Top motion picture lobbyist Patrick Kilcur has joined Ballard Partners, a leading national public affairs firm with close GOP ties, as a partner in Washington, D.C.

Kilcur was most recently Executive Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs at the Motion Picture Association.

“Patrick is a highly respected and accomplished government affairs professional with a proven track record of success,” said Ballard’s founder and president Brian Ballard. Kilcur’s “longstanding relationships with leadership in the U.S. Senate and his expertise in the entertainment industry broaden our firm’s reach substantially in Washington and Hollywood.”

At the MPA, Kilcur oversaw all government relations functions and policy initiatives in the U.S. for the association and its member companies, which include the traditional Hollywood studios as well Netflix and, recently, Amazon Studios. He played a key role in representing the motion picture industry’s interests in the passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, securing significant benefits for film and television production.

“I am excited to join Ballard Partners and contribute to the firm’s continued growth and success,” said Kilcur. “Ballard Partners has a well-earned reputation for excellence in government relations, and I look forward to working with Brian and the entire team to provide strategic counsel and deliver results for our clients. I also want to thank MPA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin and all my colleagues at the MPA for an incredibly rewarding 11 years at the Motion Picture Association.”

MPA chair and CEO Charles Rivken called Kilcur a key policy voice and said the group “is stronger today thanks to everything Patrick has achieved on behalf of our studios and our creative community.”

Prior to his tenure at the MPA, Kilcur served in the U.S. Senate, as Republican Floor Assistant to Senate Republican leadership. The Hill named him a Top Lobbyist for seven consecutive years.

He is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee on Taxation and serves on the board of the Family Online Safety Institute