Why It Matters
Ice Miller LLP terminated its lobbying representation of the City of Memphis, Tennessee effective June 30. This comes as Memphis has been the subject of significant congressional focus over the past year.
The termination of this City of Memphis lobbying contract removes a team of four experienced lobbyists from the city's federal advocacy efforts. Joe Heaton, a counsel at the firm, brought prior member experience with former Rep. Jon Runyan and current Rep. Michael R. Turner. Michael Stroud Jr., a partner at Ice Miller, also worked on the Memphis account. Ryan Jarmula, senior director of government affairs, had prior member experience with former vice president Mike Pence in his office as an Indiana representative, and also former Rep. Greg Pence. Meagan Sunn brought prior member experience with Sen. Gary C. Peters, and prior committee experience with the House Small Business Committee.
The Congressional Context
In July 2025, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) claimed that cargo theft in Memphis increased by 5,000 percent from 2021 to 2024. On September 17, 2025, Rep. Steve Cohen questioned FBI Director Patel about Operation Viper, which brought the FBI, DEA, and ATF to assist the Memphis Police. Cohen defended Memphis against characterizations of it as a troubled city, citing its cultural heritage. Cohen also stated that Memphis homicide rates were at an all-time low in modern recorded history.
In November 2025, Tina McKinney, mother of fallen Memphis Police Officer Joseph 'Rusty' McKinney, testified before the House Judiciary Committee. Officer McKinney was killed in the line of duty on April 12, 2024 at age 26. McKinney testified that Memphis had systemic policy failures including repeat offenders released on bond and soft-on-crime policies, and that increased federal and state law enforcement presence was beginning to turn the tide in Memphis.
By early 2026, the Memphis Safe Task Force had become a centerpiece of federal engagement with the city. On February 25, Blackburn reported in a Senate hearing that the Memphis Safe Task Force involved 23 federal agencies, the National Guard, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the mayor of Memphis, and the police chief. According to her testimony, the task force achieved 7,500 or more arrests, recovered 1,500 or more illegal weapons, and recovered 154 missing children. In May, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the FBI had opened a new permanent office in Memphis.
The Bottom Line
The city's decision to end its lobbying contract with Ice Miller came as congressional focus on the city's circumstances remained active, including Sen. Bill Haggerty's (R-TN) advocacy for the fiscal year 2027 budget request of $76 million for 200 new U.S. Marshals positions to sustain the Memphis crime reduction effort.
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