Adam Englander

Adam Englander
Adam Englander

Adam Englander

Partner and General Counsel

213-741-1500, ext. 528

Adam oversees a portfolio that includes strategic planning, campaigns, both political and community outreach, crisis communications, as well as lobbying to secure our clients the results they need. His successful leadership of hard fought campaigns includes multiple ballot issues and land use decisions in cities across Southern California including Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica Long Beach, Hermosa Beach and Whittier. Recently, Adam’s team won an overwhelming electoral victory in a land use initiative despite being outspent 8:1. He has led successful campaigns both publicly and behind the scenes for development projects, project entitlements, procurement bids and regulatory approvals across Los Angeles on the local and County levels.

Combining his background as a practicing attorney and political strategist, Adam provides crisis and litigation communication services to clients nationwide. His insight into the communications process is shaped through a litigation framework and delivers positive national and international media coverage for his clients.

Adam was selected as a 2009 and 2010 “Southern California Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine. He is a board member of the Silver Lake Independent Jewish Community Center and the Heidi Duckler Dance Theater, which creates site-specific contemporary art experiences in nontraditional venues. A graduate of Cornell University, Adam then earned his JD from the UCLA School of Law.

Marcus Allen

Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen

Marcus Allen

Partner

213-741-1500, ext. 600

Marcus brings more than twenty years of public policy and project management experience to the service of our clients. His leadership in many of our practice areas, including, Legislative and Policy Advocacy, Project Management and Procurement is rooted in his thorough understanding of government systems.

As Chief Deputy Controller of the City of Los Angeles [2000-2005] and then Deputy Chief of Staff in Charge of Operations and Finance [2005-2007] for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Marcus was responsible for the implementation of the mayor’s policies and initiatives as well as oversight of the City’s budget process. He managed teams of deputy mayors, commissioners and general managers. This remarkable background frames Marcus’ approach to problem solving around the client’s issues.

Part of Marcus’ approach to issues is the application of analytics to position a client’s initiative for competitive advantage. This cutting-edge approach creates a framework for the client’s story that is compelling. He has helped EKA clients introduce strategies and programs to managers and elected officials that are aimed at improving the day-to-day operations of government. These areas include healthcare, collections, predictive analytics, liability claims reduction, asset and fleet management and alternate service delivery approaches. Marcus’s reputation is built on meticulous preparation and the respect of his colleagues in both the public and private sectors. He knows how to design a path to success and the right places to deploy it.

A graduate of UCLA, Marcus also earned a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and the Southern California Golf Association.

Matt Knabe

Matt Knabe
Matt Knabe

Matt Knabe

Partner Emeritus and Joint Venture Partner

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213-741-1500, ext. 520

Matt is one of the founding partners at Englander Knabe & Allen specializing in political consulting, government relations, policy issues and communications strategy.

Matt’s relationships in Los Angeles County and the eighty-eight cities within the county are deep. From his beginnings running political campaigns at the local level to his work over eight years at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Matt created an impressive network of political relationships. Matt has continued to expand his associations and contacts through his active involvement in both Contract Cities and the Independent Cities Associations. It is hard to find someone with better access to local city managers, staff and elected officials than Matt. He is known for his sound advice in the shifting political landscape and working client issues the right way from beginning to end.

In addition to his work, Matt is very involved in the community and has served on numerous charitable boards across Southern California in his career.

Matt graduated from Pepperdine University in 1996, where he majored in Political Science. Matt was also a four-year member of the Pepperdine University Men’s Golf Team.

Kellie Hawkins

Kellie Hawkins
Kellie Hawkins

Kellie Hawkins

Managing Partner

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213-741-1500, ext. 545

Kellie is Managing Partner for EKA and also leads the EKA Health Initiatives team. She has held distinguished positions in both the public and private sectors. Her training and background offers clients expert counsel on both a practical and legislative level. Her mastery of the field combined with her extensive relationships delivers exceptional results.

Before joining EKA, Kellie served as the chief operating officer for the National Health Foundation (NHF), where she oversaw the day-to-day operational and administrative functions of the organization. She has managed the health and human services practice for The Hawkins Company, an executive recruitment firm based in Los Angeles. While at the US Department of Health and Human Services, Kellie advised senior administration officials on fiscal priorities.

Locally, Kellie served in the administration of former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, as executive director of the Commission on the Status of Women. Kellie also has practical experience in public health, having worked as an epidemiologist for the Los Angeles County Department of Health’s sexually transmitted diseases program.

