WASHINGTON, July 16, 2025 – Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS), the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Matthew Murray as a principal to its expanding strategic communications practice.

“Matthew brings a rare combination of newsroom instincts, campaign creativity, and digital strategy,” said Howard Schweitzer, CEO of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. “He’ll be instrumental in the continued growth of the communications practice that works seamlessly with our policy and legal colleagues to deliver integrated strategies for our clients.”

A senior advisor with 20 years of professional experience as an award-winning reporter and communications strategist for Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, and federal officials, Murray will be based in the firm’s Chicago office. He joins CPS from WPP, where he served clients as an executive speechwriter, social media strategist, and editor across numerous holding-company agencies, including Group SJR, Ogilvy, and VML. He also led AI initiatives at Group SJR across content, thought leadership, and social media functions.

“Matthew is a gifted communicator and trusted strategist who understands how to connect the dots between message, audience, and high-impact results,” said Tamara Hinton, head of communications and senior principal at CPS. “His addition underscores the expanding role of communications as an integral part of our firm—helping clients shape narratives, navigate reputational challenges, and lead in complex policy environments.”

In his new role, Murray will help lead the firm’s expanding suite of communications offerings through integrated earned, owned, and paid media strategies that help clients meet reputational, brand, policy, organizational, and financial targets.

"The future of our industry is interdisciplinary, multiplatform, and data-driven," Murray said. "I'm looking forward to working with Howard, Tamara, and the entire Cozen O'Connor team to execute their vision for the strategic communications practice and helping clients meet their unique goals."

Earlier in his career, Matthew spent nearly a decade as a Washington, D.C.-based reporter, covering congressional races, K Street, and campaign finance. During his three election cycles at CQ Roll Call, he served as an assistant editor of their Politics in America book. While at The Chronicle of Philanthropy, he oversaw the annual feature on the nation’s most generous nonprofit donors. He also reported on Capitol Hill for regional outlets including the Brownfield Ag News radio network, the Greeley Tribune (Colo.), Daily Herald (Ill.), Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (Iowa), Chicago Defender, and The Times of Northwest Indiana, while writing a nationally syndicated column distributed by hundreds of local newspapers.

Matthew earned his Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and his Bachelor of Arts in English and Russian from the University of Missouri. As a reporter, he shared the Washington Government Relations Group’s Lucile Harris Bluford Spotlight Award and the National Press Foundation’s Everett McKinley Dirksen Award (special recognition).