{{Short description|American public affairs and political consulting firm}} {{Infobox company | name = SKDK | logo = SKDK logo 2020.png | logo_caption = | image = | image_caption = | type = Private | industry = Public affairs, political consulting | foundation = 2004<!-- City, Country ({{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}}) --> | founder = {{Unbulleted list}} Bob Squier<br>William Knapp | location_city = | key_people = | services = | owner = | parent = Stagwell (since 2015) | homepage = [http://skdknick.com/ skdknick.com] }}
'''SKDK''' (formerly '''SKDKnickerbocker''')<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-12-21|title=Harris's Senate Seat Up in Air With Top Pick Ensnared in Ad Feud|language=en|work=Bloomberg|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-21/harris-s-senate-seat-up-in-air-with-top-pick-ensnared-in-ad-feud|access-date=2021-01-08}}</ref> is a public affairs and political consulting firm that specializes in working for Democratic Party politicians. It has offices in Washington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, California, and Albany, New York.<ref>{{cite web |last1=SKDKnickerbocker |title=About Us |url=http://www.skdknick.com/about-us/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324081139/http://www.skdknick.com/about-us/ |archivedate=2014-03-24}}</ref> The firm employs notable figures like former Obama White House Communications Director Anita Dunn, and Hilary Rosen.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Weinger|first1=Mackenzie|title=10 things about Hilary Rosen|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/04/10-things-about-hilary-rosen-075066|work=Politico|date=April 12, 2012}}</ref><ref name="The Nation">{{cite news|last1=Fang|first1=Lee|title=The Real Hilary Rosen Scandal|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/167388/real-hilary-rosen-scandal|work=The Nation|date=April 13, 2012}}</ref>
==History== The firm was formed in 2004 through the merger of Squier Knapp Dunn Communications and Knickerbocker Consulting. They formalized the merger in 2010, taking the name SKDKnickerbocker.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Haberman|first1=Maggie|title=Knickerbocker Consulting firm to become SKDKnickerbocker|url=https://nypost.com/2010/04/12/knickerbocker-consulting-firm-to-become-skdknickerbocker/|work=New York Post|date=April 12, 2010}}</ref>
SKDK's political clients have included Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as the campaigns of Michael Bloomberg, Mark Kelly, Ned Lamont, Wes Moore, Laura Kelly, Debbie Dingell, Joe Donnelly, Gary Peters, Michael Bennet, Josh Gottheimer, Seth Moulton, Joseph Morelle, Sara Jacobs, and Christine Quinn.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-10|title=Russian state hackers suspected in targeting Biden campaign firm, sources say|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/10/russian-state-hackers-suspected-in-targeting-biden-campaign.html|access-date=2020-11-19|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sommer|first=Will|date=2017-03-06|title=Senate Majority PAC names Schumer ally as new leader|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/322459-senate-majority-pac-names-schumer-ally-as-new-leader|access-date=2020-11-19|website=The Hill|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vendor/Recipient Profile: SKDKnickerbocker|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/campaign-expenditures/vendor?vendor=SKDKnickerbocker&year=2018| publisher=OpenSecrets}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-11-14|title=SKDK Celebrates Historic Wins in 2022 Midterms, Supports Democratic Candidates|url=https://skdknick.com/skdk-celebrates-historic-wins-in-2022-midterms-supporting-democratic-candidates-up-and-down-the-ballot/|access-date=2023-07-31|website=SKDK|language=en}}</ref> The firm has also worked for several women's rights advocates including Planned Parenthood,<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Haberkorn|first1=Jennifer|last2=Palmer|first2=Anna|title=Planned Parenthood taps crisis communications firm|url=https://politi.co/2BEuoJP|access-date=2020-11-20|website=Politico|date=28 July 2015 |language=en}}</ref> lawyer and activist Sandra Fluke,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-03-24|title=Bill O'Reilly: Who is running Sandra Fluke?|url=https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/bill-oreilly-who-is-running-sandra-fluke|access-date=2020-11-20|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref> the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Public Affairs Agencies of the Year|url=https://www.provokemedia.com/events-awards/agencies-of-the-year/2018-agencies-of-the-year/north-america/public-affairs-agencies-of-the-year|access-date=2020-11-20|website=www.provokemedia.com|language=en}}</ref>
