S-3 Group
S-3 Group is a Washington, D.C. boutique government relations and public affairs consultancy delivering integrated legislative, regulatory, and communications services to Fortune 100 companies, trade associations, non-profits, coalitions, and government clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What S-3 Group does
S-3 Group is a Washington, D.C.-headquartered boutique government relations and public affairs consultancy founded in 2011 by John Scofield. The firm delivers an integrated offering across six core service lines—Government Affairs, Data & Analysis, Owned Content Creation, Earned Media, Digital Media, and Grassroots & Influencer Relations—alongside a specialized Tax Practice launched in November 2024. S-3 combines bipartisan senior policy and political operatives with digital campaign execution and data-driven messaging, deploying principals who previously held staff roles in House and Senate leadership, key Congressional committees, the White House, and federal agencies.
The firm serves a horizontal mix of Fortune 100 corporates, trade associations, non-profits, coalitions, startups, and governments across technology, energy, healthcare, and telecommunications. Use cases span legislation shaping, regulatory approval (including CFIUS for M&A), appropriations advocacy, intellectual property protection, crisis communications, executive thought-leadership positioning, and coalition management. Underlying technology consists of conventional digital campaign platforms, social media analytics, and stakeholder engagement tooling rather than proprietary software products.
S-3 Group earns revenue through professional-services fees on custom engagement structures; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is direct, enterprise field sales via senior partner-led engagements. The firm is privately held under a partnership structure with no institutional or venture backing disclosed. Following the October 2024 merger with West Front Strategies and a leadership transition naming Matt Bravo as Managing Partner in November 2025, S-3 Group has continued active hiring of senior Hill veterans and promotions from within, signaling an execution-led scaling phase.
S-3 Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- S-3 Group
- Legal name
- S-3 Group
- Website
- https://s-3group.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- S-3 Group is a Washington, D.C. boutique government relations and public affairs consultancy delivering integrated legislative, regulatory, and communications services to Fortune 100 companies, trade associations, non-profits, coalitions, and government clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where S-3 Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
S-3 Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Government Relations Consulting: Boutique consulting services for legislative, regulatory, and public affairs engagements targeting high-stakes policy and reputation challenges
- Strategic Communications Services: Integrated legislative, regulatory, and communications consultancy helping clients shape policy outcomes and brand reputations
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
S-3 Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
S-3 Group is a boutique government relations and public affairs consultancy that helps clients shape policy outcomes and brand reputations. It delivers integrated services across Government Affairs, Data & Analysis, Owned Content Creation, Earned Media, Digital Media, and Grassroots & Influencer Relations, supported by a bipartisan team of policy, media, digital, grassroots, and political experts. The firm also operates a specialized Tax Practice advising on federal tax policy and legislation.
Product overview
S-3 Group is a boutique integrated government relations and public affairs consultancy offering a unified service model rather than a software product platform. The firm provides six core service lines—Government Affairs, Data & Analysis, Owned Content Creation, Earned Media, Digital Media, and Grassroots & Influencer Relations—that work together as an integrated consulting offering. Additionally, the firm operates a specialized Tax Practice led by bipartisan veterans. The services are delivered by bipartisan teams of policy, media, digital, grassroots, and political experts who combine latest data insights with traditional stakeholder engagement methods.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Government Affairs Services Bipartisan government relations consulting with strong relationships in Congress, the White House, and federal agencies. Services include legislative and regulatory strategy, appropriations advocacy, and federal political engagement for clients facing high-stakes policy fights.
- Data & Analysis Services Analytics and research services including web and search metrics, content analysis, survey research, focus groups, peer analysis, and KPI development to turn trends and attitudes into actionable intelligence for clients.
- Owned Content Creation Creative storytelling and content production including content and channel strategy, website development, social content, branded events, thought leadership, and video production that translates complex issues into compelling narratives.
- Earned Media Services Media relations and publicity services including op-ed placement, media monitoring, rapid response, and media training and media tours to engage reporters and online influencers.
- Digital Media Services Digital advertising and campaign management including targeting, email marketing, paid social and search advertising, and programmatic advertising with performance metrics to influence outcomes for clients of all sizes.
