K Street
A major thoroughfare in Washington, D.C. that has become synonymous with the American lobbying industry due to the concentration of lobbying firms and trade associations located there.
Understanding K Street
K Street is a major east-west street in Washington, D.C. that runs through the city's downtown business district. Since the mid-20th century, K Street has been home to many of the nation's most prominent lobbying firms, law firms with government affairs practices, and trade associations. The term "K Street" has become shorthand for the entire lobbying industry, much as "Wall Street" represents the financial industry.
The concentration of lobbying operations near K Street reflects the industry's proximity to the U.S. Capitol and the White House, as well as to the federal agencies and congressional office buildings where lobbying contacts take place. While many lobbying firms have relocated to other parts of Washington or to nearby suburbs in Virginia and Maryland, the K Street brand persists. Major lobbying firms historically headquartered on or near K Street include Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and Holland & Knight.
The street also hosts the offices of major trade associations like the American Bankers Association and the National Association of Manufacturers. K Street's cultural significance extends to its use in political rhetoric, where "K Street lobbyists" is often invoked by politicians to represent special interest influence on government policy, particularly during campaigns and reform debates.
Related Glossary Terms
Lobbying Firm
A company that employs lobbyists to represent clients before Congress and federal agencies, filing as a "registrant" under the LDA.
Lobbyist
An individual who is employed or retained by a client to make lobbying contacts on behalf of that client and who spends at least 20% of their time on lobbying activities for that client.
Lobbying
The act of attempting to influence government decisions, policies, or legislation by contacting elected officials, their staff, or executive branch officials.
Trade Association
An industry group organized to advance the collective business interests of its members, often through lobbying, public advocacy, and information sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does k street mean?
A major thoroughfare in Washington, D.C. that has become synonymous with the American lobbying industry due to the concentration of lobbying firms and trade associations located there.
Why is k street important in lobbying?
K Street is a major east-west street in Washington, D.C. that runs through the city's downtown business district. Since the mid-20th century, K Street has been home to many of the nation's most prominent lobbying firms, law firms with government affairs practices, and trade associations. The term "K...
this entity is one of the U.S. federal lobbying disclosure concepts that recurs across this site. The definition above is the technical answer; the paragraphs below add the practical context for how the concept connects to the the Senate Lobbying Disclosure Office LD-2 filings data behind every per-entity page on the site.
In the the Senate Lobbying Disclosure Office LD-2 filings data, this concept shapes one or more of the fields that drive the per-entity grades and rankings on this site. The methodology page describes which fields feed into which output; this glossary entry documents the underlying term.
Source: U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act database, 2026.