Communications firm Public Policy buys Reevemark for up to $80 million, sources say

By Svea Herbst-Bayliss

NEW YORK, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Communications holding company Public Policy Holding PPHC.L is buying strategic communications firm Reevemark for as much as $80 million, people familiar with the deal said.

The acquisition will expand PPHC's offerings in litigation, regulatory support and crisis management, and marks its second litigation communications deal in four months after it bought London- and Milan-based Tancredi Intelligent Communication.

Reevemark, which is based in New York and employs 17 people, will operate as a standalone business within PPHC's TrailRunner International group. The firm is often retained by top US litigation firms and shareholder activism law firms and has represented Cornell University as the Ivy League school handles a major sexual assault case. It also works on M&A, restructuring and regulatory investigations.

It was founded in 2018 by Brandy Bergman, Hugh Burns, Paul Caminiti, Delia Cannan and Renee Soto — five former partners and senior executives at public relations giant Sard Verbinnen.

An initial payment of $28 million was completed on November 1 with 95% of the payment made in cash, said the people, who were not authorized to speak publicly about the sale and declined to identified.

The founding partners have all signed long-term contracts, the people added.

Reevemark has specialized in litigation communication, a fast-growing area of strategic communications, and is ranked in Band One in the Chambers and Partners 2026 Litigation PR & Communications and Crisis PR & Communications guides.

The deal will allow PPHC's roughly 1,500 existing clients to access Reevemark's specialist expertise and Reevemark clients will be able to tap into PPHC's network in Washington DC, Texas, California, London and Milan.

Private equity firms and other buyers view strategic communications firms as high-growth businesses with steady cash flow and strong client relationships, spurring consolidation in the industry.

Sard Verbinnen, for example, was sold to private equity firm Golden Gate in 2016 and is now part of public relations giant FGS, which is majority-owned by private equity giant KKR.