In 2011 SKDK was hired by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to lead the public campaign to build support for the state's legalization of gay marriage.<ref name=C&S-Cuomo>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Rebecca C. |date=June 23, 2019 |title=How New York almost didn't legalize same-sex marriage |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/new-york-state/how-new-york-almost-didnt-legalize-same-sex-marriage.html |work=City & State New York |access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref> In 2014 SKDK lead the communications war room for the Human Rights Council during two landmark Supreme Court decisions affirming the right to marriage for gay couples.<ref name=Politico-HRC>{{cite news |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |date=February 4, 2014 |title=Gay-marriage backers start campaign |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/gay-marriage-human-rights-campaign-americans-for-marriage-equality-103069 |work=Politico |access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>
In 2014 SKDK Partner Jill Zuckman led the pro-bono public relations campaign that led to the Cuban government releasing American political prisoner Alan Gross. The release led to an improvement in U.S.-Cuba relations.<ref name=BuzzFeed-Cuba>{{cite news |last=Sands |first=Darren |date=December 17, 2014 |title=Democratic Public Relations Firm SKDK Helped American Freed By Cuba |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/darrensands/democratic-public-relations-firm-skdk-helped-freed-cuban-det |work=BuzzFeed News |access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>
In October 2015 the firm was acquired by The Stagwell Group, of which Mark Penn is the principal, for an estimated $75 million.<ref name="NYT1">{{cite news|last1=Gelles|first1=David|date=October 8, 2015|title=Mark Penn's Stagwell Group Will Acquire SKDKnickerbocker|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/09/business/dealbook/stagwell-group-will-acquire-skdknickerbocker.html?_r=0}}</ref><ref name="KinckerbockerSells">{{cite news|last1=Pace|first1=Richard D|date=8 Oct 2015|title=SKD Knickerbocker Sells To Stagwell Group For Up To $75 Million Dollars|agency=EverythingPR|url=http://everything-pr.com/skd-knickerbocker-to-stagwell-group/69478/}}</ref>
In 2018 SKDK Partner Hilary Rosen co-founded the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund.<ref name=CNN-TU>{{cite news |last=Melas |first=Chloe |date=January 2019 |title=Voices behind Time's Up |url=https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/01/entertainment/times-up-movement-anniversary/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref> The firm also represented Christine Blasey Ford during the Senate confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.<ref name=LATimes-Ford>{{cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Amy |date=October 10, 2018 |title=As new CEO takes the reins, Time's Up leaders look to Christine Blasey Ford for inspiration |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-times-up-christine-blasey-ford-brett-kavanaugh-20181010-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>
In February 2020 the firm acquired Sloane & Co. from MDC Partners. Sloane & Co. operates as an independent unit of SKDK that offers services including mergers and acquisitions support, shareholder activism and governance, regulatory issues, investor relations, restructuring and media campaigns.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SKDKnickerbocker Acquires Sloane & Co.|url=https://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/13840/2020-02-20/skdknickerbocker-acquires-sloane-co.html|access-date=2020-11-20|website=O'Dwyers PR}}</ref> In May 2023, the firm acquired Jasper Advisors, which also operates as an independent unit of SKDK, focused on clients in business and sports.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SKDKnickerbocker Acquires Sloane & Co.|url=https://www.axios.com/2023/05/18/skdk-acquires-jasper-advisors|access-date=2023-07-31|website=Axios |date=18 May 2023 }}</ref>
On 11 March 2023, ''Politico'' reported that TikTok hired SKDK for communications support amidst the app facing legal challenges in Washington, D.C., and a possible federal ban.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lippman |first=Daniel |date=9 March 2023 |title=TikTok hires Biden-connected firm as it finds itself under D.C.'s microscope |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/09/tiktok-biden-firm-dc-skdk-00086408 |access-date=11 March 2023}}</ref>
