Bottom Line

• ENTERTAINMENT. Millennium Films, the independent film production and finance company best known for “The Expendables” series of movies, retained Democratic powerhouse Heather Podesta to represent its interests in Washington. Heather Podesta + Partners is the studio’s first K Street firm and will be “educating policymakers on intellectual property concerns of independent filmmakers,” according to disclosure forms. 

• TECHNOLOGY. The Glover Park Group became Motorola’s eighth lobby firm, hired last month to “monitor and advocate on immigration, tax, and appropriations” issues. Among the lobbyists on the account is former Microsoft in-house advocate Jack Krumholtz. The telecommunications company has reduced spending on lobbying since its all-time high in 2005, down to about $2 million each year from the $7.6 million high. It recently nixed lobbying and PR firm Grayling and terminated two other firms last year. 

• RESEARCH. The University of Kentucky Wildcats may have lost the big prize in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament this month, but the school did gain a new lobby firm to fight for research dollars. Cornerstone Government Affairs will be working on the “advancement of university research and development goals,” lobbying forms say. The account will be led by Michael Higdon, a former chief of staff to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.). The University of Kentucky spent $263,000 on lobbying last year. It also has law and lobby firm Baker Donelson on retainer. 

• MANUFACTURING. Twin Rivers Paper, a paper mill in Maine, is bringing new firepower to a regulatory battle with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mercury, a public affairs firm, will be working on a proposed “professional insert e-labeling rule” from the FDA. Lobbyists on the account include former Rep. Vin Weber (R-Minn.) and Erick Mullen, a former aide to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

• FOREIGN AGENTS. DLA Piper and Saudi Arabia inked a contract worth nearly a half-million dollars. The $50,000-per-month deal lasts until the end of the year. “The United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confront a confluence of ongoing events that heighten mutual national security interests. Both nations have benefitted from an enduring strategic alliance. DLA Riper engages to assist the Embassy in strengthening the ability of the United States and Saudi Arabia to advance mutual national security interests,” say forms filed to the Department of Justice.