Global Counsel Faces Administration After Client Exodus Linked to Mandelson Controversy

Global Counsel, the advisory firm co founded by former British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson, is preparing to enter administration following a wave of client departures tied to renewed scrutiny over his past links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Staff at the London based consultancy were informed that the company could formally enter administration as early as this week, according to a source familiar with the matter. The move follows mounting pressure after disclosures concerning Mandelson’s historical association with Epstein resurfaced in recently released documents.

Global Counsel had previously moved to distance itself from Mandelson. The firm ended his formal involvement last year after he was removed from his diplomatic role in Washington. It was later confirmed that arrangements had been made to divest his shareholding, stating that this would bring an end to any connection between the business and the former envoy.

Despite those steps, several high profile clients have since cut ties with the consultancy. Companies including KKR, Barclays, Klarna, Phoenix Group, Tesco, and the Premier League are understood to have terminated their relationships. Vodafone confirmed that its contract with the firm is set to conclude in March, while pharmaceutical group GSK said it had no plans to engage the consultancy in the future.

Global Counsel did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the potential administration process. Entering administration would place the firm under the control of appointed insolvency practitioners tasked with restructuring or selling parts of the business to repay creditors.

Mandelson, a senior figure in British politics for decades, has faced renewed attention after additional documents related to Epstein were made public. Being named in such files does not in itself indicate criminal wrongdoing, and Mandelson has not been accused of any crime in connection with the matter. However, the reputational impact appears to have weighed heavily on the firm’s commercial relationships.

Benjamin Wegg Prosser, who co founded Global Counsel alongside Mandelson, stepped down as chief executive earlier this month. His departure came amid growing uncertainty over the firm’s future. Wegg Prosser had also been reported to have met Epstein in 2010, during a period when the financier was under house arrest in the United States.

The rapid client withdrawal underscores how reputational risk can quickly affect advisory firms that rely on trust and long term corporate partnerships. In sectors such as government relations and strategic consulting, perception and credibility are central to maintaining business.

If administration proceeds, the focus will shift to whether parts of Global Counsel can be salvaged or restructured under new ownership. The episode highlights the broader commercial fallout that can follow high profile political controversies, particularly when they intersect with sensitive international investigations.