In early 2025, SKDK formally registered as a foreign agent to represent Israel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://readsludge.com/2025/03/11/democratic-pr-firm-skdk-registers-as-foreign-agent-for-israel/|title=Democratic PR Firm SKDK Registers as Foreign Agent for Israel|date=March 11, 2025|website=Sludge}}</ref> In August 2025, SKDK FARA filings showed that it was a subcontractor for French PR firm Havas in an effort to use a "bot-based program" to promote Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs messaging, train spokespeople, liaising with media, and testing the effectiveness of using social media influencers. The contract is worth $600,000 and runs from April 2025 until March 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-15 |title=Democratic PR Firm to Run Bot Army for Israel |url=https://readsludge.com/2025/09/15/democratic-pr-firm-to-run-bot-army-for-israel/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Sludge |language=en}}</ref> A day after the report, SKDK stated that the contract was cut short as the work "had run its course".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lippman |first=Daniel |date=September 16, 2025 |title=Democratic megafirm SKDK drops Israel as client |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/16/democratic-megafirm-skdk-drops-israel-as-client-00567858 |access-date=September 16, 2025 |work=POLITICO}}</ref>
==Political consulting and communications== SKDK provides political consulting services to political candidates, campaigns, and issue advocacy groups.<ref>{{cite web|title=SKDKnickerbocker Political Consulting|url=http://www.skdknick.com/what/political-consulting/|publisher=SKDKnickerbocker}}</ref> SKDK describes itself as a full-service public affairs practice that offers crisis communications, branding, marketing, media training, digital/social media advice, speech writing, and message development.<ref>{{cite web|title=SKDKnickerbocker Strategic Communications|url=http://www.skdknick.com/what/strategic-communications/|publisher=SKDKnickerbocker}}</ref>
Ben White of ''Politico'' wrote in an April 2014 email blast that an unnamed senior Democrat said that "It's an open secret in the Dem consultant community that SKD has been signing up clients based on 'perceived White House access' tied to prior relationships and employment."<ref name="The Nation"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Morrissey|first1=Ed|title=Awww: Rosen declines spot on Meet the Press|url=http://hotair.com/archives/2012/04/13/awww-rosen-declines-spot-on-meet-the-press/|work=Hot Air|date=April 13, 2012}}</ref> Conservative website ''National Review Online'' noted that Rosen's name appears frequently on the White House visitor log.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Geraghty|first1=Jim|title=Hilary Rosen, Frequent White House Visitor|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/295838/hilary-rosen-frequent-white-house-visitor-jim-geraghty|work=National Review Online|date=April 12, 2012}}</ref> However, the firm does not meet the standard, legal definition of lobbying<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fang|first1=Lee|title=The Real Hilary Rosen Scandal|url=http://www.republicreport.org/2012/real-hilary-rosen-scandal/|work=Republic Report|date=April 13, 2012}}</ref> and is not registered to lobby the federal government.<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lookup.php?type=f&q=SKDKnickerbocker SKDKnickerbocker] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084611/http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lookup.php?type=f&q=SKDKnickerbocker |date=2016-03-04 }}, Open Secrets.</ref> SKDK was embroiled in controversy when it received a $35 million no-bid contract for voter turnout-out work in California. <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article247389635.html|title=Betty Yee must uphold law, let Alex Padilla clean up $35 million voter contract mess|author= Editorial Board|date=November 24, 2020|work=The Sacramento Bee}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|33em}}
==External links== * {{official website}}
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Category:Political consulting firms Category:Public relations companies based in Washington, D.C. Category:Consulting firms established in 2004 Category:2004 establishments in Washington, D.C. Category:Companies involved in the Gaza war