Luther Pendragon

This article is part of the Foodspin project of Spinwatch.

This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch.

Luther Pendragon is a London-based crisis communication and lobbying company and the European affiliate of Nichols-Dezenhall.

Luther Pendragon London offices, 3 Priory Court

1 Background
2 Controversial clients
- 2.1 Ditched lucrative tobacco client after pressure from health clients
3 Pro-nuke activity
- 3.1 Luther sub-contracted to AMEC NNC Not CoRWM
- 3.2 FOI request? - That will be £200 an hour please
4 Lobbying for education industry players
5 People
6 Clients
7 Contact details
8 Resources
9 Notes

Background

Luther Pendragon Brussels offices, Rue d’Arlon 40

According to the Nichols-Dezenhall website, Nichols-Dezenhall "helps manage Luther Pendragon's clients in the U.S., while Luther Pendragon helps Nichols-Dezenhall battle crises in Europe. The affiliation also gives Nichols Dezenhall access to top-flight resources in Germany and Belgium".^[1]

In September 2005, PR Week reported that "managing partner Simon Whale and partners Gina Coladangelo, Daniel Guthrie and Amy Kroviak have joined forces to take control from founders George Pitcher and Charles Stewart Smith. The pair started Luther in 1991 and between them own 75 per cent."^[2]

In February 2008, it emerged that Luther Pendragon was one of three agencies refusing to join the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC), following a committee inquiry chaired by Labour MP Tony Wright. Despite attempting to "make amends" by drawing up its own code of conduct, the controversy surrounding Luther Pendragon's steadfast refusal to register resulted in a representative being called in to give evidence to MPs at the Public Administration Select Committee.^[3]

In 2009, Luther Pendragon opened their Brussels office that is headed by former MEP Mark Watts. Explaining new recruits as Oliver Kaye, Mark Simpson, and Rose Montgomery with EP backgrounds, Watts said, "Regulation is now back in fashion in a big way and we know Brussels will be seeking to regulate almost every sector in 2010. Luther is advising clients that 2010 will be the ‘Year of EU Regulation’." He added: "The background of Luther’s new team reflects the post-Lisbon reality. The European Parliament is now the key institution and our understanding of what makes the Parliament tick is second to none."^[4]

Controversial clients

Ditched lucrative tobacco client after pressure from health clients

In February 2013 PRWeek reported that:

Luther Pendragon has told healthcare clients that it is no longer working with Philip Morris after a number of them questioned its work with the tobacco firm. ^[5]

Pro-nuke activity

This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch.

From August 2005, the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) has retained Luther Pendragon "to advise on communication issues arising from the third phase of the Committee's public and stakeholder engagement process".

According to CoRWM, "Luther Pendragon has been retained to support the process of consultation which will inform CoRWM's final recommendations, due to be presented to government in 2006. The Luther team will comprise: Adam Lewis, Ben Rich, Mike Granatt, Susie Winter and Aideen Lee.^[6]

For more details see the CoRWM page.

Luther sub-contracted to AMEC NNC Not CoRWM

When NuclearSpin sent in an FOI request for all correspondence between CoRWM and its PR company, Luther Pendragon, Defra officials discussed whether the information could be released. See CoRWM section for more details. Initially the officials believed the information could not be released as "our Media Advisors .. are a private sub-contracted company, and any communication/s they hold with CoRWM Members that does not channel via the secretariat (Defra) is held as confidential – between two private parties.”^[7] Here was an admission that CoRWM’s PR company was not contracted to CoRWM but to AMEC NNC, a nuclear company. Also look at the CoRWM section to see how it was up to AMEC NNC and Luther as to what information was released rather than Defra officials.

FOI request? - That will be £200 an hour please

When Luther Pendragon was finally asked to provide details of correspondence between the PR company and CoRWM as part of the FOI request, Adam Lewis from Luther replied:

"We estimate that it will take a consultant around 7 hours in total. As per the contract this time is charged at £200 per hour bringing it to a total of £1400."

On receiving this, Adam Scott from CoRWM wrote to a colleague that:

"this is ridiculously expensive, please can you check urgently with defra FOI people whether we have to spend this kind of money as a result of their 'advice.'"

In the end, sources from CoRWM have told NuclearSpin that the money was not paid.^[8]

Lobbying for education industry players

Luther Pendragon has lobbied for a number of clients involved in the education industry.

