Joe Wall

Goldman Sachs may not be popular, but Wall, the youngest lobbyist on the investment bank’s in-house Washington team, is. Still under 30, he boasts a résumé that includes stints across the political world. He was a staffer to then House majority whip Roy Blunt before becoming assistant national field director for Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign. Vice President Dick Cheney hired Wall as his assistant for legislative affairs, and before joining Goldman last year, Wall lobbied for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. Charles Symington, Wall’s former boss at the insurance group, says nearly every improvement the association made to the health-care-reform bill involved Wall. This range of experience has given Wall a network of powerful friends throughout Washington and a mastery of how the Hill operates. In other words, he’s an asset to Goldman Sachs as the bank tries to expand its political presence.