It is 8:00 AM on 17th Street NW. The humidity in Washington hasn't quite peaked yet, but inside the offices of Holland & Knight DC, the temperature is already rising. You won't see the frantic running of a TV law drama. Instead, it’s a quiet, high-stakes hum. This isn't just another law firm. With over 2,200 lawyers globally and a massive footprint in the District, they are basically the architectural firm for the rules we all live by.
Honestly, if you've ever wondered why certain federal regulations suddenly make sense—or suddenly don't—there is a decent chance someone at 800 17th St. had a hand in it. They aren't just filing briefs. They are shaping the very air the federal government breathes.
The Public Policy Engine
Most people think of law firms as groups of people who sue each other. At Holland & Knight DC, that is only half the story. Their Public Policy & Regulation Group is widely considered one of the top three lobbying shops in the United States by revenue.
Think about that.
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They aren't just reacting to laws; they are helping write them. Led by Rich Gold, a guy who has been a "Band 1" practitioner in Chambers USA for nearly two decades, this team operates like a campaign. They don't just "talk to people." They build massive coalitions, run grassroots advocacy, and handle the kind of "crisis management" that keeps CEOs from losing their minds when a subpoena hits their desk.
You've got former members of Congress and executive branch veterans walking these halls. They know the procedural quirks of the House Appropriations Committee because they used to sit on the other side of the dais.
- Bipartisanship is the secret sauce here. In a town as polarized as DC, they manage to keep a foot in both camps.
- Sector depth. From the CHIPS Act to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), they are the ones translating "legislative speak" into "business strategy."
- The money trail. Since 2000, they have secured over $5 billion in appropriations for their clients. That isn't a typo. Five billion.
Managing the Chaos: David Whitestone's Era
The firm recently crossed the $2 billion revenue mark, and a huge part of that momentum comes from the DC leadership. David C. Whitestone, the firm's Managing Partner, is a DC fixture. He isn't some remote executive in a glass tower; he’s a transportation lawyer who knows the intricacies of the FAA and the TSA better than almost anyone.
Whitestone has seen the firm through a massive growth spurt, including the recent mega-mergers with Thompson & Knight and Waller Lansden.
It’s a different vibe now. The firm is bigger, sure. But the DC office remains the heartbeat of their regulatory and government-facing work. They have experts like Paul J. Kiernan handling complex appellate litigation and John L. Brownlee leading a white-collar defense team that has tried hundreds of cases. When the DOJ announces a new fraud division—as they just did in early 2026—these are the people who get the first phone call.
The New Frontier: Defense and AI in 2026
If you look at what’s happening right now, Holland & Knight DC is leaning hard into the "Warfighter" era. The Trump administration’s 2026 executive orders, like "Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting," have sent shockwaves through the GovCon world.
The firm is currently advising major defense contractors on how to handle new restrictions on stock buybacks and dividends.
It’s tricky stuff.
The government wants production speed. Investors want returns. Holland & Knight sits right in the middle, trying to figure out how a company can be "patriotic" and "profitable" at the same time. They are also deep in the weeds of AI regulation in healthcare. With the FDA issuing fresh guidance on Bayesian methodology and clinical decision support software this month, the firm's healthcare blog has become essential reading for anyone trying to stay out of a federal investigation.
Why They Are Different (Sorta)
Look, every Big Law firm claims they are "collaborative." It's a cliché. But Holland & Knight DC actually has to be because their work is so interconnected.
You can't do a multi-billion dollar energy deal in 2026 without a tax expert who understands the latest OECD Pillar Two updates and a lobbyist who knows if the Senate Finance Committee is planning a letter of inquiry.
They bridge the gap between the "white shoe" litigation world and the "grit and grime" of K Street lobbying.
Actionable Insights for Navigating DC
If you are a business leader or a policy nerd trying to figure out how to interact with a firm of this scale, here is the ground truth:
- Monitor the Appropriations Cycles. Don't wait for a bill to be signed to start your advocacy. The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and other 2026 legislative movements show that the window for influence is often months before the public even hears about it.
- Audit Your Compliance Now. With the DOJ’s new national fraud division ramping up, the "wait and see" approach to corporate compliance is effectively dead.
- Leverage Their Niche Insights. Their specialized blogs—like the Health Dose or the Defense Situation Report—provide more actual intelligence than most paid news services.
- Understand the "Revolving Door" Nuance. It isn't just about who they know; it’s about their understanding of process. Knowing a Senator is great, but knowing the staffer who writes the "Section 3" exceptions is better.
The reality is that Holland & Knight DC isn't going anywhere. They have built a machine that is designed to thrive regardless of who is in the White House. By mixing high-level litigation with aggressive federal advocacy, they've created a one-stop shop for the most complex problems in the world.
Whether it's navigating the uncertainty of Venezuelan energy or defending a tech giant on the Hill, they are the ones usually holding the map.
What to Watch Next
Keep a close eye on the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) analysis coming out of their Public Policy group. The expansion of "Commercial Solutions Openings" is going to change how startups sell to the Pentagon, and Holland & Knight is already drafting the playbook for that transition. If you're in the tech or defense space, that's your next move.