Even as Lizzie Grubman prepares to do soft time, Lizzie Grubman PublicRelations (or, as the voice mail at the Los Angeles office discreetly putsit, LGPR) remains defiantly open for business.
The firm is advertising for clipboard-savvy fall interns who can worknights, and Lizzie-sponsored events are drizzled throughout “Page Six.” Itsfall docket includes the opening of a clubby restaurant called Den and lotsof promoting of Pony sneakers, a very loyal client. “She has a staff ofeighteen in New York and five in L.A.,” says a spokeswoman from Dan KloresCommunications, which represents Grubman. “It was her livelihood before, andit’s her livelihood today. She’s really thrown herself into the businessthrough this whole thing.”
Not everyone at LGPR has evinced quite the same degree of enthusiasm. Infact, two high-profile Grubman departures have been key in the creation of anew P.R. god squad called WSCC Group, whose clients include Bill Blass,Burberry, and enough ball-gown benefits to ensure stationer Mrs. John L.Strong a banner year.
The initials stand for fashion and retail veteran Harriet Weintraub, movieshark Peggy Siegal, Virginia Coleman of the charity circuit, and Liz Cohen,representing the St. Barts set. Siegal left Grubman in January; Cohenfollowed in June. “We didn’t take her clients,” says Weintraub. “We took herprincipals.”
Some clients, especially in the mercurial fashion industry, have continuedto work with Grubman but have been skittish about using her name or numberon invites. Others, though, like Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam records, haven’tmissed a beat. (Lizzie, after all, is rock royalty.) “Lizzie’s always beenso great with the music people,” says Cohen, who, for the record, stillcounts Grubman as a best friend, “and they’re, like, always having troubles.Maybe they can relate to her even more now.”