FTI Consulting poised to snap up Tim Allan's agency Portland

Tim Allan's agency is in advanced talks with US-headquartered FTI, owner of the leading UK City PR firm previously named Financial Dynamics.

One insider told PRWeek: ‘There’s a deal on the table with FTI. It’s just awaiting Tim’s signature.’

Portland was founded by Allan, a former Downing Street deputy comms director under Tony Blair, in 2001.

In recent years the agency has hired a number of heavy-hitting operators, including George Pascoe-Watson, former political editor at The Sun.

Portland now has more than 70 staff with offices in London, New York and Nairobi. In PRWeek's 2011 Top 150 PR Consultancies table, the agency moved up 13 places to 30th position.

Senior figures at Portland could not be reached for comment while FTI Consulting declined to comment.

FTI has been keen to boost its lobbying firepower in recent years following a reduction in its UK public affairs capacity.

The US-based firm took control of New Labour lobbying outfit LLM in 2006, when it acquired parent firm FD (previously Financial Dynamics). However, the LLM name was dropped in 2008 following a number of senior departures.