To answer your first question, I would say that yes, lobbying is an important activity.
Like my colleague Mr. Shore, I consider myself more of a representative or spokesperson than a lobbyist, because my goal is to represent my clients as best as I can. In a democratic society, this leads to political engagement or informed engagement within which viewpoints can be exchanged in the hope of arriving at the best possible solution that is in the public interest. That's fundamental for me.