Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate & Webb PLC ranks No. 9 on Sunshine State News list of Top Lobbying Firms. Like several other firms in Florida, Colodny Fass has two offices -- one in Tallahassee and one in South Florida. The motto given on its website is that it strives every day to serve clients "with integrity, passion, leadership and superior performance From the Capitol to the Courthouse.
Lobbying powerhouse Colodny Fass comes replete with a large legal team. Its founder, former city councilman and four-time mayor of North Miami Mike Colodny, has helped the firm build its reputation over the last 35 years as one of the top insurance regulatory firms in the country.
One of the firm's most prominent figures in the halls of the Capitol is Fred Karlinsky, who has vast experience both in politics and in fundraising. Just last year, Karlinsky served on the National Finance Committee of the Republican National Committee and was working on the finance committee of then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney.For years he has also played a prominent role as a leader in the Republican Jewish coalition.
In-state, Karlinsky accompanied Gov. Rick Scott on several trade missions around the world and was also co-finance chairman of Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater's 2010 campaign. He has been with the firm for 20 years.
Former Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher joined the firm last year as a government consultant. Gallagher has deep roots in Florida politics -- on top of being CFO, he also served as the states treasurer and as insurance commissioner. Gallagher also made three runs for governor and holds the distinction of having served more years as an elected state official than any individual in Florida history.
Colodny Fass has had great success throughout the years. In 2012, it brought in a total of $2.4 million in legislative fees, or about $237,000 per lobbyist.
The firms biggest client for 2012 was American Managed Care LLC, sister company to Universal Health Care Group. American Managed Care filed bankruptcy earlier this year.
Other clients in Florida include Dosal Tobacco and insurance companies like Florida Property and Casualty Association and Florida Peninsula Insurance. In total, the firm represented 65 different clients in 2012, with the average client retainer coming in at $36,000 per client.
Though the firm built its reputation around the variety of insurance companies it represents, Colodny Fass has worked with other special interest groups as well.
A lot of people associate us with just insurance because we have a lot of insurance-based clients, but we do more than that, said Fred Karlinsky. Weve represented the dental hygienists, the police chiefs and others for a number of years."
Overall, the clients' interests are at the heart of the firm's mission for success.
Just like the other top firms, weve got seasoned professionals who work really hard at making sure our clients interests are protected ... I think we, on behalf of our clients, take every issue theyre involved in very seriously," said Karlinsky. "We believe in the mission of our clients and we want to foster their goals and objectives.
He said the firms general success can also be attributed to two things: luck and hard work.
Luck has a lot to do with the success anyone has, but what Ive found is that the harder you work, the luckier you get, he said.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen atallison@sunshinestatenews.comor follow her on Twitter at@AllisonNielsen.
