WASHINGTON, DC—Smith & Harroff, a 42-year-old public affairs firm, has merged its staff and clients with C. May & Associates, founded in 2013 by Carina May, which brings to S&H expertise in digital marketing, website design, SEO and social media services. May has provided communication services to high profile clients including the National Institutes of Health and the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. S&H partner Rick Morris has particular expertise in energy and nuclear  issues with client such as Westinghouse Electric Corporation.

NEW YORK—Communications veterans Spencer Baretz and Cari Brunelle—who left Hellerman Baretz Communications last month—have launched Baretz+Brunelle, which will focus on legal, corporate and crisis communications advice. The firm will also focus on expanding its financial services and corporate transactional work. They will be joined by three managing directors—John Ford, Jason Milch, and Kelsey Nason—as well as several other former HBC employees and clients.

TORONTO—Founded by Carolyn Kilbourne and Lauren Wasley, Carlaw Communications has launched in Toronto and signed its first client, Southpaw Beverage Company. The two founders previously spent two years managing the consumer business at energi PR.

NEW YORK—ReputationInc, a reputation management consultancy headquartered in London, has opened an office in New York, offering offer reputation strategy, insights and leadership expertise. The US operation will be led by managing partner Leonard Ponzi, who joined after serving as managing director, global research and analytics, for Reputation Institute.

NEW YORK—Gould+Partners, which specializes in PR mergers and acquisitions, management consulting and strategic planning, has appointed Matthew Schwartz to the newly created position of editorial director. Schwartz, who was most recently group editor of PR News, is responsible for Gould+Partners’ editorial content and will create, develop and distribute a wide range of PR, marketing, advertising and management related content.