Nathan Ballard

Nathan Ballard is a crisis communications expert known as a “preeminent media whisperer” who represents “a veritable Yellow Pages of powerful clients.” He was Governor Gavin Newsom’s communications director when Newsom served as mayor of San Francisco. The New York Times said Ballard had “a sixth sense” for when to step in for Newsom. Ballard was also a market leader and managing director at Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations agency, where he led the West Coast crisis team.

Ballard, a former deputy city attorney, has been a communications advisor to Fortune 100 companies, major tech figures, the Golden State Warriors, Super Bowl 50, and San Francisco’s bid for the 2028 Olympic Games. He was a spokesman for presidential candidates Senator John Kerry and General Wesley Clark.

Ballard has served as a communications director for the Democratic National Committee, the California Democratic Party, and the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. He served on the board of The Representation Project, Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s nonprofit organization.

Ballard maintains a separate law practice focused on crises involving legal issues. Legal services are provided exclusively through Ballard’s law practice under a separate engagement.