Diane J. Blagman serves as Senior Director of the firm's Government Law & Policy Practice in the Washington, D.C. office. Diane has more than 20 years of experience working on Capitol Hill, serving as a Chief of Staff to a senior Member of Congress who was Chairman of the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee and as Associate staff on the House Appropriations Committee.
Diane brings her knowledge of the political and budget process to Greenberg Traurig and provides strategic advice to various major municipalities, corporations, public entities and major entertainment clients. She represents her clients before government, administrative and regulatory agencies.
Areas of Concentration
• Governmental and administrative
• Appropriations
• Transportation
• Entertainment
• Intellectual property
• Trade
• Public infrastructure
• Economic development/housing
Professional & Community Involvement
• Selected by the European Community as one of 12 U.S. participants in its EU Visitors program specializing in transportation and aviation
• Addressed and participated in workshops for foreign diplomats and legislatures on the U.S. Congress
• Served on various Presidential, Senatorial and Congressional campaigns
• Led and participated in official Congressional delegations to Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Europe
• Board of Governor and Secretary, The Recording Academy (the GRAMMYs), Washington, D.C. Chapter
• Board Member, Headcount
• Board Member, WhyHunger
• Executive Board Member, Rex Foundation
• Congressional Liaison, 9/11 Memorial Concert in Washington, D.C.
• Congressional Liaison for Farm Aid Concert
• Coordinated the "Live Aid" concert and acted as official liaison and speechwriter to concert officials and Congress
• Liaison to Executive Producer and Creator of, "Live 8" concert, London, England, 2005
Awards & Recognition
• Selected, Who's Who in America
• Team Member, a U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Government Relations Law Firm of the Year," 2014
• Named, U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Law Firm of the Year" in Entertainment Law - Music, 2011-2012
• Named, "Top Gun," The Influence Index, December 2000
• Received special commendation from the Alabama State House of Representatives, December 1986
• Recipient, Certificate of Appreciation, U.S. Information Agency
Professional Experience
Significant Representations
• Obtained millions of dollars in federal financial assistance for a major county in the U.S. through the appropriations process in Congress for such items as funding for mass transit system, airport expansion, roads and other infrastructure needs.
• Secured additional immigration, customs and agriculture inspectors at various airports in the U.S. through Congressional earmarks and successfully fought against increased taxes levied against airlines as initially proposed by Congress.
• Identified and obtained through Congress and the Administration new road construction funds for a privately held concert venue.
• Represent major songwriter and performing arts societies before Congress.
Publications & Presentations
Articles, Lectures & Publication s
Articles
• Co-Author, "Obama Administration Announces New Steps to Spur Private Investment in Infrastructure Projects," GT Alert, January 20, 2015
• Co-Author, "Special Transportation & Infrastructure Panel Releases Report on Public-Private Partnerships," GT Alert, October 2, 2014
• Co-Author, "The GROW AMERICA Act - Paves the Way for Public-Private Partnerships and State Funding for Infrastructure Through Tolling Facilities," GT Alert, May 8, 2014
• Quoted, "Appropriators Still Hold Power Despite Austerity," Roll Call, April 28, 2014
• Quoted, "Tapping Back in to Regular Order," CQ Weekly, April 5, 2014
• Author, "Congressional Issues Update - Summer 2013," GT Alert, August 14, 2013
• Mentioned, "Industry Profile: Neil Portnow - Head of the Grammys," Celebrityaccess.com, August, 2013
• Co-Author, "Election 2012: Overview of Presidential and Congressional Results," GT Alert, November 8, 2012
• Co-Author, "American Jobs Act of 2011," GT Alert, September 16, 2011
• Co-Author, "Budget Control Act of 2011: What to Expect From Congress' 'Super Committee'," GT Alert, August 12, 2011
• Co-Author, "Elections of 2010: An Early Analysis," GT Alert, November 3, 2010
• Co-Author, "2008 Election Overview: A Look Ahead to the 111th Congress," GT Alert, November 7, 2008
Lectures
• Quoted, "Holding Hands Across America, " Iberian Lawyer magazine, May/June 2010
• Diane has spoken for the Congressional Quarterly magazine seminars on Congress and Congressional procedure. In addition, she lectures to various federal agency representatives, congressional staff, trade association executives and lobbyists in the federal government and Congress.
