GRAND RAPIDS – Lambert, Edwards and Associates announced its purchase of Sterling Corporation on Wednesday, a move LEA said makes it the largest public relations firm in Lansing and the largest public affairs firm in the state.

Sterling Corporation has been a Republican firm for two decades, and will keep it will remain its own company and operate under its existing brand, a statement from LEA and Sterling officials said.

Lambert, Edwards and Associates has operated as a bipartisan firm and moved into the Capitol scene in 2009 when it purchased John Bailey and Associates, which had a Lansing operation. A statement said with the acquisition it will receive an estimated 20 percent increase in revenues and staff.

“We have more corporate clients than any PR firm in Michigan and now have the deepest and broadest bench in the public affairs and legislative arena,” Jeff Lambert, president of Lambert and Edwards, said in a statement. “We look forward to adding the public education, issues management and grassroots mobilization track record of Sterling to our service and extending our current public affairs reach to companies and campaigns looking to advance legislation from Lansing to the beltway and back.”

Sterling Corporation Managing Partner Steve Linder and Mark Pischea, partner and political director, will continue to lead Sterling, but benefit from the added resources, team and national reach of Lambert and Edwards.

Sterling launched in the 1990s and quickly became a preferred firm for legislative Republicans to hire for campaign work. It handles much of the Senate Republican campaign effort.

The move comes days after Sterling partner Jeff Timmer left the firm to manage the campaign of Republican Paul Mitchell in the 4th U.S. House District.

“This combination strengthens our leadership in Lansing and expands the services we can offer clients,” Linder said. “While the issues we share are often regional, our clients are increasingly global and demand more resources and an integrated approach that mirrors their scale. We believe (Lambert, Edwards and Associates), with their statewide offices and national-caliber talent, represent the ideal partner to complement our legislative acumen and access.”

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