On June 3rd, Philip Hall, the ex-managing director of Portland Communications, unveiled his new venture, a boutique consultancy named Thorndon Partners. With a focus on litigation, crisis PR, and global projects, Thorndon aims to bring together experienced professionals to offer a comprehensive service package to their clients.
Prior to the establishment of Thorndon, Hall served for eight years at Portland, transitioning from a partner role to managing director. Seeing the rising interest of emerging companies in engaging with boutique agencies, he sees an opportunity for Thorndon to cater to these companies’ needs.
Assisting Hall in leading Thorndon Partners are Tara Flores and Charles McKeon, both of whom had careers at Portland. Flores, who is skilled in research and litigation, has an experience-rich career with the NATO Strategic Communications Center and the OECD. Meanwhile, McKeon brings his vast expertise as former co-head of litigation PR at Palatine.
Launching Thorndon Partners: A new consultancy era
Their combined expertise will help Thorndon thrive.
Apart from being a business leader, Hall is also a fully trained barrister, and has provided legal insights in high-profile cases, including an environmental dispute and a global football agent union’s challenge to FIFA rules. This legal background coupled with the team’s diverse skills promise significant contributions to Thorndon’s endeavors.
Looking forward, Thorndon plans to maintain a global perspective, having worked with renewable energy investors seeking compensation for unpaid debts from a European government through courts in different continents. They also aim to guide an agency focusing on extensive research, strategy, and polling for litigation, international campaigns, and crisis situations.
Earlier in March, Hall’s exit from Portland was made public, aligning with the departure of the then chief executive, Victoria Dean. The implications of these changes on the industry remain to be seen. Whether these departures signal a shift in the industry or merely a change of guard, only time will tell.
