Lobbying firm co-founded by Mandelson faces collapse

Global Counsel, the lobbying firm co-founded by Peter Mandelson, has confirmed it is preparing to enter administration.

Staff have reportedly been told that the move became inevitable when leading clients severed their relationships with the company, after details emerged of apparent links with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Lord Mandelson resigned from the board of Global Counsel in 2024, though he remained a shareholder until earlier this month. His co-founder, Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, stepped down as chief executive on 6 February.

Sources close to the company insist that its difficulties stem entirely from "the Mandelson legacy" and not from any actions by staff.

Global Counsel was set up by Lord Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser after Labour lost the 2010 general election.

It became a highly influential lobbying firm in Westminster, advising high-profile clients such as Shell, Tik Tok and Barclays.

The company employs more than 100 people and has offices in Berlin, Brussels, Singapore, Washington DC and Doha.

However, its future was thrown into question following the publication of documents from the Epstein files, which cast light on Lord Mandelson's links with the disgraced financier.

The documents also contained mentions of a meeting between Wegg-Prosser and Epstein in 2010, two years after the latter's conviction for soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor.

Epstein died in New York in 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Lord Mandelson is credited as one of the key architects of the New Labour movement, which came to power with Tony Blair's election victory in 1997.

He served in several ministerial posts under Blair and Gordon Brown, as well as being European commissioner for trade from 2004-2008.

He was appointed ambassador to the US in December 2024, but was fired in September after the extent of his relationship with Epstein became clear.

Earlier this month, two properties linked to Lord Mandelson were searched by police following allegations of misconduct in public office.

Global Counsel has been contacted for comment.

Lord Mandelson has also been contacted for comment but has not responded. The BBC understands his position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.