BRADENTON, Fla. – Florida-based GrayRobinson PA has teamed up with an influential lobbying group to boost its government relations and lobbying practice, the firm said Wednesday.
Capitol Insight, founded by former state representatives Dean Cannon in 2012, and six members of the lobbying firm's Tallahassee office have joined GrayRobinson.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In his new role, Cannon will be the statewide chairman of government affairs and executive vice president.
Cannon and his team, along with their "long-term relationships with decision makers and power players in the political field will be a tremendous asset to our clients," said Byrd F. "Biff" Marshall Jr., president and managing shareholder.
"This is an exciting new chapter for me and our team, and it reconnects me with many of the mentors and friends at GrayRobinson who positively influenced my legal and political career over the years," Cannon said. "It's a tremendous opportunity to work with the most talented group of attorneys and lobbyists in the state."
Cannon began practicing state and local government law in 1995, as an attorney and shareholder at GrayRobinson until 2007. He was a state representative from 2004 to 2012, and served as speaker from 2010 to 2012.
His lobbying experience includes representing private clients and local governments on transportation, education, health care, insurance, and appropriation issues. He has also handled civil litigation, administrative law, as well as regulatory and appellate matters before the district courts and the Florida Supreme Court.
Other Capitol Insight team members joining GrayRobinson have various backgrounds, including state representatives, county commissioners, director of legislative research for the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, former Florida state agency director, campaign managers, and political strategists.
The addition of Capitol Insight elevates GrayRobinson's government relations and lobbying practice to one of the largest of its kind in Florida, the firm said.
GrayRobinson has 300 attorneys in 13 offices across the state.
The public finance team has served in various capacities on tax-exempt and taxable borrowings, and has worked on more than $21.7 billion in financings over the past decade, according to the firm's website.
