How We Help – Government Relations & Public Affairs:

At the heart of our government and public affairs service lies a solid foundation built upon the following key areas of strength:

Valued Perspective - Our unique perspective is shaped by extensive, firsthand experience spanning across the globe. At Barkal Communications, we have a wealth of experience offering strategic communications advice on individual and corporate positioning, as well as identifying crucial stakeholders and decision-makers for our clients navigating unfamiliar territories. Drawing upon our expert knowledge and specialised focus, our governmental and public affairs expertise, coupled with our access to global resources, sets us apart from other firms in London.

Through our valuable insights, we guide our clients towards the most effective course of action.

Community Engagement – Policymakers heavily depend on a variety of sources for insight when making important decisions. These sources include NGOs, activists, trade associations, academics, environmentalists, political counterparts from both national and international arenas, private businesses, and media outlets, among others. With so many voices contributing to the (often overwhelming) pool of perspectives and recommendations, policymakers must carefully sift through and figure out which to give weight.

At Barkal Communications, we have a deep understanding of effective stakeholder engagement and the skill to use our connections at precisely the right moments to advance our clients’ interests. Through a seamless integration of diverse communication channels - like direct outreach, grassroots activism, and traditional and new media outlets - we craft compelling stories, foster strategic partnerships, and inspire concrete action to achieve impactful results.

Our goal is to prevent our clients' opponents from negatively influencing the policy landscape and instead, we strive to shape a consensus from the ground up. This helps to generate momentum towards policies that align with our clients' interests and ensures that we create a space for our clients’ voices to resonate throughout the policy landscape powerfully.

Substantive Strategic Guidance – Experience, understanding, and political savvy are ingrained fully in the team at Barkal Communications, led by Ahmed Badawi and his team of expert consultants located in London, Washington, and beyond. With robust knowledge and a keen understanding of complex and multi-stakeholder issues, we equip our clients with unrivalled guidance. Our team adeptly navigates policy tracking and analysis and delves deep into the political climates of London, Washington, and across the entire USA. From building impactful coalitions to deftly shepherding complex legislative and regulatory efforts from proposal to fruition, our advocacy team has a wealth of experience, expertise, and influential connections in both London and The Beltway. 

At Barkal Communications, we have a deep understanding of the intricate decision-making processes that unfold in large bureaucracies. Our expertise in navigating complex systems lets us to work diligently behind the scenes to get positive results for our clients. We use our extensive knowledge to analyse policy implications and position our clients strategically for success.

Direct Engagement – here at Barkal Communications, our focus is on creating an environment that promotes engagement from the very beginning. We assemble political and social capital, identify, and manage key relationships, all towards executing a strategic advocacy plan that sets our client up for ultimate success.

Through regularised face-to-face interactions, we develop strong relationships with key individuals and position our clients as reliable collaborators rather than impersonal organizations. Our direct communication with local, state, and national decision-makers allows us to share customized information and perspectives at strategic times, influencing their decisions on key policies. Additionally, by rallying grassroots supporters and advocacy organizations, we showcase our clients' dedicated constituencies and hold policymakers accountable to them.

Through our direct efforts, we can not only inform debates but also guide outcomes from the ground up for our clients.

At Barkal Communications, we understand that some policy conversations in London originate from across the Atlantic. As a firm, we actively engage with governments in London and Washington, as well as other emerging jurisdictions where conversations may have migrated to such as Türkiye, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and India. By fostering these relationships, we can produce collective results for our clients across multiple areas complementarily.

At Barkal Communications, we pride ourselves on being able to function as a powerful advocate for our clients in both the UK and USA. Our expertise extends beyond traditional communication methods; we also have a strong presence in the political arena in both countries. From serving as, if required, a spokesperson for clients before political stakeholders, to navigating legislative processes and coordinating political engagement events, we excel at connecting with key players in London and Washington. This includes influential figures such as members of the executive, SPADs, APPGs (London), senior congressional staff, congressional caucuses (Washington), think tanks, and respected former government and public officials.

Through these efforts, we effectively magnify our clients' voices and skilfully convey their unique perspectives to receptive audiences. 

Policy research and political intelligence - At Barkal Communications, we offer expert research and political intelligence to our clients, allowing them to effectively construct and deliver persuasive arguments that resonate with their target audiences - the cornerstone of successful strategic communications. Through our diverse capabilities, which include public opinion research, social media and sentiment analysis, economic studies, and strategic intelligence on political and business risks, we can transform exhaustive research into clear and compelling arguments. This enables us to strengthen alliances, counter opposing viewpoints, and sway undecided stakeholders.

Concurrently, through our rigorous research and in-depth analysis, we equip our clients with powerful insights and undeniable evidence to push forward their agendas. We light the way through the intricate political landscape, enabling our clients to navigate with ease. Our deft gathering of intelligence informs their messaging and strategy, while our thorough studies add credibility to their advocacy.



We unravel complex policy issues and pinpoint opportunities for influence.

With our expertise and understanding, we also transform knowledge into influence and clarity into conviction. At Barkal, we guide our clients in crafting compelling narratives from raw data to achieve their goals. We also meticulously investigate and classify the diverse motivations of different political, civic, and regulatory stakeholders on their behalf, providing them with vital understanding of varying perspectives and previous actions.

Renowned Insight and Experience – With decades of experience in government and business, we have unparalleled expertise and strong relationships that give our public affairs advocacy a powerful edge. Our judicious decision-making and deep understanding of intricate policy matters make us well-equipped to navigate through the fiercely divided political landscapes of London and Washington. We use our credibility, extensive connections, and practical knowledge across diverse groups to bridge divides and form broad alliances, ultimately achieving constructive outcomes for our clients.

With an independent perspective and extensive real-world experience, Barkal is dedicated squarely to promoting our clients' goals. We understand that our goal goes beyond simply protecting and boosting a client's credibility in a specific event or issue. It also involves preserving and enhancing the overall image and standing of an individual or organization in a divisive political landscape and complex regulatory system and, concurrently, providing valuable insights and counsel to overcome challenges and support our client's interests.

Integrated media - The landscape of communication has changed drastically, with fragmentation and a shift towards more democratic and diverse channels. Gone are the days of information dictated by a select few and handed down for consuming by the public, as people can now access a multitude of sources at any time. This includes traditional outlets such as newspapers, as well as alternative forms like citizen journalism and partisan news channels. Social media also plays a significant role in shaping opinions and informing influencers and decision makers.

With such a dynamic media landscape, we pride ourselves on being the most skilled and well-connected London-based firm in government relations and public affairs. Clients can trust Barkal Communications to enhance and protect your reputation by consistently producing, promoting, and seeking strategic partnerships for relevant media content that influences the behaviour of your targeted audiences – the very essence of communications; (See Media Relations for more details).