BGR Hired By Dorchester Group Amid 2014 Brunei Sharia-Law Boycott
Barbour Griffith & Rogers — the Washington, D.C.-based lobbying and public affairs firm that describes its client base as "a diverse, blue-chip clientele which includes Fortune 500 companies, international governments, trade associations, non-profits, academic institutions, hospitals, coalitions, and state and local governments" — has been hired by Dorchester Group Ltd. The Dorchester Group operates the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles, The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane in London, Hotel Eden in Rome, Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris, and Le Richemond in Geneva, among other luxury properties.
As CNBC reported, the Dorchester Collection is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, a branch of the Ministry of Finance of Brunei.
"No @Virgin employee, nor our family, will stay at Dorchester Hotels until the Sultan abides by basic human rights," Richard Branson said publicly. At issue was the decision of the oil-rich state to adopt a strict form of Sharia law that the BBC reported would authorize the severing of limbs for theft and stoning to death for adultery or homosexual acts — with enforcement limited to within Brunei's borders.
Government filings noted that BGR's representation of the hotels covered "international issues impacting the hotel, commercial and services sectors."
Brunei operates under Sharia law.
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BGR Group: Firm Profile — the current-state 2026 profile of the firm's public affairs, government relations, PR, and international practices.
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