For more than three decades, Weber Shandwick’s public affairs practice has helped move global agendas, change attitudes, shape images, and expand the influence of organizations and ideas. We have made our mark by creating and executing successful public affairs campaigns for major corporations, governments, trade associations, coalitions, and nonprofit organizations in many countries around the world.
Weber Shandwick has been at the forefront of leading issues of national and international attention, including biotechnology, aerospace, defense, energy and environment, financial services, education, healthcare, telecommunications, trade disputes, transportation, information technology, and political reform.
Weber Shandwick’s public affairs practice has a presence in nearly every major capital and center of influence in North America, Europe, and Asia. Our team of 400+ professionals includes some of the best and most experienced public affairs practitioners in the world, drawn from the top of their fields in communications, business, journalism, politics, government, law, finance, marketing, research, and advertising.
North America
Weber Shandwick’s public affairs leadership is unrivaled in the United States and Canada. Our roots are in politics and campaign management - a fact that is reflected in our successful work for multinational corporations, trade associations, governments, issues coalitions, and nonprofit interest groups.
Our public affairs professionals hail from the highest levels of government, politics, journalism, business, and law, and bring to clients the in-depth knowledge, experience, and skills needed to move public opinion, shape public policy, and educate and engage key audiences.
With experience in issues as diverse as bankruptcy reform, prescription drug coverage, school vouchers, Internet privacy, and homeland security, Weber Shandwick’s North American team has the expertise to support virtually any public affairs challenge. We have particular specialties in finance and banking, health care, telecommunications and technology, defense, international trade, biotechnology, and litigation support.
Weber Shandwick’s public affairs practice has centers of excellence in Washington, DC, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York, as well as Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Edmonton. Our Washington, DC, office – Powell Tate – has been consistently rated the most respected communications firm in the city.
Europe
Weber Shandwick is Europe’s leading public affairs agency. With a staff drawn from former civil servants, political parties, the media, the EU, and local and regional government, Weber Shandwick has strength in depth of expertise, contacts, and knowledge.
Our professionals guide clients through their dealings with government at every level – local, regional, national, and international – and offer comprehensive services tailored to ensure that they are prepared when legislators, the media, NGO´s, consumer associations, and the public focus on issues that affect their business. In particular, Weber Shandwick is known for offering specialized expertise in issues including biotechnology, transportation, energy, the environment, CSR, food and beverage, consumer protection, trade, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, education, defense and security, technology, telecommunications, and financial services.
We lead pan-European campaigns out of our Brussels office – providing the EU angle and strategic advice on the politically-driven activities of the European Parliament, European Commission and Council of Ministers – and coordinating the efforts needed at national-government level across the 27 EU-member countries. We have fully staffed offices in every major political center across Europe with public affairs centers of excellence in Brussels, London, Geneva, Berlin, Budapest, Moscow, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, The Hague, Paris, and Prague.
Asia Pacific
Within the Asia Pacific region, Weber Shandwick’s public affairs practice is a growing force, led by some of the best public affairs practitioners in the region. Providing counsel to corporations, public sector bodies, government departments, and other organizations, we are expert in issues management, government affairs, media relations, opinion research, grassroots outreach, and promotional events.
Our staff across the region includes former journalists, government officials, press secretaries, and business leaders. We have regional and market-specific leadership in the areas of international trade, counterfeiting and intellectual property issues, health care, and crisis communications.
We have strong public affairs centers of excellence in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia. In Beijing and Shanghai our public affairs practice operates under the name Powell Tate.
Our Partners
Our public affairs practice is complemented by KRC Research, our attitudinal research partner; Sawyer Miller Advertising, our advocacy advertising partner; and our sister government relations agencies, Cassidy & Associates and The Rhoads Group.
Sawyer Miller Advertising
Sawyer Miller, our advertising partner, is a full-service advertising agency with offices in Washington, D.C., New York and Chicago. The agency represents a hybrid of political and traditional advertising experience, providing effective advertising for managing public policy, image and “corporate change” issues vital to clients’ success. The firm has particular expertise in developing issue advocacy advertising on public policy issues and has worked on a range of topics including healthcare reform, financial services, consumer debt, technology, defense, energy and more.
KRC Research
Our research partners at KRC Research conduct qualitative and quantitative research, utilizing state-of-the-industry data gathering analysis techniques, to develop communications strategies, test messages, test the effectiveness of specific executions (including advertising and other creative design products) and measure the effectiveness of communications campaigns. The firm has conducted research on issues as diverse as Medicare reform, prescription drugs, biotechnology, education, consumer mortgages, federal workforce development, identity theft, and investment decisions.
Government Relations
Cassidy & Associates
Cassidy & Associates was founded in 1975 by Gerald S.J. Cassidy, and to this day, continues to be one of the premier government relations firms in Washington. For over thirty years, the firm has effectively represented clients before the federal government by providing targeted, fully-integrated consulting services. Throughout the firm’s history, it has enabled corporations, associations and non-profits to promote their interests through political, legislative and regulatory processes in Washington. Cassidy & Associates help clients create opportunities and solve problems by devising and implementing effective, creative strategies to achieve success in any political environment.
The Rhoads Group
The Rhoads Group is a full-service government relations firm that focuses on providing strategic advice and personalized service to help clients navigate the Washington environment. The firm has achieved national recognition for successes in a wide array of practices, including defense and aerospace, technology, military base enhancement, transportation, homeland security, public and private institutions, corporate strategies, and international affairs. The firm specializes in proactive federal government solutions achieved with teams of talented professionals and active client involvement.
BPEX and the National Pig Association: Pigs Are Worth It!
ChallengeA disastrous wheat harvest in 2007 meant British pig farmers faced high feed prices and crippling losses. Pig farmers’ body, BPEX, in partnership with the NPA, briefed its roster of public affairs, consumer, trade and advertising agencies to raise awareness of the crisis and raise the price of pigs from around £1.06 per kilo to £1.40, the amount required to enable farmers to break even. Ultimately, this was a campaign to save the pig industry.
SolutionThe Pigs Are Worth It! campaign reflected the high standards of animal welfare in British pig farming, putting pressure on supermarkets to raise the price paid for pigs by showing support from consumers and politicians.
The creative activity included the recording of a campaign anthem, "Stand by Your Ham," the production of a report into the impact of rising feed prices and a television program with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. The
www.pigsareworthit.com website enabled consumers to pledge their support for the campaign, resulting in 13,000 signatures being presented to the British Prime Minister as part of a London rally to lobby the Government. We brought a live sow – ‘Winnie’ – to Downing Street, and nearly fifty Member of Parliament had photos taken with her for media release. Twenty-two parliamentary questions, two debates in the House of Lords and a Select Committee inquiry into the future of the pig industry ensued.
OutcomeCampaign backing from consumer and retail trade titles underpinned widespread support from Members of Parliament.. A survey showed 50% of the public were aware of the campaign. More than 19,000 people signed the petition overall and the campaign reached an audience of 30 million through press, broadcast and online media coverage. The Government set up a Pig Taskforce to work on the issues raised by the campaign, and senior politicians from all parties backed the call to action.
The real measure of success was the price paid to pig farmers for their meat, which rose from around £1.06 per kilo to the target £1.40 per kilo in September 2008; bringing an extra £51m per week to farmers.
This campaign was also honored with multiple awards this season including:
- Cannes Lions Advertising Festival, PR Lion: Best PR-led Integrated Campaign
- European Excellence Awards: Associations Category