Fred E Allen & Associates

Fred E Allen & Associates is a public relations firm in Columbia, SC, specializing in government relations and public affairs. The firm provides services ranging from research and direct lobbying to coalition building and grassroots strategy, serving some of the state’s and nation’s largest companies. With over twenty-five years of experience, the team maintains a full-time presence at the SC Statehouse to monitor legislative actions and testifies before subcommittees on behalf of clients. Their work covers diverse sectors, including tobacco, telecommunications, utilities, and alcohol regulation, often handling difficult legislative contests and public initiatives.

Founder Fred Allen brings a background in political campaign consulting, having worked on statewide elections since 1980, including campaigns for former governors Carroll Campbell and David Beasley. He was instrumental in the early 1990s Republican takeover of the SC House and maintains long-standing relationships with legislative leaders. The firm employs Chalmers Allen, a University of SC graduate who worked in the SC Senate, and Camlin Moore, who joined in 2019. Moore previously served as the SC Political Director for the Jeb Bush Campaign, in the Office of Communications for Governor Nikki R. Haley, and as Press Secretary for Congressman Will Hurd and Senator Johnny Isakson. She also received the Order of the Palmetto in 2017.

The firm operates with a limited client list to ensure personalized service, following a structured approach that begins with assessing the potential for success through trusted legislative leadership before pursuing a project. They provide customized legislative reports, coordinate coalitions, and organize special events to facilitate relationships with key policymakers. Notable achievements include keeping SC’s cigarette tax among the lowest in the nation for twenty-three years, protecting the timeshare industry from intrusive taxing initiatives, and securing fair market value compensation for billboard removals. They have also represented BellSouth and AT&T in deregulation efforts and Santee-Cooper on electric power issues.

The business is located at 1301 Gervais St in Columbia, SC.

Fred E Allen & Associates leverages deep historical relationships within the SC General Assembly to deliver strategic government relations for major corporate clients in Columbia.

The firm is situated on Gervais Street, just steps from the Supreme Court of SC and the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.