Ted Kennedy Jr.’s firm sues healthcare lobbying shop over political intel

[babylonsister]

Ted Kennedy Jr.’s firm sues over political intel
By Jeffrey Young
November 20, 2007

A Wall Street investment firm co-owned by Edward Kennedy Jr. has filed suit against a well-connected Washington healthcare lobbying shop in a case that points up the legal gray area in the governance of political-intelligence gathering.

The Marwood Group, an asset management company that provides investment advice to hedge funds, mutual funds and institutional investors, filed suit against Health Policy Source, a lobbying firm specializing in healthcare legislation and regulations, on Oct. 30 in federal court in Washington, D.C.

Marwood filed a separate suit against its former employee, Katie Simons Pahner, in New York City.

If the currency of Washington is information, investment firms and lobby shops use the same coinage. Employees of investment firms and lobbying operations both seek to gain advance knowledge of legislation or federal regulations that could have a big impact on business.

Though Marwood and Health Policy Source serve different markets — investors versus lobbying clients — and have different motives — targeting investment dollars versus influencing public policy — they each perform similar services in the political intelligence realm and provide specialized, inside information to clients that pay dearly for it.

Kennedy, son of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and brother of Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), founded Marwood with John Moore in 2002. The firm has more than 60 employees split among its New York, Washington and London offices and specializes in healthcare matters. Health Policy Source is co-owned by lobbyists Daniel Boston and Monica Tencate.

The result of the lawsuits could have important implications for lobbying firms, investment firms and other industries in Washington that depend on the information trade. A favorable ruling for Marwood could, for example, constrict the regular flow of knowledgeable, connected employees from one firm to another.

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http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/ted-kennedy-jr.s-firm-sues-over-political-intel-2007-11-20.html

[Reno.Muse]

1. Reminds me of something John Edwards said this weekend about lobbying firms

When Repugs are in power, the rich corporations pay repug lobbying firms to do their dirty work. And when Demos are in power, the same rich corporate hacks pay Demo lobbying firms to do their dirty work.