Why It Matters
Five Rivers Conservation Group LLC ended its relationship with lobbying firm HB Strategies in late July, marking the departure of the firm's most significant client by revenue. The termination, effective July 31, was filed with the Senate Office of Public Records on August 3.
The group had retained HB Strategies to work on resolving outstanding IRS policy procedure and collections matters, a niche tax specialization.
Among the firm's documented clients, Five Rivers was by far the largest spender, having paid $1.245 million across multiple filings. The next-closest client, Enterprise Mobility, spent $580,000.
Bradley Cooper, a policy associate at the firm, served as one of the lead lobbyists on the Five Rivers account. Gregg Hartley, the firm's executive vice chair and chief operating officer, worked on the account and was a senior staffer and advisor for 18 years to former representative and senator Roy Blunt (R-MO).
The firm's lobbying expenses over the past four quarters totaled just $30,000, and the firm currently maintains only two active lobbyists on its roster, a sharp decline from the resources dedicated to the Five Rivers engagement.
Broader Context
Five Rivers' lobbying focus on IRS policy and collections procedures suggests the group may have been attempting to navigate heightened scrutiny of tax shelters. The IRS has classified syndicated conservation easements, a tax strategy that aligns with Five Rivers' conservation mission, as "listed transactions" or abusive tax shelters.
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