In 2015, these included:

Paradigm Trust, a multi-academy trust of primary schools in East London.
STEM Academy Educational Trust, an academy sponsor specialising in STEM-related education provision. It opened its first school in 2014, STEM Academy Tech City (a 6th form college just off Silicon Roundabout). It decided to join the Aspirations Academies Trust from September 2015 and rename the college Tech City College.
International Schools Partnership; an international schools group (aiming to rival market leaders like GEMS and Nord Anglia). ISP is led by Ryan Robson, a founder of Sovereign Capital.^[9]
Accenture; global management consultancy, involved in education reform
Ernst & Young; global management consultancy, heavily involved in education reform

People

Key people

Simon Whale, managing director
Mike Granatt, director
Avril Lee, director. Former CEO of Ketchum UK
Daniel Guthrie, director

New York

Beth Jarecki, president

Brussels

Mark Watts, director and co-founder. Former MEP for the Labour Party for Kent East and the South East of England.^[10]
Oliver Kaye, director and co-founder. Is also Secretary at PSI Alliance.

September 2015-November 2015

June 2015-August 2015

March 2015-May 2015

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

Former consultants

Jonathan Oates
Michael Stott, former public affairs manager at EDF Energy and one-time aide to former UK energy minister Charles Hendry, now at Hill and Knowlton UK
Campbell McDonald: Former chief press officer at the Cabinet Office and press secretary to Ed Miliband, MP. The LP website in July 2009 states: "Campbell has spent the last five years at the heart of government working closely with ministers, special advisers and heads of Whitehall policy units. He has managed media and stakeholders across a range of issues, from tackling social exclusion and supporting the third sector, to cutting red tape for British business and the Government’s use of IT. Campbell also worked in the Government’s Media Monitoring Unit, writing briefings for No10 and Cabinet ministers, and briefly in the No10 Press Office." Is now Managing Director of Baxendale Advisory and Director of Communications for the whole Baxendale Group. ^[18]
Mike Granatt, formerly Michael Martin's media adviser, however resigned claiming he had been misled with regards to the scandal involving the former Speaker's expenses.
Amy Kroviak
Ben Rich, left in 2007 to establish his own consultancy: Ben Rich Associates.
Andrew Sharkey, has since worked for Cohn & Wolfe, Polhill Communications then Redleaf Polhill and Smithfield Consultants. Now Business Development Director, UK at Murray Consultants.
Christopher Springham, left in 2010 to become vice president, global communications at LM Glasfiber. ^[19]
Charles Stewart Smith, now director at Blue Rubicon ^[20]
Sue Youngman, has since worked for Better Regulation Task Force and Commission, The Risk and Regulation Advisory Council, Civil Aviation Authority, HTI and Technology Strategy Board. Is currently a consultant for Regulatory Policy Committee and The Whitehall & Industry Group and principal at Compass Rose & Co.
Jonathan McShane, is cabinet member for Health, Social Care & Culture in Hackney and chair of the Public Health System Group Public Health England.
Alex Burnett, currently Global Gas Advocacy Manager, Royal Dutch Shell.
Clare Haines, media relations officer at Kingfisher
Rose Montgomery, now communications executive at EUROCITIES
Mark Simpson

Clients

APPC lobbying register

September 2015-November 2015

June 2015-August 2015

March 2015-May 2015

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

2013

Ernst & Young ^[22]

2009

Registrar of consultant lobbyists

The register of consultant lobbyists documents those clients on behalf of whom Luther Pendragon have lobbied government ministers and the firms 2015 listings are as follows:

January - March 2015

Alliance for Intellectual Property | Drax Power | Octopus Investments | The Wrigley Company

April - June 2015

All Party Parliamentary Group for Pharmacy | Alliance for Intellectual Property | Octopus Investments | The Diocese of London | The Wrigley Company

July - September 2015

October - December 2015

Contact details

Luther Pendragon
Priory Court
Pilgrim Street
London EC4V 6DR
Phone: +44 (0)20 7618 9100 +44 (0)20 7618 9100 +44 (0)20 7618 9100 +44 (0)20 7618 9100
Fax: +44 (0)20 7329 7301

http://www.luther.co.uk

This article is part of the EU Revolving Door project of SpinWatch.

Resources

Hannah Marriott, "DNA firm calls in Luther over Blunkett scandal", PR Week, 03 November 2005. (Sub req'd).
Luther Pendragon, Clients, accessed 01 February 2007.
Luther Pendragon, Clients, accessed 01 February 2009.
Nichols Dezenhall, Luther Pendragon, Web Archive 20 December 2003, accessed 11 January 2010.
PR Week, "Luther Pendragon quartet poised for £11m buyout," 09 September 2005, accessed 11 January 2010.
Public Affairs News, "Luther Pendragon hires ex-EP advisers as it grows Brussels office," Undated, accessed 11 January 2010.