In addition to her professional career, Kellie is civically engaged and serves on the boards of Coro Southern California and Climate Resolve.

Kellie has a degree from Howard University and received her master’s degree in public health from the University of Southern California in 2003. She was an American Marshall Memorial Fellow in 2013 and a graduate of CORO’s Health Leadership Program.

Citrus Heights Water District

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Citrus Heights Water District

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EKA Newsletter for October 1, 2025

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Los Angeles News & Updates from EKA

EKA’s Bi-Weekly Newsletter

October 1, 2025 Key Updates

Los Angeles moves forward with $2.6B Convention Center expansion plan

Los Angeles has approved a $2.62 billion expansion of the Convention Center, with Mayor Karen Bass signing off on $990 million in bonds to fund the project, to be repaid through 2058. The plan will link the West and South Halls, adding 190,000 square feet of exhibit space, 40,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 95,000 square feet for a multi-service room, while creating an estimated 9,000 union jobs and 1,600 apprenticeships. Officials project $1.8 billion in new business sales and $103 million in tax revenue, with construction set to begin in October and required to be complete before the 2028 Olympics. Critics, including City Controller Kenneth Mejia, warn of financial risks, while Bass emphasized fiscal responsibility and downtown revitalization efforts during construction.

Bass Signs Executive Order to Streamline Airports, Port, DWP Projects

Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order streamlining infrastructure approvals for Los Angeles World Airports, the Port of Los Angeles, and LADWP, aiming to fast-track major projects before the 2028 Olympics. The directive bypasses City Council by allowing departments to send requests directly to the mayor, with contracts advanced within 15 business days if requirements are met. Projects slated to benefit include the $2.6B Convention Center expansion, LAX modernization, Port of LA cruise terminal upgrades, and undergrounding utilities in Pacific Palisades. The order also requires detailed budget, debt, and capital improvement plans every two years, updating and replacing a 2005 Villaraigosa directive.

What's Happening in LA

Supervisor Hahn Details “Real Consequences” of LA County Budget Cuts

Mayor Bass Secures Agreement to Avert City Employee Layoffs Through Labor Negotiations

LA County leaders, frustrated with report on January fire response, vote to take action

LA’s regional homelessness agency (LAHSA) hits pause on plans to reform internal audit unit

After-action report finds ‘outdated, unclear and contradictory’ alerts hampered Eaton Fire evacuations

LADWP free solar for low-income households

Barger Warns of Fiscal Strain as L.A. County Approves $52.5 Billion Supplemental Budget

Spotlight Item

After-action report finds 'outdated, unclear and contradictory' alerts hampered Eaton Fire evacuations

An after-action report on January’s Eaton and Palisades fires found that outdated, unclear, and contradictory evacuation protocols, along with poor coordination and delayed alerts, hampered the emergency response, contributing to 31 deaths and widespread devastation. The report, compiled by the McChrystal Group, highlighted hours-long delays in sending evacuation orders, confusion over agency authority, and technological breakdowns such as downed cell towers and degraded signals. County leaders including Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Kathryn Barger pledged reforms, with recommendations including restructuring the Office of Emergency Management, modernizing alert systems, expanding staffing, and investing in regional training and public education. Fire and law enforcement officials emphasized that while reforms are underway, extreme winds and fire conditions made the blazes particularly deadly.

What We're Reading

What a government shutdown means for Californians, from Social Security to national parks

Who’s winning the redistricting fight? Here’s how to read the polls

Santa Monica Reaffirms Airport Closure Despite JSX Application

Cal State system targeted for antisemitism probe by the Trump administration

Long Beach launches early childhood mental health program

City of West Hollywood to Host Community Open House on September 30 for the Newly Completed Holloway Interim Housing Program

Tariffs weigh on China-Los Angeles port trade ties

Salvage of containers in Port of Long Beach completed

Almost no one is building new apartments in Los Angeles. Here’s why

EKA Spotlight

When Trump Targets Business: Crisis Communications Lessons for European Companies

EKA Partner Eric Rose will be participating in a webinar on October 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM (CEST) to discuss how the Government sets the tone for international business and what to do to protect a company’s reputation when they suddenly get called out by the Government.

