What We Do

For more than a decade, the principals and staff of Ogilvy Government Relations have effectively represented leading corporations and institutions with legislative and regulatory concerns in Washington, DC.

The two critical factors in this effective representation are knowledge and experience. Through high-level service on congressional staffs, in agencies and the Executive branch, Ogilvy Government Relations team members are deeply knowledgeable about the way government actually works, day in and day out.

When that experience is coupled with an understanding of the new complexities of making public policy and managing political risk, the result is superior representation of client interests.

And as an Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide company since 2005, Ogilvy Government Relations can offer clients a complete battery of public affairs and communications disciplines to further strengthen their voice in Washington.

In a city where many competing voices are constantly clamoring to be heard, Ogilvy Government Relations has the keys to successful results.

Ogilvy Government Relations approaches government relations from a simple premise: actions by federal institutions have the power to either hurt or help clients. These actions may take the form of high-profile legislation that earns front-page coverage in major newspapers. Or they may be arcane regulatory or policy implementations at the agency level. At either extreme, it is vital to have representatives in the Nation’s Capital who can help clients both reduce the risk to their organizations and manage legislation and regulation in an opportune manner. In order to accomplish these objectives, Ogilvy Government Relations concentrates on four key disciplines.

Legislative and Executive Advocacy
Through long-established professional relationships on Capitol Hill and in the Executive branch, Ogilvy Government Relations is able to precisely identify and reach out to the appropriate offices and individuals to express a client’s viewpoint on pressing legislative or regulatory matters. Moreover, expertise in message management allows Ogilvy Government Relations to express that viewpoint in a concise, consistent manner for maximum impact.

Image and Relationship Building
Federal entities and decision makers should be approached in a businesslike fashion; i.e., relationships in Washington should be formed with an eye toward continuity in order to build working partnerships. A client’s viewpoint, interests and professional and business practices are known and established in advance, which acts as an immediate and effective counterweight to misinformation. By continually communicating the value a corporation or institution provides to the public at large, Ogilvy Government Relations helps build a reservoir of goodwill and respect for clients throughout the federal government.

Crisis Management
In any walk of life, it is vital to “plan for the unplanned”—and that is certainly true in Washington. A natural disaster, for example, may compel a company or organization to seek relief from the federal government. Or an internal operational upheaval may cause policy makers to search for a legislative or regulatory quick fix. Ogilvy Government Relations has the experience and professional relationships to develop a rapid reaction team, combining communications and advocacy activities to both stabilize a crisis and gain clients an added measure of regard for a forthright response.

Grassroots Outreach
Formulating or managing effective public policy increasingly requires the ability to amplify voices from beyond the Washington Beltway to reach decision makers. As an Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide company, Ogilvy Government Relations draws on the Washington, DC-based resources of one of the globe’s leading communications firms. Ogilvy PR serves Ogilvy Government Relations clients in formulating effective grassroots efforts, using a variety of disciplines including advocacy advertising, direct mail, coalition building, media outreach and online communications. By giving voice to other stakeholders on an issue, Ogilvy PR and Ogilvy Government Relations can increase the validity of a client’s position exponentially.

A Disciplined Business Approach
To build effective partnerships with its clients, Ogilvy Government Relations embraces an approach to advocacy that has a strong business framework. While each engagement is unique, this framework is based on four key activities:

1) Resource Overview
Working with the client, team members conduct a complete assessment of strengths, weaknesses, goals and problems.

Through interviews with client leaders and key staff members, an inventory outline of tasks is created.

2) Project Development Report
Using data gained from the Resource Overview, a strategy is developed and recommended projects are formulated.

A timeline for putting projects into action is created.

3) Goals and Benchmarks
These are defined early in the engagement so successes can be gauged as early as possible and strategic adjustments made, if necessary, to meet goals.

4) Continuous Communication
By continually and openly exchanging ideas and judgments, clients and Ogilvy Government Relations team members build a strong
working relationship with each other—and with Capitol Hill and federal agencies.