PPHC Grows Top 20 Presence in Q1 2025 LDA Rankings with Continued Growth in Federal Lobbying Revenue

WASHINGTON — Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) revenues for Q1 2025 were released this week, and Public Policy Holding Company (PPHC) is pleased to report continued momentum across its federal lobbying practices.

All three of PPHC’s core federal lobbying firmsForbes Tate Partners, Crossroads Strategies, and Alpine Group—have once again maintained their rankings among the top 20 lobbying firms in Washington, underscoring the Group’s consistency and client trust.

Additionally, O’Neill and Associates in Boston, MA, which primarily focuses on state-based lobbying but does federal work as well, contributed to strong performance this quarter. Combined, PPHC’s firms reported $18.7 million in LDA revenue for Q1 2025, representing a 5.73% increase over Q4 2024 disclosures.

This follows a strong finish to 2024, when PPHC’s firms collectively disclosed $68.9 million in annual federal lobbying revenue.

Alpine Group Opens Dallas-Fort Worth Office, Expanding PPHC’s Presence in the U.S. Heartland

We’re excited to share that The Alpine Group, one of PPHC’s three core federal lobbying firms, has expanded into Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)—becoming the first top Washington, D.C.–based government relations firm to establish a presence in the region.

This move reflects Alpine’s long-standing commitment to Texas and fits right into PPHC’s broader goal of growing in high-impact markets. With over 20 Fortune 500 companies and a thriving mix of industries like energy, healthcare, tech, and advanced manufacturing, DFW is one of the most important business and policy centers in the country.

As Alpine deepens its presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, Senior Vice President Barry Brown will play a key role in supporting the firm’s Texas-based clients. With decades of experience in government, politics, and advocacy, Barry offers strategic counsel rooted in a deep understanding of both federal policy and Texas priorities. A native of Greenville, Texas, he previously served as Chief of Staff to Representatives Kay Granger and Michael Burgess. He is President of the Texas Breakfast Club and President-elect of the Texas Tech College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board. A proud Texas Tech graduate and former President of its National Alumni Board, Barry brings a client-first approach, leveraging his statewide network and policy expertise to help businesses navigate today’s evolving policy landscape.

Alpine already works with several leading companies across the state, and this expansion allows them to deepen those relationships while building new ones on the ground in Texas. The addition of Alpine’s new DFW presence marks PPHC’s second office in the region, joining TrailRunner International, the most recent company to join the Group. TrailRunner and Alpine have already begun collaborating on client development efforts, demonstrating the value of our integrated platform in delivering results across policy, reputation, and communications.

As Alpine CEO Keenan Austin Reed said:

“Dallas-Fort Worth is a powerhouse for business and policy, and a natural next step for us. Alpine is excited to grow roots here and deliver for our clients in a way that reflects the energy and innovation of the region.”

PPHC Maintains Top Position in Bloomberg Government’s 2024 Report

PPHC, the leading government relations, public affairs, and strategic communications group, is pleased to announce that three of its U.S.-based firms—Crossroads Strategies, Forbes Tate Partners, and Alpine Group—have been recognized in Bloomberg Government’s 2024 Top-Performing Lobbying Firms report.

Crossroads Strategies and Forbes Tate Partners were identified as two of the ten larger lobbying firms that have experienced the most growth since 2014, the year PPHC was founded, and Alpine Group was singled out as a standout performer. The report notes that federal lobbying reached a record high of $4.5 billion in 2024, up from $4.35 billion in the previous year. This growth—driven by demand in areas such as tax policy, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency—not only reflects the advocacy industry’s resilience but also outpaced inflation, indicating a meaningful expansion in overall industry activity.

This recognition highlights the continued strength and scale of PPHC’s government relations offering and underscores the Group’s position as the largest global provider of federal lobbying services and a trusted advisor to clients navigating complex policy landscapes.

Read the full report from Bloomberg Government.

TRI named one of PRovoke Media’s 80 Best Agencies in the US

TrailRunner International has been spotlighted by PRovoke Media as one of the 80 Best Agencies in the US for 2025. TRI was recognized specifically for their performance and growth, thought leadership, and corporate communications capabilities.

TrailRunner’s collaborative approach integrates expertise from diverse fields such as media relations, law, government affairs, and finance. This multidisciplinary strategy enables the firm to tackle complex challenges that often transcend traditional boundaries, ensuring swift and effective communication strategies that deliver high value for clients. The firm’s diverse clientele, which includes high-profile names, underscores its capability to manage high-stakes communications across various sectors, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted partner in strategic advisory.