REGISTER HERE

Hat Snatcher’s Statement Is Masterclass in Wrecking Own Rep

Arthur Ashe Stadium

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1757009361137{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]EKA Partner Eric Rose weighs in on Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek’s hat-snatching at the U.S. Open, which became a viral PR disaster worsened by his arrogant, threatening statement. Instead of apologizing, he mocked critics and escalated backlash, cementing perceptions of arrogance. His delayed apology came too late, making the case a lasting lesson in crisis communication failures.[/vc_column_text][mk_button dimension=”flat” size=”medium” url=”https://prcg.com/blog/hat-snatchers-statement-wrecking-rep/” target=”_blank”]READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE[/mk_button][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, and Steve Ballmer Face a Crisis of Trust

October 2024, Inglewood CA: Aerial view of Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. This new stadium is currently home to the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. FAA approval was acquired for this operation in restricted airspace.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1756989211715{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]EKA Partner Eric Rose weighs in on the PR and credibility crisis the Los Angeles Clippers are facing. Rose writes that transparency, accountability, and proactive communication will determine whether the Clippers can weather the storm—or collapse under its weight.[/vc_column_text][mk_button dimension=”flat” size=”medium” url=”https://2urbangirls.com/2025/09/clippers-kawhi-leonard-and-steve-ballmer-face-a-crisis-of-trust/” target=”_blank”]READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE[/mk_button][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Veteran City Manager Pat West Joins EKA as Joint Venture Partner

Pat West

LOS ANGELES, CA, August 1, 2025 — Kellie Hawkins, Managing Partner of EKA, today announced that veteran City Manager and long-time public servant Pat West has joined the firm as a Joint Venture Partner, bringing nearly four decades of deep experience navigating the complexities of city government, redevelopment, and entitlement processes throughout California.

“Pat West is one of the most respected city managers in Southern California,” said Hawkins. “He has led during times of crisis, rebuilt entire communities, and turned economic challenges into opportunities for growth. Pat’s leadership, vision, and problem-solving abilities will bring tremendous value to our clients and our firm.”

West served as a government official in the Gateway Cities region for 39 years, including 23 years as a City Manager. He worked in both small contract cities and large charter cities, holding various department head roles and earning national recognition for his transformative impact on the cities of Paramount and Long Beach.

In 1981, the City of Paramount was ranked the 8th most distressed city in America by a Rand Corporation study. West, then serving as Parks and Recreation Director, committed himself to turning the city around. Eventually becoming City Manager, he helped lead a remarkable transformation using creative zoning, redevelopment, and economic tools that made Paramount a model of urban renewal.

In 2005, West was appointed Executive Director of the Redevelopment Agency and Director of Community Development for the City of Long Beach, at a time when the city was facing challenges to two of its economic pillars: the aerospace industry and the Long Beach Naval Base. The result was blight, job loss, and widespread uncertainty. Two years later, West was named City Manager, a position he held until 2019. Under his leadership, Long Beach achieved its lowest crime rate and unemployment rate in recorded history, built a new $520 million Civic Center using a cutting-edge public-private partnership (P3) model, and launched the most robust private sector development boom in a generation.

“I’ve had the privilege of serving communities during their most difficult and most promising times,” said West. “Joining EKA as a joint venture partner allows me to continue that work and help clients navigate the intersection of public policy, politics, and development with integrity and creativity.”

About EKA – EKA is a strategic communications firm specializing in public affairs, government advocacy, reputation management, crisis communications, and litigation support. With a deep bench of experienced professionals and a client roster that includes leading corporations, public agencies, and advocacy groups, EKA continues to set the standard for excellence in strategic counsel. Learn more at www.ekapr.com.

Media Contact: Eric@ekapr.com

When Crisis Strikes, Leadership Matters: A Modern Guide to Brand Protection

A man with an umbrella facing an oncoming storm

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In today’s hyper-connected world, brand crises can erupt and escalate in minutes, leaving no room for hesitation. In this newly updated edition of What to Do When Things Go Wrong – Protecting the Brand, crisis expert Eric W. Rose outlines the essential strategies every organization needs to survive—and thrive—when the unexpected hits. From preparing your team and sharpening your message to navigating social media firestorms and regulatory scrutiny, this practical guide is a must-read for leaders who understand that in 2025, crisis readiness is not a luxury—it’s a leadership imperative.

[/vc_column_text][mk_button dimension=”flat” size=”large” url=”https://www.ekapr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/what-to-do-when-things-go-wrong_protecting-the-brand_2025-updated-.pdf”]CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF[/mk_button][/vc_column][/vc_row]