Bespoke Approach

Bespoke Approach is an Australian corporate advisory firm and registered political lobbyist. The firm has offices in Adelaide, South Australia and Melbourne, Victoria.
Political lobbying
The firm was established in 2008 by England-born lobbyist Ian Smith in partnership with former Federal politicians Alexander Downer, Nick Bolkus, and was later joined by Andrew Butcher, a former spokesperson for Rupert Murdoch. Smith had identified that Downer and Bolkus each possessed experience and qualities that he regarded "highly saleable and highly beneficial to companies." The firm was intended to be multipartisan from its inception. In Bespoke Approach's early days, both Bolkus and Downer held critical fundraising roles within their respective political parties. In 2010, Bolkus was the chairman of the South Australian Labor Party's fund-raising organisation, while Downer was chairman of the Liberal Party's fund-raising committee.
Bespoke Approach has lobbied on behalf of major corporations operating in Australia including Woodside Energy, Petrochina, Huawei Technologies, Xstrata and . The company is allied with the Albright Stonebridge Group, a major global strategy firm led by Bill Clinton’s former secretary of state, Madeleine Albright. The partnership provides Bespoke with access to high-level contacts in Washington, New York, Beijing, New Delhi and Sao Paulo.
Successful lobbying efforts by Bespoke Approach have resulted in Xstrata benefiting from the Gillard government's reduced mining tax and receiving environmental approval for its Wandoan coal project, while PetroChina received government approval for a $3.5 billion joint takeover of Australia's biggest coal seam gas developer, Arrow Energy. Other clients have included Devine Homes, Genworth Financial, Genesee & Wyoming Australia and CSR.
Former South Australian premier John Olsen works as a Special Advisor to Bespoke Approach, and former South Australian Treasurer, Kevin Foley has also worked with the firm following his retirement from parliament in 2011. In 2013, Anthony Albanese mistakenly referred to Bespoke Approach as a "PR agency".
Andrew Butcher joined the firm after Bespoke Approach merged with Butcher & Co in 2014. Butcher brought with him journalism and corporate affairs experience. Ian Smith had previously worked with Butcher & Co, along with Sue Cato, in a trio representing "three of the biggest names in spin doctoring".
As of November 2015, Bespoke Approach is a registered lobbying organisation federally, and in states of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.
Bespoke Territory
Bespoke Approach is associated with Bespoke Territory, a firm represented by Paul Henderson and Mike Burgess. Its members have previously worked on projects in Australia's north including the Ichthys LNG project, Darwin Correctional Precinct, Darwin Marine Supply Base and various indigenous housing and infrastructure programs. As of November 2015 their client list includes aquaculture company, Seafarms Group Ltd.
Clients
As of 11 November 2015, Bespoke Approach's clients include:
* ACE Insurance
* Arrium
* Common Ground Adelaide
* Dexus

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