- Grassroots & Influencer Relations Coalition management and grassroots activation including state and local grassroots campaigns, third-party engagement, and state and local political engagement to amplify client causes.
- Tax Practice Specialized tax policy advisory practice led by bipartisan Capitol Hill veterans, helping clients navigate tax policy negotiations and legislation including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and subsequent reform efforts.
Quantifiable outcome
- Recognized as Bloomberg Government's Top-Performing Lobbying Firm for 4 consecutive years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use S-3 Group
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
S-3 Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
S-3 Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- West Front StrategiescoreMerger between S-3 Group and West Front Strategies in October 2024 combined two boutique consulting firms to deepen the firm's bench of senior-level strategists and operatives. West Front Strategies was a well-respected bipartisan consulting firm with a team of six professionals specializing in creative, out-of-the-box thinking for driving winning results for clients. The merger strengthened S-3's proven record of securing wins for clients in high-stakes public policy fights.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
S-3 Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Husch Blackwell Strategies: National law firm with a multi-state government affairs practice. Comparable integrated policy + communications offering to S-3, but with broader geographic reach.
- Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck: AmLaw 200 firm with one of the largest D.C. lobbying and policy practices. Overlaps S-3 in appropriations, tax, and regulatory advocacy but operates at substantially greater scale.
- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Global law firm consistently the highest-grossing lobbying firm in Washington. Competes for the same Fortune 100 policy and regulatory mandates S-3 pursues, but with vastly broader capabilities.
- Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath (Faegre Drinker Consulting): Large full-service law and lobbying operation whose government affairs practice overlaps S-3's integrated services. Larger, diversified portfolio, but similar Fortune 500 client targets.
Direct peers
- Mehlman Consulting: Bipartisan government relations and lobbying firm founded by former Ways and Means staff. Mirrors S-3's bipartisan bench, Fortune 100 client focus, and Hill-veteran talent model.
- Subject Matter: Bipartisan government affairs and public affairs consultancy founded by former senior Hill staff. Provides directly comparable strategic communications and lobbying services to S-3.
- BGR Group: Washington, D.C.-based bipartisan government affairs, lobbying, and public affairs firm and frequent co-witness on Bloomberg Government's Top-Performing Lobbying Firms list. Directly comparable to S-3 in services, client base, and boutique positioning.
- CGCN Group: Bipartisan government relations and public affairs firm founded by former Senate Majority Leader staff. Competes directly with S-3 for Fortune 500 advocacy and appropriations work.
- Forbes Tate Partners: Integrated government affairs, public affairs, and strategic communications firm with bipartisan Hill talent. Closely comparable integrated service offering to S-3.
Emerging players
- Hitachi Government Affairs / Invariant (governmental affairs advisory): Specialized bipartisan government relations firm founded by former Ways and Means and Treasury staff. A more niche peer competing for tax, trade, and financial services advocacy work with similar Hill-veteran leadership.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
S-3 Group social profiles
Digital presenceS-3 Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
S-3 Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
S-3 Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
S-3 Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about S-3 Group
What does S-3 Group do?
S-3 Group is a boutique government relations and public affairs consultancy that helps clients shape policy outcomes and brand reputations. It delivers integrated services across Government Affairs, Data & Analysis, Owned Content Creation, Earned Media, Digital Media, and Grassroots & Influencer Relations, supported by a bipartisan team of policy, media, digital, grassroots, and political experts. The firm also operates a specialized Tax Practice advising on federal tax policy and legislation.
Is S-3 Group a public or private company?
S-3 Group is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was S-3 Group founded?
S-3 Group was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is S-3 Group based?
S-3 Group is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does S-3 Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Relations Consulting is the primary driver. The others are strategic Communications Services.
Who are S-3 Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Husch Blackwell Strategies, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath (Faegre Drinker Consulting). Direct peers are Mehlman Consulting, Subject Matter, BGR Group, CGCN Group and Forbes Tate Partners. Hitachi Government Affairs / Invariant (governmental affairs advisory) is listed as an emerging player.
Does S-3 Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for S-3 Group.