With only a card table and a telephone, lobbyist Emanuel "Manny" Rouvelas in 1973 opened a Wash­ington office that would later become part of K&L Gates. His mission was clear: Bring Seattle-based Preston, Thorgrimson, Ellis, Holman & Fletcher’s clients a new practice called "policy."

At the start of the shop’s 40th year, and tens of millions in lobby-practice revenues later, Rouvelas has replaced the card table with something a bit nicer.