See the full list from PRovoke Media.

PPHC to Acquire TrailRunner International

Accretive acquisition expands strategic communications capabilities, extends reach into new geographies and introduces a global sports advisory service

Public Policy Holding Company, Inc. (AIM: PPHC), the leading government relations and public affairs group, is pleased to announce it has entered into a binding agreement on 24 January 2025 to acquire TrailRunner International LLC (“TrailRunner”), a Texas-based global communications advisory firm, for an initial consideration of $33 million (the “Acquisition”). On completion, the Acquisition is anticipated to be immediately accretive to the Group’s underlying earnings.

Acquisition Overview

PPHC has entered into a binding agreement on 24 January 2025 to acquire TrailRunner for an initial consideration of $33 million. On completion, the Acquisition is anticipated to be immediately accretive to the Group’s underlying earnings.

The Acquisition significantly expands PPHC’s capabilities in the large and growing strategic communications market, including corporate affairs, financial communications, crisis communications, litigation communications and reputation management. TrailRunner and PPHC are highly complementary with the combined Group presenting clear and immediate potential for cross-selling and integrated servicing for c.1,300 existing clients.

Founded in 2016 by Executive Chairman Jim Wilkinson, TrailRunner operates with a global team across offices in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (where the firm is headquartered), as well as New York, Nashville, and Northern California. The firm also serves global and regional clients from its locations in London, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with approximately 80 employees supporting its operations worldwide.

Completion of the Acquisition is subject to certain conditions which management expects will be satisfied by 1 April 2025.

Strategic Rationale

The Acquisition is in line with PPHC’s longstanding objective to build, bring together and grow a portfolio of complementary businesses with specialist communications capabilities in order to help clients navigate the world’s most challenging crises, policy risks and opportunities. It also supports the Group’s stated M&A strategy by significantly expanding its strategic communications capabilities and broadening its geographic reach.

PPHC’s global clients require a service provider able to support them across all communications disciplines and in the various geographies where they operate. This acquisition establishes Group operations and a presence in key growth markets, including:

  • Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee – central cities with reach into the growing heartland of the US South, Midwest, and Southwest.
  • New York, where TrailRunner retains deep financial and corporate sector expertise.
  • Northern California, an innovation hub, further amplifying and broadening the expertise PPHC has already established in the state.
  • Across strategic locations in the UK, Middle East and Asia, deepening PPHC’s global footprint.

Upon completion, the addition of TrailRunner’s capabilities in corporate affairs, financial communications, crisis communications, litigation communications and reputation management represents a natural evolution of PPHC’s core service offerings of government relations and public affairs. In an environment where political issues instantly evolve into reputational crises—and vice versa—these expanded capabilities enable PPHC to deliver an integrated service suite that bridges policy advocacy with corporate reputation and strategic positioning.

Furthermore, the Acquisition includes TrailRunner Sports, a leading sports advisory practice established as a joint venture with Legends, the world’s preeminent premium live events company. TrailRunner Sports provides strategic business advisory and communications support to global sports clients spanning leagues, teams, educational institutions, investors, ownership groups and others. This addition broadens PPHC’s ability to offer tailored expertise in the dynamic sports sector and demonstrates its commitment to diversifying its offerings in high-growth markets.

This holistic approach enhances PPHC’s ability to serve its clients’ C-suites, providing a comprehensive advisory framework to navigate complex challenges across regulatory, media, and stakeholder landscapes.

This is PPHC’s fifth significant acquisition since its IPO in 2021 and second that expands its international reach. Upon completion, the Group will have invested substantial capital into M&A through a combination of cash and shares, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to executing its growth strategy. All completed acquisitions to date have been successfully integrated to become value contributing members of the Group.

Stewart Hall, CEO of PPHC, commented:

“The acquisition of TrailRunner simultaneously entrenches our market leading US position and establishes our business as a truly global strategic communications group. It advances our longstanding strategy of building the world’s most comprehensive provider of government relations and corporate communications services.

“By combining TrailRunner’s deep expertise in corporate and financial communications, crisis management and sport with our existing capabilities, we create immediate value for existing, as well as prospective, clients across all markets. TrailRunner’s strong presence in America’s key business centres, combined with its international reach into Europe, Asia and the Middle East delivers on our vision of serving clients with the most important policy and communications needs wherever they operate.”

