Maecenas Rasputin Svengali VIP abettor access admirer advocate aficionado agent amicus curiae angel apologist attorney attorney-at-law backer bad influence barrister barrister-at-law big wheel buff champion counsel counselor counselor-at-law court defender dependence deputy eminence grise encourager endorser exponent fan favorer five-percenter good influence gray eminence heavyweight hidden hand influence influence peddler influencer ingroup intercessor key kingmaker lawyer legal adviser legal counselor legal expert legal practitioner legalist lobby lobbyist lords of creation lover mainstay maintainer man of influence manipulator mouthpiece open sesame paranymph partisan patron pleader powers that be pressure group proctor procurator promoter protagonist reliance sea lawyer second seconder sectary self-styled lawyer sider sinister influence solicitor special interests special-interest group sponsor stalwart standby support supporter sustainer sympathizer the Establishment upholder very important person votary well-wisher wheeler-dealer wire-puller