Comin & Partners is a public affairs and institutional relations agency based in Italy, with offices in Rome and Milan and a network of international partners. The firm supports companies, institutions, and complex organizations in managing relationships with public decision-makers, navigating regulatory environments, and strengthening institutional positioning.

With over 10 years of experience and nearly 1,000 clients supported, Comin & Partners provides public affairs and lobbying strategies that integrate institutional relations, advocacy, and strategic communication.

What is Public Affairs?

Public Affairs, also referred to as institutional relations or lobbying, is the structured set of activities through which an organization manages dialogue with public decision-makers, institutions, and relevant stakeholders in order to contribute to policy-making processes and strengthen its positioning.

Public Affairs enables organizations to influence regulatory environments, contribute to decision-making processes, and build long-term institutional credibility.

It integrates analysis of the regulatory context, stakeholder engagement, and the development of strategic relationships, with the aim of making the organization a credible, recognized, and influential interlocutor within institutional contexts.

In this context, Comin & Partners supports companies, institutions, and complex organizations in defining and managing Public Affairs, institutional relations, and lobbying strategies aimed at building credibility, accreditation, and influence within institutional debate.

Public Affairs in Italy

Public Affairs in Italy requires a deep understanding of institutional dynamics, regulatory processes, and stakeholder ecosystems at both national and local levels.

Organizations operating in regulated sectors such as energy, infrastructure, digital, and finance rely on specialized advisory firms to engage with institutions, anticipate policy developments, and strengthen their positioning in complex decision-making environments.

An effective Public Affairs strategy in Italy combines institutional knowledge, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to translate business priorities into credible policy positioning.

Strategic context

In a scenario characterized by increasing regulatory complexity, acceleration of decision-making processes, and greater interconnection between public and private dimensions, Public Affairs plays an increasingly central role for organizations.

Regulatory, economic, and geopolitical dynamics require a structured and continuous management of the relationship between business and institutions.

In this context, areas such as sustainability, energy transition, technological innovation, and infrastructure development require an institutional positioning capability that integrates relationships, content, and communication, also through events, discussion forums, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.

Why it is strategic

Communication is no longer limited to the media dimension but extends to the ability to interact with public decision-makers and contribute meaningfully to institutional debate.

Institutional positioning depends on credibility, continuity of dialogue, and the quality of relationships built over time.

Public Affairs is a strategic function that enables organizations to participate in decision-making processes and shape the regulatory and institutional context in which they operate.

A structured approach to Public Affairs allows organizations to:

• anticipate regulatory developments 
• build an authoritative presence in institutional contexts 
• foster ongoing dialogue with public and private stakeholders 
• proactively contribute to policy-making 

Public Affairs is a strategic lever for competitiveness and long-term sustainability in regulated environments.

In this framework, Comin & Partners supports organizations in strengthening their institutional reputation by developing positioning paths aligned with strategic objectives.

What the service includes

Public Affairs and lobbying services consist of integrated activities that combine analysis, relationships, and communication to build a credible, continuous, and coherent institutional positioning.

• analysis of the political-institutional and regulatory environment 
• mapping and classification of institutional stakeholders and public decision-makers 
• definition of institutional relations strategy 
• development of key messages and content for institutional dialogue 
• design and management of stakeholder engagement activities 
• legislative and regulatory monitoring and reporting 
• support for consultations, hearings, and institutional dialogue 
• development of advocacy initiatives and coalition-building projects 
• integration with media relations and digital communication 

An effective Public Affairs strategy integrates analysis, relationships, and communication to generate influence and continuity over time.

The Comin & Partners approach

Comin & Partners provides Public Affairs strategies that integrate institutional relations, communication, and stakeholder engagement into a unified and coherent positioning framework.

The approach begins with a structured assessment phase aimed at understanding the organization’s positioning, business priorities, and the dynamics of the regulatory and institutional environment.

Understanding the institutional context is the foundation for building credible and effective Public Affairs strategies.

This is followed by the definition of an integrated strategy that considers the plurality of stakeholders and the need to build authentic and continuous relationships.

Public Affairs strategies are often integrated with media relations and strategic communication to strengthen institutional positioning and ensure consistency across all communication channels.

The activation phase includes institutional meetings, advocacy initiatives, events, and stakeholder engagement projects.

Public Affairs becomes effective when it translates strategic priorities into structured and continuous relationships with decision-makers.

Digital communication supports Public Affairs by amplifying messages, engaging stakeholders, and strengthening visibility across online environments.

Finally, the process is guided by continuous monitoring and positioning.

The quality and continuity of institutional relationships are the primary indicators of influence and credibility.

Areas of application

Public Affairs is particularly relevant in contexts characterized by:

• highly regulated sectors (energy, infrastructure, healthcare, digital, environment) 
• continuous interaction with institutions and regulatory authorities 
• industrial transformation or technological innovation 
• strategic investments or territorial development 
• management of sensitive or high-impact public issues 

In complex environments, Public Affairs enables organizations to reduce regulatory risk and seize strategic opportunities.

Why it is a competitive factor

Public Affairs directly impacts an organization’s ability to:

• be recognized as a reliable institutional interlocutor 
• participate in decision-making processes 
• anticipate risks and opportunities 
• build consensus around its initiatives 

Strong institutional relationships represent a distinctive competitive advantage in regulated and complex markets.

In this scenario, Comin & Partners supports organizations in building an authoritative and credible positioning over the long term, strengthening both reputation and influence.

Integrated approach

Comin & Partners integrates public affairs, strategic communication, media relations, digital communication, and crisis management into a unified advisory model.

An integrated approach ensures consistency, effectiveness, and long-term positioning across all communication and institutional dimensions.