BGR Group is excited to announce our State Attorneys General Working Group!
Led by Halie Hughes, Labriah Lee Holt, Nicole Watson, Chad Horrell, Loren Monroe, and William Crozer, BGR’s bipartisan team provides the strategic intelligence and deep relationships, including Republican Attorneys General Association, Democratic Attorneys General Association, National Association of Attorneys General, and Attorneys General Alliance, necessary to navigate high-stakes enforcement and policy risks.
In state capitals across the country, we’re helping clients stay ahead of risks, shape policy outcomes, and protect their interests before a crisis hits.
Click below to learn more about BGR’s State AG Working Group, sitting attorneys general, and key upcoming elections!
Category: Blog
Webinar: What’s Next for Venezuela?
In case you missed it! Watch BGR Group’s International and Trade experts Lester Munson, Amb. Doug Lute, and Kirsten Madison share their perspective on the evolving situation in Venezuela.
Daniel F. Runde Joins BGR Group as Senior Advisor
Washington, D.C. (June 12, 2025) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s, premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, announced that Daniel F. Runde has joined the firm as a Senior Advisor. In his role, Dan will work across the firm to advise clients on a variety of challenges in Washington and beyond. His background includes extensive experience at entities including the State Department, the Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank, the World Bank and the regional Multilateral Development Banks. He also brings depth of knowledge regarding Latin America, Africa, Central Asia and Ukraine.
“Dan brings deep national security and foreign policy expertise to our firm,” BGR Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “He is a trusted advisor to government and businesses given his extensive experience at critical agencies including the Export Import Bank, State Department, and World Bank extremely well. His expertise will be a tremendous asset to our clients and the firm.”
Prior to joining BGR Group, Dan was a senior vice president, director of the Project on Prosperity and Development (PPD), and held the William A. Schreyer Chair in Global Analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a leading global think tank. He remains a Senior Advisor at CSIS. He also served as the acting director for the CSIS Americas Program from 2020-2022. His work has been oriented around U.S. leadership in building a more democratic and prosperous world. He was as an architect of the BUILD Act, contributed to the reauthorization of the U.S. EXIM Bank in 2018, and was an architect of Prosper Africa, a U.S. government initiative to deepen the United States’ commercial and development engagement in Africa.
Dan has also held leadership roles at the State Department and the World Bank Group. Earlier in his career, he worked in commercial banking at Citibank in Argentina and in investment banking at Alex. Brown & Sons.
Dan holds the Officer’s Cross in the Order of Isabel la Católica, a Spanish civil order. He is a Commander in the Order of Rio Branco, a Brazilian civil order and has been officially recognized by the governments of Colombia and Ecuador for deepening ties with those countries. Fluent in Spanish, he graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College and holds a master’s in public policy from Harvard University.
BGR 2025 Mid-Year Session Wrap
With more than half of the state legislatures finishing their 2025 sessions states are adjusting budget outlooks due to changes to federal funding streams while driving transformative policies in education, health care, technology, infrastructure, and energy. State actions are increasingly setting precedents that are shaping the national policy landscape. In this Mid-Year Wrap, the bipartisan BGR State and Local Advocacy team provides a mid-year snapshot of the major bills that have crossed the finish line so far.
State Policy Brief – Top 5 State Impacts from President Trump’s First 100 Days
In the latest State Policy Brief, BGR Group State and Local Practice Heads William Crozer and Loren Monroe examine the Top 5 State Impacts from President Trump’s First 100 Days and the policy battles that lie ahead.
Rescission Overview
Reports indicate the Trump administration is preparing a “rescissions package” to send to Congress. What is a rescission and how does the process work?
BGR Announces Three Promotions
Congratulations are in order! Today, BGR is proud to announce the promotions of Ellen Brown, Ansley Haulbrook, and Anna Reese Couhig.
Ellen will serve as a Director with the State and Local Advocacy Practice, Ansley will serve as a Policy Analyst with the Financial Services and Tax Practice, and Anna Reese will serve as a Policy Analyst with the Appropriations and State and Local Advocacy Practices!
Thank you to Ellen, Ansley, and Anna Reese for their hard work and dedication!
BGR Tariff Update: President Trump Announces Tariffs on “Liberation Day”
Read BGR’s full summary and analysis of President Trump’s tariff announcement delivered earlier today on “Liberation Day.”
BGR Welcomes Bassam Barabandi as Senior Advisor
Washington, D.C. (March 31, 2025) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier lobbying and public affairs firm, today announced that Bassam Barabandi is joining the firm as a Senior Advisor. Barabandi has extensive experience in Middle Eastern affairs and over two decades of expertise in public diplomacy, policy analysis, and strategic advising. His career includes working with high-level government entities and international organizations, specializing in navigating complex political environments and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholders.
