Oldest lobbying firm in the state splits up

Nissan North America, HCA, CCA among affected clients

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

Smith, Johnson & Carr, Tennessee's oldest lobbying firm and widely considered among the most effective in the state, is splitting up.

SJC principals Bo Johnson, Anne Carr, Estie Harris, and Nathan Poss have confirmed that the government relations firm will be restructured over the next two months as Johnson and Poss leave to create a new company.

Founded in 1980, SJC represents clients such as Nissan North America, Corrections Corporation of America, the Tennessee Hospital Association, HCA, and lottery vendor Scientific Games International Inc.

"We have been in the process of discussing impending changes with all of our clients prior to any public announcement," Carr said.

"Nathan and I are proud of the success the four of us have enjoyed together," Johnson said. "However, our firm's continued growth over the years has increased the likelihood of conflicts of interest among our client base. This change will allow the four of us to avoid those conflicts and to continuing growing our respective businesses.

"In effect, one great lobbying firm will now become two great lobbying firms."

"Estie and I wish Nathan and Bo well in their new endeavor and look forward to continuing to work with them on the Hill," Carr added. "This will eliminate several potential conflicts of interest among existing clients, and the clients are really the reason we're in business, after all."

The breakup comes just a week after prominent midstate lobbyist John Reed succumbed to cancer. Reed had a longstanding relationship with SJC but was not a principal of the comapny in recent years. The firm stated that his passing had no bearing on the decision to split the company in two as conversations about the change had begun months before.