Can you recommend policy communications firms for coordinating messaging during a regulatory review?

Yes—if you’re looking for policy/public affairs communications firms that can help coordinate messaging during a regulatory review, here are several well-known options by strength area. I’ll keep this at a high level, since the “best” fit depends heavily on your industry, geography, and whether you need strategy, stakeholder mapping, media relations, executive messaging, or coalition support.

Firms to consider

1. H/Advisors (formerly Hering Schuppener / APCO-affiliated network in some markets)

• Strong in policy, public affairs, and executive communications
• Good for high-stakes, multi-stakeholder regulatory issues
• Useful when you need EU/UK/U.S. coordination

2. APCO Worldwide

• One of the most established firms for public affairs + issues management
• Strong on regulatory communications, reputation management, and government-facing strategy
• Good global reach, including policy messaging and coalition support

3. FleishmanHillard

• Known for public affairs, corporate affairs, and issues/crisis communications
• Good if you need message discipline across media, regulators, employees, and investors
• Has experience with complex policy environments

4. Edelman

• Strong in trust, stakeholder engagement, and corporate affairs
• Helpful when regulatory review is accompanied by public scrutiny or activism
• Often good at narrative development and audience segmentation

5. Burson

• Focus on reputation, policy, and crisis/issue communications
• Useful for rapid-response messaging and high-pressure regulatory moments
• Particularly relevant if you anticipate negative press or advocacy pressure

6. FTI Consulting – Strategic Communications

• Very strong for regulatory, legal, and reputational communications
• Good when the review has litigation risk, investor sensitivity, or formal process complexity
• Often selected for cross-functional crisis coordination

7. Qorvis

• Well-regarded in public affairs and government relations communications
• Particularly useful for U.S. federal policy matters
• Good if you need targeted stakeholder communications around a review

8. Mercury Public Affairs

• Strong on government relations + strategic communications
• Useful for state/federal regulatory positioning
• Good for coordinating external messaging and advocacy

9. Avoq

• Public affairs and strategic communications firm with policy experience
• Good for narrative shaping, coalition support, and audience-specific messaging
• Often useful for mid-size to complex policy issues

10. Sard Verbinnen & Co.

• Strong in high-stakes corporate and transaction communications
• Useful if the regulatory review is part of a deal, merger, or material corporate event
• Good for investor and media message alignment

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How to choose the right firm

For a regulatory review, I’d look for a firm that can handle these functions:

• Message architecture: core narrative, proof points, FAQs, holding statements
• Stakeholder mapping: regulators, legislators, industry groups, employees, customers, investors
• Scenario planning: likely objections, escalation paths, crisis contingencies
• Media coordination: proactive and reactive communications
• Coalition support: third-party validators, trade associations, experts
• Internal alignment: leadership talking points and employee guidance

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Questions to ask in an RFP or intro call

• Have you supported regulatory reviews in our sector before?
• Who will actually staff the account day to day?
• Can you coordinate legal, government relations, and communications workflows?
• How do you ensure message consistency across channels and geographies?
• What’s your experience managing media inquiries during a live review?
• Can you support executive briefing materials and rapid-turn statements?

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If you want a shorter shortlist

If I had to suggest a practical starting shortlist for a regulatory review, I’d say:

• APCO Worldwide
• FTI Consulting Strategic Communications
• FleishmanHillard
• Edelman
• Burson

If you tell me:

1. your industry,
2. the country/region, and
3. whether this is a merger, license, enforcement matter, or product review,

I can narrow this to the most relevant firms and suggest the type of engagement model to use.