Established in 1993 by Robert Chlopak, Charlie Leonard, and Peter Schechter, the firm has a diverse client portfolio, representing entities ranging from Fortune 500 companies like Oracle Corp. and Verizon Communications[1] to various foreign governments such as Brazil, Colombia, and Nicaragua.
[3][4] CLS Strategies has faced scrutiny for its involvement in advising electoral candidates in Latin America and providing strategic counsel to governments during political upheavals.
[5][6] In addition, in 2020, the firm was linked to a network of accounts on Facebook and Instagram that were taken down due to Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior, a violation of the platforms terms regarding foreign interference, and was attributed to their work on behalf of the Bolivian Government.
After which, what was then referred to as the interim government of Honduras, hired then Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter, and Associates to improve opinions of policy makers worldwide, primarily in the United States Congress.
[2] The Organization of American States voted unanimously to suspend Honduras from the group due to its failure to recognize Zelaya as still the elected president and expressed deep concern about the decline of the political situation.
[14][15] During the month prior to CLS accepting the contract, the de facto government of Anez reportedly opened fire on protesters resulting in at least 18 deaths.
[16] A report by Amnesty International recommended a commitment to install the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI Bolivia) under the support of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) had a lawsuit filed against them earlier that year alleging $56 million was spent on advertising on Pena’s behalf to be broadcast in the United States before registering with the Department of Justice’s Foreign Agent Registrant Act.
[19] Al Jazeera’s decision to hire lobbyists came after members of the US Congress wanted the media company to register under the Foreign Agents Registration act, which at that time they had not done.
CLS Strategies argued that Complete Genomics was US-based regardless of where its parent company was located, and provided essential genetic sequencing equipment that is used in cancer and Alzheimer’s research as well as the search for sustainable food supplies.
[22] CLS Strategies stood by DJI Technologies in early 2024, a drone maker based in China after it too was dropped as a client by Vogel Group and another firm Avoq, previously known as Subject Matter.
[7] In their report, Facebook refers to CIB as actions by domestic, non-government groups of accounts and pages aiming to spread false information by claiming to be people they aren’t.
CLS Strategies admitted to having a contract with the Bolivian government during Bolivia’s 2020 elections stating intentions to also strengthen democracy and human rights in the region.