Notes

↑ Nichols Dezenhall, Luther Pendragon, Web Archive 20 December 2003, accessed 11 January 2010.
↑ PR Week, "Luther Pendragon quartet poised for £11m buyout," 09 September 2005, accessed 11 January 2010.
↑ Staff writers, "Lobbying inquiry zooms in on APPC non-members", PR Week UK, 21.02.08, accessed 10.09.10
↑ Public Affairs News, "Luther Pendragon hires ex-EP advisers as it grows Brussels office," Undated, accessed 11 January 2010.
↑ Lyndsey Barber Luther Pendragon no longer working with Philip Morris, 11 February 2013
↑ CoRWM, Luther Pendragon to advise CoRWM, Press Release, 28 July, 2005.
↑ Defra Emails
↑ See emails here
↑ International Schools Partnership raises c£200m from private investors Education Investor, 27 February 2014
↑ Mark Watts European Parliament, accessed 21 January 2015
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 Luther Pendragon staff, Register Sep15-nov15, APPC, accessed 12 April 2016
↑ ^12.0 ^12.1 Luther Pendragon staff, Register Jun15-Aug15, APPC, accessed 12 April 2016
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 Luther Pendragon staff, Register Mar15-May15, APPC, accessed 12 April 2016
↑ Luther Pendragon staff, Register Dec14-Feb15, APPC, accessed 12 April 2016
↑ ^15.0 ^15.1 Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 21 January 2015
↑ ^16.0 ^16.1 [1] APPC, accessed 16 October 2014
↑ ^17.0 ^17.1 APPC Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014, accessed September 2014
↑ [2] accessed Sept 2014
↑ [3], accessed Sept 2014
↑ [4], accessed Sept 2014
↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Dec14
↑ APPC, Luther Pendragon, APPC Register Entry for 1 September 2012 to 30 November 2012, still published as latest entry on APPC website as of 26 February 2013
↑ Luther Pendragon, Clients, accessed 01 February 2009.
↑ Luther Pendragon, Clients, accessed 01 February 2007.
↑ Luther Pendragon profile 2015, Registrar of lobbying consultants, accessed 8 February 2016

[1] Nichols Dezenhall, Luther Pendragon, Web Archive 20 December 2003, accessed 11 January 2010.

[2] PR Week, "Luther Pendragon quartet poised for £11m buyout," 09 September 2005, accessed 11 January 2010.

[3] Staff writers, "Lobbying inquiry zooms in on APPC non-members", PR Week UK, 21.02.08, accessed 10.09.10

[4] Public Affairs News, "Luther Pendragon hires ex-EP advisers as it grows Brussels office," Undated, accessed 11 January 2010.

[5] Lyndsey Barber Luther Pendragon no longer working with Philip Morris, 11 February 2013

[6] CoRWM, Luther Pendragon to advise CoRWM, Press Release, 28 July, 2005.

[7] Defra Emails

[8] See emails here

[9] International Schools Partnership raises c£200m from private investors Education Investor, 27 February 2014

[10] Mark Watts European Parliament, accessed 21 January 2015

[Sep15-11] 11.0 ^11.1 Luther Pendragon staff, Register Sep15-nov15, APPC, accessed 12 April 2016

[Jun15-12] 12.0 ^12.1 Luther Pendragon staff, Register Jun15-Aug15, APPC, accessed 12 April 2016

[Mar15-13] 13.0 ^13.1 Luther Pendragon staff, Register Mar15-May15, APPC, accessed 12 April 2016

[Dec15-14] Luther Pendragon staff, Register Dec14-Feb15, APPC, accessed 12 April 2016

[Sept14-15] 15.0 ^15.1 Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 21 January 2015

[June-16] 16.0 ^16.1 [1] APPC, accessed 16 October 2014

[MP-17] 17.0 ^17.1 APPC Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014, accessed September 2014

[18] [2] accessed Sept 2014

[19] [3], accessed Sept 2014

[20] [4], accessed Sept 2014

[Dec14-21] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Dec14

[22] APPC, Luther Pendragon, APPC Register Entry for 1 September 2012 to 30 November 2012, still published as latest entry on APPC website as of 26 February 2013

[23] Luther Pendragon, Clients, accessed 01 February 2009.

[24] Luther Pendragon, Clients, accessed 01 February 2007.

[25] Luther Pendragon profile 2015, Registrar of lobbying consultants, accessed 8 February 2016

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Luther Pendragon

Contents

Background

Controversial clients

Ditched lucrative tobacco client after pressure from health clients

Pro-nuke activity

Luther sub-contracted to AMEC NNC Not CoRWM

FOI request? - That will be £200 an hour please

Lobbying for education industry players

People

Key people

New York

Brussels

September 2015-November 2015

June 2015-August 2015

March 2015-May 2015

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

Former consultants

Clients

APPC lobbying register

September 2015-November 2015

June 2015-August 2015

March 2015-May 2015

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

2013

2009

Registrar of consultant lobbyists

January - March 2015

April - June 2015

July - September 2015

October - December 2015

Contact details

Resources

Notes

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