just over $2.1 million from them during the first three months of 2011 ranking it third, behind Orlando-based GrayRobinson and Southern Strategy Group.

The No. 4 lobbying shop so far this year is Ron Book ($1.7 million), the undisputed lobbying King Of South Florida. It will be interesting to see how successful Ballard is at skimming off Books clients.

Heres the press release:

Florida’s leading government affairs firm, Ballard Partners, announced the opening of their fourth office location today. Sylvester “Syl” Lukis will be managing the Miami-based office where he will continue to expand Ballard Partners’ lobbying efforts in the South Florida area. Also announced today was the addition of John Johnston to the Tallahassee office of Ballard Partners.

“We’re looking forward to bringing Ballard Partners’ capital expertise to the Miami area,” said Brian Ballard, president of Ballard Partners. “Syl’s local knowledge and proven government affairs background helps expand the reach of the firm’s statewide governmental affairs network.”

Lukis brings more than 30 years of legal and government relations consulting experience at the federal, state and local levels to Ballard Partners. Lukis previously served on the U.S. State Departments Cuban Haitian Task Force and as a principal assistant to the general counsel of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. After leaving federal employment, Lukis served as principal lobbyist for a D.C. firm, working on behalf of several local governmental entities, including Miami Dade County, the cities of Miami and Miami Beach and the Miami Dade County School District. Before joining Ballard Partners, Lukis moved his operations to Florida in 1996, where he established a state and local government relations consulting practice serving the cruise, health, corrections, infrastructure, communications and information technology industries.

“I look forward to building upon Ballard Partners’ history of results and establishing a strong, significant and growing public affairs team within the Miami office,” said Lukis.

In addition to the new Miami office, Ballard Partners’ Tallahassee headquarters welcomes their newest consultant, John Johnston, to help spearhead the public affairs firm’s transportation initiatives.

“Florida’s transportation sector is a major economic driver for our state and John’s intimate understanding of this industry will help our clients navigate the inner workings of Florida’s transportation policy,” continued Ballard.

Johnston has worked for more than two decades within Florida’s legislature before joining Ballard Partners. During his time with the legislature, he served numerous notable leadership positions including staff director of the House Transportation Committee.

“Ballard Partners offers the legislative and executive level know-how of veteran insiders,” said Johnston. “As the newest edition to their Tallahassee headquarters, I look forward to assisting Ballard Partners as they continue their history of successful governmental affairs consultancy.”

The team at Ballard Partners has been cited by national and Florida publications as the leading public affairs firm in the state. The Florida-based lobbying firm, with offices in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach and Miami, combines extensive government experience with unwavering advocacy to maximize clients’ results. Founder and president, Brian Ballard, previously served as the chief of staff in the Executive Office of the Governor and has lobbied extensively since entering private practice in 1998.

### The Miami office of Ballard Partners is located at 801 Brickell Avenue, Suite 900, Miami, FL 33131.

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