Lobbying. It’s become a dirty word, thanks to bipartisan spite directed at people who are paid to advocate for others. With this in mind, apparently, the American League of Lobbyists, or ALL, voted this week to change its name to the more anodyne Association of Government Relations Professionals, or AGRP.

Organizations change their names all the time, and nowhere more than ones that seem to reside in Washington, D.C. We’re looking at you, Washington Bullets-turned-Wizards and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, or should we say the American Association of Justice. Washington’s National Football League franchise finds itself embroiled in the rename-it craze as well.

Too bad, there was a certain panache (and honesty) to ALL, as well as the trial lawyers’ moniker. The names that succeeded them are just kind of dull. But that’s the point. ALL is lost, apparently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJBmBMsjv7A

Fabrizio Gets New Gig at MPAA

Steven Fabrizio will join the Motion Picture Association of America as global general counsel and senior executive vice president early next month, the MPAA announced in a release.

Fabrizio, who joins Hollywood’s trade group from Jenner & Block, “will oversee all legal, content protection and rights management programs within the MPAA, both domestically and around the world.” Translation? He’s got his work cut out for him, having to confront not only organized intellectual piracy of the studios’ work, but any kid with a laptop and Internet connection who doesn’t think he should pay for a movie.

Mr. Smith Goes to MWW

Douglas A. Smith, a former executive branch aide in the Clinton and Obama administrations, has joined MWW as general manager of its Washington office and executive vice president. He was most recently Homeland Security assistant secretary for the private sector.

This won’t be Smith’s first gig in the private sector. After the Clinton years, which saw him work as a deputy press secretary for then-Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo, as well as press secretary for then-Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, he spent some time at T Street Partners. He’s also worked at Leo Burnett Worldwide and Burson Marsteller.

A Wolf-Creutzfeldt at the Door

Leslie Wolf-Creutzfeldt has joined LEVICK as senior vice president in the communication firm’s New York office. She comes over from Grayling USA, where she was managing director. “LEVICK’s rapidly growing presence in the City, coupled with its commitment to integrating New York’s financial communications with insights on Washington’s strong financial regulatory role, is perfectly suited to my skills and clients’ needs,” Wolf-Creutzfeldt said in a release.