Global Counsel, the Lobbying Firm Founded by Peter Mandelson, Nears Administration
An employee of Global Counsel has revealed to Sky News that the advisory firm, established by Lord Peter Mandelson, is on the brink of being placed into administration. Staff were informed of the decision during a company-wide meeting on Thursday, 19 February 2026, marking a dramatic downfall for the once-influential lobbying group.
Client Exodus and Leadership Changes Seal Fate
Global Counsel, which employs approximately 130 staff, severed its ties with Lord Mandelson earlier this month amid his association with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This move followed Mandelson's sacking as US ambassador and expulsion from the Labour Party over the Epstein links. However, the damage had already been done, with a significant exodus of clients, including major names like the US investment firm KKR.
The employee described the atmosphere at the firm, stating, "Officially, we were told around 1pm today at a company all hands meeting, but I think everyone knew the writing was on the wall as many of the tech and financial big name clients had left." They added that while staff anticipated cuts, the full extent of the shutdown came as a shock: "I think a lot of people thought the junior staff would be cut, but it wasn't apparent until today that everything was going to be shut down."
New Leadership and Final Decisions
A new leadership team, appointed after the chief executive departed on 6 February and including Archie Norman, chair of Marks & Spencer, made the decision to call it a day. In the meeting, staff were informed that administrators would arrive the following day, and office lease arrangements would be addressed shortly. Recruiters will be brought in to assist employees with next steps.
Archie Norman addressed the staff, emphasizing that the closure was not a reflection on their work. The employee recounted, "Archie Norman said essentially that this isn't a reflection of anyone's work or anything. We have been unfairly caught up in this, and alluded to his previous experience delivering with crises." Rebecca Park, the new chief executive, noted that the situation unfairly impacted employees due to the Mandelson association, despite many staff never having met him or been involved in his commercial activities.
Background and Recent Developments
Global Counsel was founded in November 2010 and offered lobbying and advisory services to top global firms. Lord Mandelson had to step back from day-to-day operations after his appointment as US ambassador by Sir Keir Starmer in late 2024. Earlier this month, the company completed a divestment of his shares, stating it brought "to an end any connection between Global Counsel and Peter Mandelson." The firm confirmed he no longer holds any shareholding, role, or influence.
Meanwhile, Lord Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords and is expected to lose his peerage in the coming months. The closure of Global Counsel underscores the severe repercussions of his Epstein links, affecting not only his political career but also the business he helped create.
