News
Merger creates new legal PR powerhouse, Bell Yard Kysen Communications
Bell Yard Communications and Kysen PR today announce that we are combining forces to create a new legal PR powerhouse.
With long-standing track records in legal market and litigation PR, the two agencies are merging with immediate effect, trading as Bell Yard Kysen Communications.
Bell Yard Communications’ founder Melanie Riley is Managing Director, while Kysen PR’s Founder and Managing Director, Clare Rodway, is an External Adviser to the combined firm focusing on Client Relationships and Business Development. They are supported by eight other consultants from the legacy businesses. Long-standing Bell Yard colleagues, Louise Beeson and Sarah Peters, join Melanie on the Management Board of the combined agency.
Bell Yard Kysen – based in Bell Yard’s Fleet Street office – continue to offer media relations and social media advisory, litigation PR services, regulatory and sensitive situations communications handling, crisis management, campaigning support, and media training to legal sector clients. These include London-based and regional law firms and their partners, barristers’ chambers, legal NGOs, legal associations, legal recruiters, litigation funders, law tech firms, law schools and those party to a dispute.
Bell Yard Kysen Communications’ Managing Director, Melanie Riley, comments:
“Bell Yard has long admired Kysen’s strong reputation in the legal PR market and we are delighted to welcome its talented team and clients to the fold. I know Clare has been an inspirational leader and mentor, having developed the early careers of many who continue to work in this niche specialism. We have enjoyed collaborating with Kysen in recent years as our mutual respect for client delivery is second to none.
“I’m also pleased to welcome Louise and Sarah to Bell Yard Kysen’s management board and look forward to working with them to lead the newly-enlarged agency.
“We are all excited by the prospect of becoming even stronger together. By combining forces Bell Yard Kysen has a really strong platform for growth, with the potential to offer a wider group of clients best practice in legal and litigation communications.”
Bell Yard Kysen Communications’ Client Relationships adviser, Clare Rodway, says:
“I have known Mel for nearly 20 years, during which time we have regularly referred work to one another and occasionally collaborated on client projects. I have always respected the way she has built and led her agency, both professionally and culturally. There is no one I would trust more with the continued development of the business and our team.
“I am excited about this next chapter and my new role, focusing on marketing and business development in support of the combined agency. This move allows us to build on our shared strengths, bring renewed energy to the business, and to create fresh opportunities for our existing clients – as well as those we have yet to meet.
“It also allows me personally to focus on what I enjoy most – developing and nurturing relationships with clients, both long-standing and new.”
Bell Yard Kysen welcomes any opportunity to introduce ourselves to legal sector professionals outside of our existing networks, as well as prospective litigants, in light of this news – so do get in touch!
ENDS
For further information please contact:
- Melanie Riley 07775 591244
- Clare Rodway 07801 817000
About Bell Yard Communications
Bell Yard Communications is a leading London based litigation and legal sector PR specialist agency. It provides strategic, senior-level counsel to law firms on their day-to-day profile-raising efforts, as well as helping firms and their clients navigate complex communications challenges during litigation and reputation-critical situations. Bell Yard has been consistently highly ranked in Chambers’ Litigation Support Guide since its inception, and several of its experts are ranked by Law Dragon for Legal Strategy & Consulting. Bell Yard co-founded the Crisis & Litigation Communicators’ Alliance (CLC-A) which now has member agencies from across the globe, sharing best practice, insights and referring clients and advisers among the growing network.
Melanie Riley founded Bell Yard in 2002 and was one of the first specialists in litigation PR in the UK market. She also leads the agency’s issues management work and is well known for her work in the extradition space.
Louise Beeson joined Bell Yard in 2009 from Dresdner Kleinwort where she was Head of Corporate Communications. She has over 20 years’ experience in City based professional and financial services PR.
Sarah Peters joined Bell Yard in 2012, having previously held a global communications role at Linklaters. Before that, she was a Director at Citigate Dewe Rogerson. She began her PR career at Spada, after starting out as a journalist.
About Kysen PR
Founded in 1999, Kysen is well-known for specialising in legal and professional services PR, helping firms to harness the power of the media and amplify this through social channels and networking events. Kysen has long been a training ground for legal PR professionals in the London legal market and has a long track record of excellence in its field.
Clare Rodway has worked in legal PR and marketing communications since 1987, first at Titmuss Sainer & Webb (now Dechert), then as Director of Marketing at Nicholson Graham & Jones (now K & L Gates). As Kysen PR’s founder, Clare is a respected adviser to the legal sector and is well known for having helped nurture the careers of many who work in legal PR today.
