Brian D. Ballard
PRESIDENT
All Locations
Brian has earned a reputation as a tireless, persistent, and effective advocate for his clients’ interests. As a trusted counselor to presidential and gubernatorial candidates, as well as Fortune 100 leaders, he has helped navigate the intersection of government and business.
Widely recognized as a top political insider, he has been included in Vanity Fair’s “New Establishment,” Politico Playbook Power List’s “18 to Watch,” The Hill: Top Lobbyists / Hired Guns and Florida Trend’s Most Influential Business Leaders. He is a frequent speaker and panelist at major conferences and policy forums in the U.S. and abroad.
Brian and his wife Kathryn were selected by three Florida governors—Ron DeSantis, Rick Scott, and Charlie Crist—to co-chair their gubernatorial inaugurations. He has also chaired the Florida Finance Committee for GOP presidential nominees John McCain (2008), Mitt Romney (2012), and Donald J. Trump (2016), served as Vice Chairman of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, and participated on the Presidential Transition Finance Committee. The Republican National Committee appointed him Finance Vice Chairman, recognizing his political and fundraising acumen.
As Chief of Staff in the Florida Governor’s Office, Brian developed deep expertise in environmental policy. He was the chief architect of Preservation 2000, then the largest public land acquisition program for environmentally sensitive areas in the U.S., and led negotiations with the U.S. Department of the Interior to end offshore drilling along southeast Florida and the Keys. The American Lawyer recognized him as one of the nation’s top lawyers in Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources law.
Brian currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He previously served on the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Advisory Council (by appointment of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce) and helped lead the transition and Senate confirmation of Governor Bob Martinez as Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
He earned both his B.S. in Business Administration and J.D. from the University of Florida and is a member of the University’s Hall of Fame.
Get in Touch with the Ballard Partners Team
Whether you’re looking for a lobbying firm in Washington D.C., Florida, or another location, our experienced team is committed to developing a winning strategy that caters to your unique needs. Connect with us and learn how we can best serve you in the political arena.
