Brian Ballard

A respected leader in the Republican Party, Brian Ballard possesses a proven track record of success as a lobbyist and lawyer. The President of Florida-based Ballard Partners, Inc., he oversees a thriving firm that advocates on its client's behalf before the Florida Legislature. The firm specializes in gaining support for political measures that safeguard the interests of its clients from the Florida Legislature and Executive Branch. Brian Ballard established the firm, originally named Smith and Ballard, Inc., in 1998. In addition to his work as a lobbyist, Brian Ballard is an attorney who is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. Serving Of Counsel to the law firm Panza, Maurer & Maynard, P.A., he represents clients in the areas of governmental and regulatory affairs. He also taught at Florida State University as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Political Science for over a period of 10 years.

Before affiliating himself with Panza, Maurer & Maynard and founding his lobbying firm, Brian Ballard worked as a Managing Shareholder for the law firm Bryant, Miller and Olive, P.A. The firm concentrates its practice on governmental affairs, environmental law, and state and municipal finance. During his tenure at the firm, Mr. Ballard reviewed documents and gave legal opinions as Bond Counsel to state and city government issuers. In 1992, United States Secretary of Commerce Barbara Franklin, a Republican from Pennsylvania, appointed Brian Ballard to the United States and Foreign Commercial Service Advisory Council. The position, which he held through April 1994, required him to provide advice and insight to advance the global export programs of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service.

He also served in the Executive Office of the President of the United States of America, where he directed critical components during the transition of former Florida Governor Bob Martinez as the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Brian Ballard earlier developed policy initiatives and directed cabinet and executive office activities as Chief of Staff for Governor Martinez in Florida. An alumnus of the University of Florida, Brian Ballard earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration before pursuing his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law. University officials later recognized his service to the school and his noteworthy career by inducting him as a member of the Universi