“Bassam’s background and experience make him an excellent addition to the BGR team,” BGR President Erskine Wells said. “He will offer our clients a unique perspective on events and issues with global impact.”
Mr. Barabandi is the Co-Founder of People Demand Change Inc. Born in Damascus, Syria, with familial ties to Deir Azzour Province, he worked in the Syrian diplomatic civil service for 14 years before leaving the Syrian Embassy in Washington, DC, in 2013 to co-found PDC.
His diplomatic career included roles such as First Secretary at the Syrian Embassy in Washington, D.C., head of political affairs at the Syrian Embassy in Beijing, China, and a post at the Syrian Government’s UN mission in New York City. He also liaised with organizations such as the World Bank, the U.S. Treasury Department, and the U.S. Congress.
Since the Syrian revolution in 2011, Mr. Barabandi has been a strong advocate for Syrian citizens, ensuring unhindered access to consular services regardless of political affiliation. He has collaborated with members of Congress, media outlets, and the U.S. Government to expose and sanction Assad regime officials, companies, and businessmen implicated in human rights violations by freezing their assets. Additionally, he has provided regular updates on the situation in Syria—especially regarding foreign fighters and Iranian interference—offering comprehensive analysis and strategic recommendations to decision-makers in the United States and Europe.
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BGR Group Announces Passing of Founding Partner Lanny Griffith
Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2025) – BGR Group today announced that Lanny Griffith, a Founding Partner of the firm, has passed away after a brief battle with cancer. Lanny helped guide BGR Group from its earliest days by maintaining a consistent focus on the firm’s clients and their needs. A devoted husband to Susan and father to his daughter Sally Hamilton and late son David, Lanny was also deeply involved in the redevelopment of his hometown, Corinth, Mississippi, and an active and proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi. He was also a dedicated member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia.
“Lanny was a genuine friend, a great tactician, and a true leader,” BGR Group Founding Partner Haley Barbour said. “His love for his family and the state of Mississippi are unmatched. Lanny was always working and finding ways to give back to the people and places that meant the most to him. He never forgot where he came from — and we will never forget him.”
“BGR is what it is today because of Lanny’s hard work and vision,” BGR Group Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “He was a leader in our firm and our community. He was always focused on helping others and being a good colleague, neighbor, and friend. Lanny and Susan are among the most generous people I have ever known. He will forever be remembered as an advocate and a leader and be dearly missed by his family and many friends.”
During his time in government and the private sector, Lanny helped assemble industry coalitions and successfully battled some of strongest and best-funded advocacy operations in Washington. Lanny joined BGR Group in 1993 after serving in several roles in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. On Jan. 20, 1989, Lanny was sworn in as Special Assistant to the President in the East Room of the White House, serving as President Bush’s liaison to governors and other statewide elected officials. At the White House, he was a principal architect of President Bush’s 1989 Education Summit in Charlottesville, Va., and was involved in the development of the National Goals for Education.
In 1991, President Bush nominated Lanny to be Assistant Secretary of Education, and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in February 1992. In this role, Lanny directed Secretary Lamar Alexander’s successful effort to build a national consensus around educational standards and testing. He also managed the launch of the G.I. Bill for Children and coordinated the administration’s role on the National Education Goals Panel.
Lanny also represented the U.S. on the Education Committee of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. He also served as Co-Chairman of the Advisory Council on Dependent Education, which serves as the school board for all dependent schools worldwide under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Lanny’s political career dated back to the early 1980s, when he worked for the Republican National Committee, managing then-candidate Haley Barbour’s U.S. Senate race in 1982. He also served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Republican Party for three years. In 1988, he served as Southern Political Director for Vice President Bush’s presidential campaign. In this role, Lanny directed 10 states in the Super Tuesday primaries and 11 states in the general election. All 21 state efforts were victorious.
Lanny’s work for the Bush family continued with his role as national chairman of the Bush-Cheney 2000 Entertainment Task Force and entertainment coordinator for the 2001 Bush Inaugural. He later served as a Ranger as well as a member of the Bush 2004 National Finance Committee. In 1998, he was one of three transition directors for Florida Governor-elect Jeb Bush.
Lanny helped found the Trust for the National Mall and served on its Board of Directors for many years. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and most recently served as Chairman of the Westminster Presbyterian Foundation.
Lanny received his undergraduate degree in accounting and JD from the University of Mississippi where he remained actively involved for many years. In 2023, a scholarship was established to support Ole Miss students from his hometown of Corinth, Mississippi. An avid student of American history, Lanny completed several renovations in the historic district of Corinth and continued to support the community there.
A funeral service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria on Friday, April 4th at 10:30 a.m.
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