MLB is opening an office in DC, bringing part of its lobbying functions in-house for the first time. The DC office, located at 1201 15th St. NW, will formally open Feb. 1 and be led by new VP/Government Relations Josh Alkin. He will report to MLB Chief Legal Officer Dan Halem. Alkin previously worked with MLB externally for nearly 15 years as an attorney in BakerHostetler’s legislative practice. Lucy Calautti, also formerly with BakerHostetler and a longtime lobbyist for MLB, will continue to provide some representation on Capitol Hill for the league. MLB has also retained The Duberstein Group, led by former Reagan White House Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein. The retooling of MLB’s lobbying functions follows the sudden death last March of longtime MLB lobbyist William Schweitzer. The organizational shift was overseen by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and the league’s government affairs committee, led by Reds President & CEO Bob Castellini. MLB continues to have a wide range of key government-facing issues, including media rights, drug and labor policy, and the sport’s antitrust exemption.
