Establishes a new standard in health care consulting with best-in-class policy counsel, government relations and strategic communications capabilities
Washington, D.C., September 10, 2025 – FGS Global (“FGS”), the world's leading stakeholder strategy firm, today announced the acquisition of Washington-based Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC (“TDY”), a preeminent health care policy and advocacy firm with 20 years of experience in providing the highest levels of client support in navigating legislative and regulatory challenges in the health care delivery system. With TDY's renowned and highly trusted bipartisan government affairs expertise, and FGS’s strategic communications and reputation management leadership and health policy experts, FGS will be positioned to help clients reach every stakeholder group across the health care ecosystem.
“We are thrilled to welcome TDY to the FGS team to set the new standard for health care consulting, offering a seamless, best-in-class communications, policy counsel and government relations capability, and serving as the definitive one-stop shop for organizations navigating today’s complex health care environment,” said Winnie Lerner, Partner and FGS North America CEO.
“Health care organizations face unprecedented, interconnected challenges, from regulatory shifts to reputational risks. Now more than ever, they need a single, integrated partner who can navigate the full spectrum of policy, communications and stakeholder dynamics. With TDY, we are building on FGS’s robust health care communications practice and adding highly respected bipartisan expertise to the broader FGS team,” said Kim James, Partner and Lead of FGS’s Health sector group in North America.
Founded in 2006, TDY has established itself as a leader in strategic consulting and policy development, with a specific focus on health care. Combining broad policy expertise and political experience from Washington veterans on both sides of the aisle, TDY provides strategic advice and achieves policy solutions for a broad range of health care stakeholders.
Together with TDY, FGS’s Health offering will now include more than 50 dedicated health sector experts, including regulatory specialists, seasoned crisis and reputation management professionals, former congressional and administration leaders and former health care journalists. Clients gain access to a deeper bench of bipartisan policy experts and communicators working seamlessly to advance their goals.
The full TDY team and its leadership remains intact and will continue to provide its clients with the level of service they have come to expect over the past two decades.
Rai Downs, Partner and Co-Founder of TDY, said: "We, and our incredible TDY partners, are excited to join FGS Global to start the next chapter of TDY’s journey. By joining forces with FGS Global, we are bringing together our strengths in bipartisan government affairs with their world-class expertise in strategic communications and reputation management.”
TDY Partner and Co-Founder Jennifer Young added: “By uniting our teams, we are creating a unique offering that allows us to provide policy, advocacy, communications and stakeholder engagement support across the health care industry. Our clients will benefit from deeper resources, broader perspectives and continue to receive the same trusted, high-touch counsel they have always relied on, now enhanced by the global reach and capabilities of FGS Global.”
About TDY
TDY opened its doors in 2006 and continues to be a leader in strategic consulting and policy development, with a specific focus on health care. TDY combines broad policy expertise and political
experience from Washington veterans on both sides of the aisle. TDY’s experts have served in the highest positions advising members of Congress and the Administration and work together to provide strategic advice and achieve policy solutions. TDY offers customized service to patient groups, global corporations, trade associations, and a range of healthcare entities on legislative and regulatory priorities.
About FGS Global
FGS Global is the world’s leading stakeholder strategy firm, with approximately 1,400 professionals around the world, advising clients in navigating critical issues and reputational challenges. FGS was formed to offer board-level and C-suite counsel in all aspects of stakeholder strategy — including corporate reputation, crisis management, and public affairs and is also the leading force in transaction and financial communications worldwide.
FGS offers seamless and integrated support with offices in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Calgary, Chicago, Dubai, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Kingston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, South Florida, The Hague, Tokyo, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, D.C., and Zurich. The firm is headquartered in New York.
FGS is consistently ranked a Band 1 PR firm for Crisis & Risk Management and for Litigation Support by Chambers and Partners. For the second year, FGS was ranked #1 Global M&A PR firm by Deal Count and Value in 2024 by Mergermarket.
Contact
FGS Global: Ryan Towey, Managing Director