American League of Lobbyists - Organization: Board & Officers

Wright H. Andrews, Jr.

Wright H. Andrews, Jr. is a well-known Washington lawyer/lobbyist who specializes in federal legislation and government relations matters. He served two terms as the President of the American League of Lobbyists (ALL), the leading national trade organization of professional federal lobbyists, and is now a member of ALL’s Board. He also is co-author of ALL’s Code of Ethics for professional lobbyists. Washingtonian magazine has named him as one of Washington’s Top 50 Lobbyists. He currently is a member of the law and lobbying firm Andrews & Andrews, PLLC.

Mr. Andrews was born in 1947, raised in rural South Carolina, and then received his undergraduate and law degrees with honors from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. A member of the Georgia and District of Columbia bars, he began his Washington career in 1973 as Legislative Director to United States Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA). Subsequently, he was the lead legislative case partner at the large, nationally respected law firm of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan (SAB), which then had approximately 250 attorneys and maintained offices in Atlanta, Ga. and Washington, DC. During his 15 years at SAB, he coordinated the firm's extensive and diverse legislative and government relations work, which involved environmental matters, federal taxation, appropriations, insurance, banking, financial services and other issues. On January 1, 1990, Mr. Andrews left SAB and co-founded the Washington law and lobbying firm of Butera & Andrews, where remained until early 2011 when he started his new firm Andrews & Andrews, PLLC.

He has represented a broad range of clients on diverse matters, including for example, issues relating to banking and financial services, taxation, immigration, hospital ownership, mortgage policy and insurance. His clients, which have been located throughout the nation and abroad, have included numerous major corporations, trade associations, coalitions and Governors of various states. He has long been active in federal campaign finance matters and has extensive contacts with both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and House.

Representational services provided by Mr. Andrews vary according to each client’s particular needs. Such services include, for example: developing political strategies and corporate/association political affairs plans, monitoring and reporting on federal/state legislative and regulatory developments, analyzing and drafting bills, amendments, testimony, lobbying materials and other legislative documents, negotiating industry positions and compromises, direct lobbying and advocacy of clients’ positions, preparing witnesses for Congressional and agency testimony, maintaining contacts and arranging meetings with key policymakers, managing and/or participating in political coalitions, and assisting clients develop grassroots political capabilities.

Mr. Andrews is the author of various articles and has made many speeches on lobbying and specific legislative and regulatory issues. He also has advised clients on lobbying ethics, campaign finance law compliance and the requirements of the Senate and House gift rules. He has been featured on various television and radio programs dealing with lobbying, including shows on the BBC, Cable News Network (CNN), Canadian Broadcasting, CBS News, CNBC, C-Span, Court TV, NBC News, NET, News Talk TV, and National Public Radio. Mr. Andrews has been quoted in numerous publications, such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washingtonian, Washington Post, Washington Times, Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald, Business Week, U.S. News & World Report, Harper's, Congressional Quarterly, National Journal, National Mortgage News, Roll Call, The Hill, Legal Times, Congress Daily, American Banker, and AP wire stories.