BKSH, Timmons Combine; Both Firms Have Sluggish Lobbying Revenue
BKSH & Associates Worldwide and Timmons and Co. are merging their operations, the firms announced Monday. Republican lobbyist Charlie Black will be chairman of the new shop, Prime Policy Group. Current BKSH president Scott Pastrick will maintain his title at the new firm.
Both firms are on track to bring in less revenue this year than in 2008, according to lobbying disclosure filings compiled by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
But in a statement, Pastrick focused on the positive.
“Bringing together these two talented, bipartisan teams means expanding our service offerings to our clients,— he said in the statement. “Having strategic counselors that provide key intelligence, trusted advice and effective advocacy can provide a decisive competitive edge for business and private-public entities.—
The new company will be a subsidiary of WPP-owned public relations firm Burson-Marstellar. The merger comes as Timmons and Co. has experienced sluggish growth in recent years, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The firm last year disclosed $5.6 million in reportable revenue, down from $7.5 million in 2007.
Timmons and Co. in 2006 disclosed $7.2 million in Lobbying Disclosure Act revenues. As of July 1, the firm was on pace to bring in dramatically less than recent years, bringing in just $2.2 million for the first six months of the year.
Meanwhile, BKSH had experienced solid LDA-based revenue growth in recent years until 2009. Firm revenues last year rose to $8.4 million from $8.1 million in 2007. BKSH in 2006 generated $7.3 million in revenue. The firm brought in $3.4 million through July 1, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.