Why It Matters
Squire Patton Boggs ended its representation of the Association for Accessible Medicines as of June 30, according to a Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) termination filing. The split marks the end of a relationship focused on trade policy affecting generic drug manufacturers, one of Washington's most contentious lobbying battlegrounds in recent months.
By The Numbers
The Association for Accessible Medicines paid Squire Patton Boggs $40,000 in the first quarter of 2025 and $50,000 in the second quarter of 2025 for its lobbying representation. The engagement shifted to zero billing in the third quarter of 2025, effectively signaling the relationship's decline before the formal termination became official in the pharmaceutical industry lobbying disclosure records.
Broader Context
The termination arrived amid significant turbulence in pharmaceutical trade policy. In April, the Trump Administration issued a Presidential Proclamation imposing 100% Section 232 tariffs on patented pharmaceuticals, utilizing a legal authority that restricts imports if they are found to threaten national security. However, generic pharmaceuticals, biosimilars, and their associated ingredients were explicitly exempted from those tariffs.
The exemption created a split outcome for the industry: branded drug manufacturers faced steep new trade barriers, while generic manufacturers and the association representing them received protection.
Squire Patton Boggs represented the Association for Accessible Medicines on trade issues during a period of shifting tariff policy under the current administration. The firm's work covered general trade matters affecting generic drug manufacturers, a sector that has faced mounting pressure from both international trade dynamics and domestic policy shifts.
His experience on the Senate Finance Committee, which handles tariff and trade legislation, positioned him as a logical choice to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape. His previous work with Rep. Kolbe added a House perspective to the engagement, though Kolbe has not served in Congress for years.
The Association for Accessible Medicines lobbying engagement centered on general trade issues impacting the generic drug industry. Everett Eissenstat, a Partner at Squire Patton Boggs, led the representation during the Second Quarter of 2025. He was described as one of the nation's foremost global trade experts. Eissenstat previously served as a staff member for Rep. James Kolbe and spent tenures on the Senate Finance Committee during the 112th, 113th, 114th, and 115th Congresses.
During the first quarter of 2025, the firm also assigned Kara-Marie Urban, an Associate, and Dominic Braithwaite, a Public Policy Adviser, to the account.
The Bottom Line
The association's decision to terminate its lobbying relationship with Squire Patton Boggs, effective June 30, marks a shift in how it manages its trade advocacy presence. With the generic pharmaceutical sector explicitly protected from the April 2026 tariffs imposed on patented drugs, the immediate policy threat that may have motivated aggressive trade lobbying appears to have diminished.
The decision came shortly after the tariff proclamation created the industry split, indicating the organization may have determined that its exemption from tariffs reduced the urgency of Capitol Hill engagement on this particular front.
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