Capitol Counsel and Collective combine around wildfire policy work
Iain Hoey
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Wildfire policy practice expands in Washington
Capitol Counsel expanded its wildfire-related policy work through a merger with Collective Strategies & Communications that was announced in September 2025.
Capitol Counsel said the deal brings together Collective’s work in wildfire prevention, response and land management with Capitol Counsel’s broader legislative and regulatory practice in Washington, D.C.
Collective Strategies & Communications had represented clients involved in aerial firefighting, remote sensing and fire-intelligence technologies.
The firm had focused on policy frameworks tied to technology use, federal funding and legislative engagement aimed at reducing wildfire risk and improving forest health.
People joining the expanded wildfire team
The announcement also brings Phil Hardy, founder and former president & CEO of Collective Strategies & Communications, into Capitol Counsel’s expanded practice.
Hardy has more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications, government relations and public affairs, with work focused on wildfire intelligence, mitigation strategies and technologies including aerial firefighting assets and AI-driven forest-management platforms.
Matt Gall also joins the combined practice with more than 15 years of policy and advocacy experience tied to natural resources, energy, public lands and environmental issues.
Before joining Collective, Gall spent a decade at Strategies 360 and also worked on the House Natural Resources Committee on federal policy covering water rights, hydropower and endangered species.
Within Capitol Counsel, partner Brad Mollett adds experience in legislative advocacy across the House, Senate and private sector, with work spanning environment, agriculture and appropriations.
Principal Samantha Barnett adds Capitol Hill experience with a policy background in forestry, wildfire, agriculture, energy and working-forest issues.
The merged firm said Barnett has advocated for forest-health and wildfire risk-reduction policies before Congress and federal agencies.
Broader access for federal and state advocacy
Capitol Counsel described the merger as an expansion of its federal- and state-level advocacy capacity on wildfire and natural-resources issues.
The combined practice links Collective’s subject focus with Capitol Counsel’s wider access across Congress and federal agencies.
The announcement frames that combined capability around policymaking on prevention, response and funding as federal and state decision-makers consider future wildfire measures.