Jim Wilkinson, Founder and Executive Chairman of TrailRunner, added:

“TrailRunner is a unique and exciting growth company with a track record of proven financial success, an aggressive growth strategy and a deep bench of talent to execute this growth plan. Given the growing global megatrend of the collision of critical factors including corporate reputation, government relations, finance, crisis, litigation and sports, I can think of no better partner than PPHC to help TrailRunner expand into significant future international growth.”

PPHC Appoints John Green as Chief Client Officer

Public Policy Holding Company, Inc., the leading government relations and public affairs group providing a comprehensive range of advisory services, is pleased to announce the appointment of John Green as Chief Client Officer. This pivotal role underscores PPHC’s commitment to maximising cross-firm collaboration and delivering unparalleled outcomes for its clients.

Having completed four significant acquisitions since its IPO, and now with ten operating companies and over 1,200 clients based globally, John’s appointment will accelerate the Group’s  cross-referral program, fostering deeper integration and synergy and enhancing organic revenue growth.  With a focus on business development and execution, John will work to unlock new opportunities by leveraging the unique capabilities of each firm, ensuring clients benefit from the full breadth of PPHC’s expertise.

John brings over two decades of experience as a trusted advocate in the federal policy space. In addition to his new role, he will continue to serve as Chairman of Crossroads Strategies, one of PPHC’s premier federal affairs firms. Before joining Crossroads, John co-founded Federalist Group, LLC, which was later acquired by Ogilvy Public Relations and became one of the top five government relations firms in Washington, D.C. His track record reflects a deep understanding of the industry and a proven ability to drive growth and client success.

This announcement reflects PPHC’s forward-looking strategy to integrate expertise across its firms, creating value for clients and shareholders alike. The Company’s focus on collaboration and innovation continues to position it as the go-to partner for organisations navigating complex policy and reputational challenges.

Stewart Hall, CEO of PPHC, commented:

“John has an outstanding reputation and will deploy his abilities to connect the dots between our firms and create bespoke teams tailored to client needs. His deep understanding of our business portfolio and connectivity with the CEOs of our operating companies makes him the ideal person to lead this initiative. With ten companies under the Group’s umbrella and a strong M&A pipeline, this appointment signals our commitment to further harnessing our collective strengths and driving organic growth across the Group.”

John Green, CCO of PPHC, commented:

“I’m honored to take on this role and work closely with our talented teams across the Group. By fostering collaboration and innovation, we have an incredible opportunity to not only enhance client outcomes but also further solidify PPHC’s position as the leader in public affairs and government relations.”

Pagefield named one of PRWeek’s 14 Agencies to Watch in 2025

UK public affairs advisory firm Pagefield welcomed a new owner in 2024. PPHC, the US-based and London-listed public affairs and lobbying holding company, snapped up the agency in June for a price that could reach £30m.

It was PPHC’s fourth acquisition since its flotation in December 2021. Pagefield has retained its identity and became the 10th brand under the group’s umbrella, joining agencies that include Forbes Tate and Crossroads Strategies.

It marks a major shift for the London firm that was founded in 2010 by Mark Gallagher, Oliver Foster and Sara Price and had 36 full-time employees when the sale was announced.

See the full list from PRWeek.

PRNews Names Forbes Tate Partners & Seven Letter to 2025 Agency Elite Top 120 List

PPHC firms Forbes Tate and Seven Letter have both been named to PRNews’ Agency Elite Top 120 List for 2025. Each year, PRNews creates it’s Agency Elite Top 120 List as a comprehensive guide to the most innovative PR & communications firms in the industry.

This is the third year in a row that the two PPHC firms have been awarded this distinguished honor.

See the full 2025 Agency Elite Top 120 list from PRNews.

Seven Letter named one of PRWeek’s “Best Places to Work 2024”

PRWeek has once again recognized PPHC firm Seven Letter for their professional-development offerings and collaborative atmosphere:

Collaboration, creativity and collegiality are at the core of Seven Letter. Employees describe the firm as “a diverse set of people from different industries with unique skill sets.” Those professionals work hard to ensure that junior staff receive the help they need to develop strong industry skills. 

See the full list of Best Places to Work 2024: Midsize Agencies from PRWeek.