One side-effect of the corporate legal sector’s apparently unstoppable growth is the emergence of a vibrant legal public relations industry. Think Absolutely Fabulous with lateral hire announcements and litigation support (though still the odd glass of Bolly). 

So Obiter is unsure what to make of the merger announced this week between two of the more venerable names on the PR circuit. Our neighbours Bell Yard Communications and Kysen PR say they are ‘combining forces to create a new legal PR powerhouse’ under the name Bell Yard Kysen Communications. The two firms have been around since the dawn of their industry: Kysen was founded in 1999 and Bell Yard in 2002, when today’s market was but a glint in a litigation funder’s eye. 

Bell Yard’s founder Melanie Riley will take over as managing director of the new outfit, while her counterpart at Kysen, Clare Rodway, will stay on as client relationships adviser. 

‘We are all excited by the prospect of becoming even stronger together,’ enthuses Riley. ‘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.’

Will the merger mark the start of a consolidation in the legal PR market? Somehow, we doubt it. But if the new agency wants to buy the Gazette a few magnums (magna?) of fizz to prove it’s still in work, it knows where to find us of an evening.

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