Why It Matters

A lobbying termination amendment filed Sept. 25 by Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP confirms the firm's registration on behalf of Victims of Terrorism ended April 9.

The firm reported $116,000 in fees for the second quarter of 2024, $70,000 for the third quarter, and $20,000 for the fourth quarter, for a total of $206,000 in disclosed compensation across those three quarters. From the first quarter of 2025 through the first quarter of this year, the firm reported no disclosed compensation while continuing to file quarterly reports on the client's behalf.

This year, Gibson Dunn's disclosed lobbying book lists two clients: Sierra Space Corp., with $180,000 in reported compensation across two quarterly filings, and Victims of Terrorism, with no disclosed compensation. The data does not indicate that Victims of Terrorism retained a new lobbying firm to continue this work.

Broader Context

Throughout the engagement, Gibson Dunn lobbied on the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), covering defense, foreign relations, and law enforcement issue codes. The third-quarter 2024 filing also listed the National Defense Authorization Act as a lobbying subject.

Related legislation in the 119th Congress includes S. 706, the American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act, introduced Feb. 25, 2025, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and H.R. 1530, its House companion bill, which was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

H.R. 10507, the Justice for Veterans and Victims of Terrorism Act, was introduced in the House on Sept. 17 and referred to the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees. The bill would require the Government Accountability Office to study and report to Congress on potentially expanding the FSIA terrorism exception to include victims of attempted extrajudicial killings or assaults. None of these bills have been enacted.

Hearings referencing Victims of Terrorism include one titled "The Rise of Anti-Israel Extremist Groups and Their Threat to U.S. National Security," one titled "Rising Threat: America's Battle Against Antisemitic Terror," and at least one additional hearing. A Politico article from September 24 reported a surge in terrorism victim lobbying tied to U.S.-Iran negotiations, with families hiring K Street lobbyists to protect their interests in any diplomatic settlement.

The Bottom Line

The data does not show Victims of Terrorism hiring a replacement lobbying firm. The lobbyists who worked the account at Gibson Dunn brought relevant Capitol Hill experience.

Amanda Neely previously served as oversight counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee, director of government affairs for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, general counsel to Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and deputy chief counsel for the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Michael Bopp previously worked for Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). Danny Smith, who worked the account in the second and third quarters of 2024, previously served in multiple roles for Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), including as chief counsel, as chief counsel for a Senate Judiciary subcommittee, and as a legal intern for Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV).

With legislation related to terrorism victims and the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act still pending in Congress, the policy issues underlying Gibson Dunn's former lobbying engagement remain active.

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