The City of Memphis is no longer represented by Ice Miller LLP in Washington after the firm ended its lobbying contract effective June 30. The split removes a four-person team that had been handling federal advocacy for the city during a period of intense congressional focus on Memphis public safety and criminal justice concerns.
Who left the team
Ice Miller’s roster on the Memphis account included lawyers and government-affairs professionals with Capitol Hill experience. They were:
- Joe Heaton, counsel, who previously worked with former Rep. Jon Runyan and Rep. Michael R. Turner;
- Michael Stroud Jr., partner and member of the firm’s Memphis account;
- Ryan Jarmula, senior director of government affairs, who served in the office of former Vice President Mike Pence and worked with former Rep. Greg Pence;
- Meagan Sunn, who brought staff experience with Sen. Gary C. Peters and the House Small Business Committee.
Context: why the change matters
The parting comes as multiple federal lawmakers and agencies have focused public attention and resources on Memphis in the past year. Congressional hearings and federal task force activity have highlighted crime, cargo-theft and collaborations between local and federal law enforcement.
“Memphis homicide rates were at an all-time low in modern recorded history.”
The comment above, made on the congressional record by Rep. Steve Cohen, is part of the broader debate about safety, federal intervention and local policy that has surrounded the city. Other public testimony and hearings have included relatives of fallen officers urging changes to policy and expanded federal support.
Immediate implications for Memphis
Without Ice Miller’s team, the city faces a transition in how it presents priorities to federal lawmakers and agencies. Lobbying firms often act as intermediaries to secure federal grants, coordinate with agency officials and arrange congressional briefings. Losing a four-person team means:
- Short-term gaps in Capitol Hill access and federal advocacy coordination;
- A need for City of Memphis officials to select new representation or to increase in-house federal engagement;
- Potential delays in pursuing discretionary funding or pushback on legislative narratives affecting Memphis.
| Item | Impact |
|---|---|
| Lobbying team removed | Loss of experienced Hill contacts |
| Timing | Amid heightened federal scrutiny of Memphis |
| Next steps | City must choose new counsel or expand internal outreach |
Local angles and next steps
City officials have not released a public plan in the material provided about immediate replacement of outside federal counsel. For Memphis residents, the change matters because federal partnerships influence the availability of grants, task-force deployments and support for law enforcement initiatives that affect day-to-day public safety and city services.
Memphis leaders will likely face decisions about whether to engage a new lobbying firm with comparable Hill experience, rely on municipal staff to pursue grants and agency coordination, or pursue alternative partnerships with state and regional advocates. Each option carries trade-offs in speed, cost and influence in Washington.
The departure of Ice Miller’s team marks a pivotal moment for the city’s federal strategy as Memphis navigates ongoing conversations with lawmakers and federal agencies about safety, funding and policy reforms.
