The Association of Government Relations Professionals is shutting down, with organizers blaming a legal dispute with a Bethesda, Md.-based publisher as reason for its demise.

A notice on AGRP's website announced that, as of April 18, the association was winding down operations. The group said its board of directors came to the decision after a Washington, D.C., judge sided with Columbia Books & Information Services in a contract dispute.

"We know this news will come as a disappointment and shock to the many members of the government relations community, our sponsors and friends—and the board of AGRP shares those sentiments," the group said. "For practitioners of government relations, lobbying and public policy, there are several great associations around town that can support your needs, networking and professional development."

AGRP was founded in 1979 as the American League of Lobbyists, but changed its name in 2013 to reflect the wider range of government relations professionals that made up its membership. Executive Director Robert Hay had been leading the association until last year when he left to become an account executive at PAI Management. The group has been leaderless since then.

According to a court document provided by Columbia Books, the association entered into a contract with the company in 2008 to provide a lobbying certificate program. The document said the contract was set to expire in 2013, but that same year, AGRP reduced the amount of revenues it collected through the program to minimize the royalties paid to Columbia Books. The document also said the association also took actions to reduce the number of people who participated in the program, such as by scheduling a conflicting event on the same date as a previously scheduled session.

The dispute went to arbitration in 2014 and the arbitrator decided in favor of Columbia Books, finding AGRP liable for more than $120,000. A D.C. Superior Court judge recently confirmed the award.

AGRP's legal counsel did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

More details coming in the print edition, available April 29.

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