Senior Counselor and Global Lead
Washington, D.C.

A strategic communications counselor who has served as a former government official and lawyer, Charles applies his experience to help clients navigate enterprise, reputation and legal risks to make good decisions in a complex external environment. At Edelman, he conceives and executes campaign strategies for organizations to promote and protect their reputations. He regularly counsels senior leadership and boards of directors on governance and reputation management issues. His past experience includes serving as President Ronald Reagan’s director of press advance, special assistant to Secretary of the Treasury James A. Baker III, counselor and spokesperson for the Office of Independent Counsel under Kenneth W. Starr, and counsel to Judge William Webster following the Rodney King case. His honors and accolades include PRWeek “Campaigns of the Year” in multiple categories and PRSA Silver Anvil for Public Affairs.

Executive Vice President and APAC Lead
Hong Kong

As part of the Edelman APAC leadership team, Antoine leads the firm’s Issues & Crisis practice for Asia Pacific, responsible for accelerating the firm's advisory services across the region. Bringing two decades of international communications credentials with multinational corporations, governmental organizations and global brands including Microsoft, Huawei, Qualcomm and Boeing, Antoine operates across Edelman's servicing teams to drive client value and support the agency's development in key Asian markets. Prior to joining Edelman, Antoine held leadership positions in Asia including with Burson-Marsteller, as the firm’s Hong Kong CEO, and WE Worldwide, as the agency’s China MD. Before working in Asia, Antoine was leading the Corporate Affairs department at Hennessy (LVMH) in Paris, a global role focusing on the Asian and French markets. Antoine is fluent in French and English and has working knowledge of Chinese Mandarin.

Senior Vice President and West Coast U.S. Lead
Washington, D.C.

Jason Levin Senior Vice President and West Coast U.S. Lead | Los Angeles Jason Levin has provided high-level communications, media, crisis and issues management strategic advice and counsel to a broad range of clients in corporate, nonprofit and government settings. He has led award-winning public affairs and public relations campaigns and specializes in equipping organizations to navigate complex issues environments. Prior to joining Edelman, Jason led the Public Relations and Crisis Communications practice at Cerrell Associates, a public affairs firm based in Los Angeles, where he handled the firm’s most contentious and high-profile work. In this role, Jason conceived and executed integrated communications and issues management efforts on behalf of corporations, not-for-profit organizations, and public agencies. A veteran of government and campaigns, Jason began his career working for candidates and elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels – including time spent working at Los Angeles City Hall and in the United States House of Representatives.

Managing Director, Edelman Smithfield
New York City

Ira provides strategic counsel on high-stakes, event-driven situations to C-suite executives and boards of directors of leading public and private companies. Areas of focus include M&A, activism defense, ESG investing, litigation and crisis. With deep-rooted storytelling skills Ira creates compelling corporate and investor narratives. He has extensive experience producing comprehensive business case assessments in addition to producing regulatory and financial white papers. Prior to Edelman, Ira was a managing member at Arch Research, a consulting firm that produces deep dive securities research. The majority of his career has been spent as an event-driven investor generating actionable trade ideas.

Senior Advisor    
Dallas

Laura is a seasoned strategic communications counselor who has advised clients on crisis response, reputational threats, and risk management for two decades. ​Laura is known for crafting purposeful and tailored strategic plans for clients who need to navigate a crisis, protect their organization’s reputation or wish to achieve a specific business objective. She has steered clients through a number of crises, including government investigations, and handled media relations in several high-profile civil and criminal cases.​ She is experienced at working with teams comprised of a client’s employees and outside advisors, including liaising with outside counsel as required. Laura is a graduate of the University of Texas and holds law degrees from Columbia (LL.M.) and South Texas (J.D.). Prior to attending law school, Laura worked in the Texas Legislature as the staff director for the House Committee on State Affairs; major policy initiatives included medical malpractice reform and legislation to regulate public utilities. She clerked for the Texas Court of Appeals after law school and spent three years as a litigator in Houston. After receiving her LL.M. in constitutional law, with a particular focus on civil rights, she became the Legislative Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, where she developed an expertise in information privacy, and later served as the Director of the Alliance for Consumer Rights, with patients’ rights—related to HMO’s in particular—among her priorities.​

Executive Vice President and Head of Edelman Smithfield 
Japan

Takashi Hirono is an Executive Vice President and Head of Edelman Smithfield Japan. His expertise lies in activism defense, investor relations, and special situations including crisis management. Takashi excels at providing strategic communication counsel to C-suite executives across diverse industries. He is adept at engaging with regulators and policymakers, both in Japanese and non-Japanese organizations, to develop effective communication strategies. Takashi's career commenced at the Industrial Bank of Japan (now Mizuho Bank), the nation's development bank established by the Japanese government. During the turbulent 1990s, he worked in the bank's planning staff, addressing and resolving various crisis situations. Subsequently, he assumed advisory roles at Deutsche Bank's securities unit and UBS. He played a key role in numerous M&A and financing transactions, including acting as a lead advisor for capital markets communications during the merger of Sumitomo Metal Industries and Nippon Steel Corp. .

Senior Vice President, Litigation Lead, Crisis & Risk 
Miami

With over two decades of expertise in strategic communications and a solid legal foundation, Jeanmarie is a trusted advisor for high-profile public affairs, crises, and litigation cases. Her extensive experience includes leading communications for sensitive matters such as sexual misconduct cases, real estate disputes, infrastructure failures, bankruptcies, and other complex civil litigation. 

As a member of the Florida Bar, Jeanmarie brings significant expertise in environmental law, advising leading agribusinesses and utilities on issues related to water and air quality, land use, and regulatory compliance. Her ability to align communication strategies with legal objectives has proven invaluable in navigating highly regulated industries. She is particularly skilled in managing media relations during crises and litigation, ensuring clear and consistent messaging to safeguard reputations while addressing intricate challenges.

 Jeanmarie holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications and a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. This unique blend of legal and communications expertise enables her to deliver unparalleled insights and strategic guidance to Edelman’s clients. ​​