Brown Lloyd James

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Twenty-pound-notes.jpg This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch.

Brown Lloyd James or BLJ is a PR and lobbying firm founded by Peter Brown and Howell James. It offers a number of services including 'Public Diplomacy', 'Reputation Management' and 'Government Relations', which it describes as follows: "Brown Lloyd James has personal contacts with leading policymakers and senior politicians around the world and across political spectra. We provide strategic guidance to organizations on how to position themselves before and communicate with this critical audience and to win them to your cause."[1]

Controversy

Brown Lloyd James's New York office was hired in 2009 to promote Libyan dictator Muammar Gadaffi as ‘a fascinating world figure’ around the time of his UN visit. It also worked with his son Saif Gaddafi. The agency's partner Sir Nicholas Lloyd defended the work done at a time when Libya was recognised by the UK and US governments. Protest group The Really Ethical PR Agency said however it was "time to remember the disgraceful work being done to imp­rove the image of something which is appalling". [2]

People

  • Peter Brown is described as a "well-known social and charity fixer. He has acted as an adviser to Prince Charles and Prince Edward. He is also known as "a key figure among the network of those known as ‘Peter’s Friends’", referring to his friendship with Lord Peter Mandelson, the British Business Secretary and former EU Trade Commissioner. [3]

Former people

  • Howell James, co-founder of BLJ, is a former Cabinet communications chief. In 2009 he is director of corporate affairs for Barclays Bank.James was reported to have once been in a relationship with Reinaldo da Silva, Peter Mandelson’s partner. [4]

Locations

BLJ has a number of offices worldwide, including: New York, London, Doha, Washington DC, Bejiing, Moscow, and Tripoli .

Contact

London Office:
25 Lower Belgrave Street
London SW1W ONR
tel: +44 20 7591 9610
fax: +44 20 7591 9611
website: www.brownlloydjames.com


References

  1. BLJ website, accessed August 2009
  2. Matt Cartmell, Brown Lloyd James Targeted In Protest At Gaddafi Promotion Links PRWeek, 16 March 2011, accessed 15 June 2011
  3. Peter Mandleson's PR friend opens office in Libya, Daily Mail, 30 August 2009
  4. Peter Mandleson's PR friend opens office in Libya, Daily Mail, 30 August 2009