/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-wordpress-client-uploads/tbt/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/03150212/AR-306099589.jpg "Brian Ballard at his Washington office in 2017 (Alex Leary | Times)")
WASHINGTON – Trump-connected lobbyist Brian Ballard has landed another big contract, signing a deal to represent the interests of Qatar as it looks to invest billions in the U.S.
Ballard Partners signed the $175,000-a-month deal with the Embassy of Qatar last week, and filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The focus will be on Qatar's Florida interests.
The Arab country on Wednesday is hosting the "Qatar-US Economic Forum" at the Four Seasons in Miami, featuring "in-depth panel discussions of new business and investment opportunities."
Ballard has quickly emerged as a heavyweight in Washington given his ties to Trump, which formed years ago in Florida. His firm is lobbying on behalf of a number of foreign governments as well as scores of domestic interests.
READ MORE: How Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard is turning close ties to Trump into big business
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/e61fba27-044c-4f99-970d-b81462e757a7.png "Alex Leary - Former Times Staffer")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/T75ZIU2SVREDLKTOBH6Y6DZ5TE.jpg "Lightning suffer back-to-back losses on road")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RCUJMIQV7ZCG3MTE7F2TP4FPBU.jpg "Win ACC championship and FSU football is in playoff ... we think")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZDGU4B5EC5FX5I6DPCECRE3OTI.jpg "Orlando’s Pop-Tart Bowl has an edible mascot. But what flavor is it?")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PBP2P7TNWBGPBDMNMCFO2UL264.jpg "Why are Hillsborough schools under federal scrutiny for discrimination?")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SWDERIX3UBNYOBELALUUG646DI.jpg "WWE Hall of Famer Tammy ‘Sunny’ Sytch sentenced to 17 years for Florida fatal DUI crash")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HYTF42BWLVHHJKEFQYE6MHSAGE.jpg "Hillsborough’s Bailey Elementary School to get a new principal")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OJXR5EGB6U43CV2GZYC5ORTLQQ.jpg "Man punched while approaching performer outside Tampa’s Club Skye, police say")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XAKXVMQJJNAMXND6KPZ63DOIFQ.JPG "Florida author Tim Dorsey dies at 62")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/5SQOVCKL6IRTVGSUAPBQQKRZYI.jpg "Is Billy Napier’s Florida Gators rebuild still on schedule?")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/D6RRRW43QRGHHKTVXDJTTQPGUU.JPG "Florida university leaders bash plan to downgrade sociology")