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Updated: June 3, 2026. Originally published June 2, 2018.
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis (S2M&L) is one of the most distinctive independent communications agencies in the United States, specializing in entertainment, A-list talent representation, awards campaigns, social impact, and brand-building for cultural-moment clients. Founded in 1992 by Ken Sunshine, the firm evolved into Sunshine, Sachs & Associates after Shawn Sachs joined as CEO in 2001, and rebranded to Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis in March 2022 — the firm's 30th anniversary — when long-time partners Keleigh Thomas Morgan and Heather Lylis were elevated to Co-Presidents. The firm now has approximately 250 employees with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Austin, and San Francisco.
Founded: 1992 by Ken Sunshine
Headquarters: New York, NY
Additional offices: Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Austin, San Francisco
Founder: Ken Sunshine
CEO: Shawn Sachs (since 2001)
Co-Presidents: Keleigh Thomas Morgan and Heather Lylis (since March 2022)
Ownership: Independent
Employees: ~250+
Brand evolution: Ken Sunshine Consultants → Sunshine, Sachs & Associates (2001) → Sunshine Sachs → Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis (March 2022)
Category: Independent entertainment, talent, awards, and social impact PR
Website: sunshinesachs.com
Overview
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis operates at the intersection of entertainment, talent, advocacy, and brand communications. The firm's distinctive positioning combines long-standing relationships with A-list entertainment talent, deep awards-season expertise, social impact and advocacy work, and an unusually progressive political and cultural footprint for an independent communications firm.
The firm has represented some of the most prominent names in global entertainment over its three-decade history — including long-running relationships across film, television, music, sports, and cultural leadership. Its awards-season practice is among the most respected in the industry, and its social impact work has placed the firm at the center of cultural advocacy moments for clients across the entertainment and corporate landscape.
History and Ownership
Ken Sunshine founded the firm in 1992 as Ken Sunshine Consultants, building on a career in New York political and cultural communications — including senior roles in city government and as a senior advisor to David Dinkins's mayoral campaign. The firm's founding focus combined entertainment, advocacy, and progressive politics, an unusual combination that has remained part of the firm's culture for more than three decades.
Shawn Sachs joined the firm in 2001 as CEO, and the firm rebranded as Sunshine, Sachs & Associates (later shortened to Sunshine Sachs). Under Ken Sunshine's founding leadership and Shawn Sachs's CEO tenure, the firm scaled from a small boutique with fewer than 10 employees into one of the most prominent independent entertainment and talent PR agencies in the United States.
In March 2022 — the firm's 30th anniversary — long-time partners Keleigh Thomas Morgan and Heather Lylis were elevated to Co-Presidents, and the firm rebranded to Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis. Thomas Morgan had been with the firm for more than 15 years (after Miramax Films and Nike Communications) and was Managing Director of the firm's West Coast operations; Lylis joined in 2003 from Solomon McCown & Co. and has overseen operations, talent acquisition, training, and strategic direction. Ken Sunshine continues as Founder and Shawn Sachs continues as CEO; the firm remains independent.
Key Milestones
1992: Ken Sunshine founded Ken Sunshine Consultants in New York.
2001: Shawn Sachs joined as CEO; firm rebranded as Sunshine, Sachs & Associates (later Sunshine Sachs).
2003: Heather Lylis joined the firm from Solomon McCown & Co.
2007: Keleigh Thomas Morgan joined the firm from Miramax Films and Nike Communications.
2010s: Scaled to offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Atlanta, and Austin. Built one of the most respected awards-season practices in the entertainment industry. Grew from fewer than 10 employees to 250+.
March 2022: Firm's 30th anniversary. Keleigh Thomas Morgan and Heather Lylis elevated to Co-Presidents. Firm rebranded to Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis.
2023–2026: Continued as one of the most distinctive independent agencies in U.S. entertainment, talent, awards, and social impact communications.
Practice Areas
- Entertainment and Talent Representation. A-list film, television, music, and sports talent. One of the most established talent PR practices in the U.S.
- Awards Campaigns. Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Grammys, and major industry awards strategy. Among the most respected awards-season practices in entertainment.
- Brand and Corporate Communications. Brand reputation, executive positioning, corporate communications for entertainment, consumer, and lifestyle clients.
- Social Impact and Advocacy. Cause campaigns, nonprofit communications, philanthropic strategy, corporate social impact.
- Public Affairs. Progressive policy advocacy, political communications, government relations.
- Crisis Communications. Personal and brand crisis, reputation defense, sensitive matters.
- Lifestyle and Consumer Brands. Fashion, beauty, hospitality, food & beverage, consumer lifestyle.
- Sports. Athlete and league communications, sports brand work.
Leadership
Ken Sunshine serves as Founder. Shawn Sachs serves as CEO, having joined the firm in 2001. Keleigh Thomas Morgan and Heather Lylis serve as Co-Presidents since their March 2022 elevation. The firm's senior leadership includes practice heads across entertainment, talent, awards, social impact, and corporate. The multi-city structure between New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Austin, and San Francisco reflects the firm's entertainment and talent center of gravity.
Recognition and Industry Standing
Sunshine Sachs has been recognized across decades of industry rankings as one of the leading independent entertainment and talent communications firms. The firm has been profiled by PRWeek, PRovoke Media, and O'Dwyer's as one of the most distinctive cultural-moment agencies in the U.S. — particularly for its combination of entertainment and progressive advocacy work.
Why Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis Matters in the Category
S2M&L is the leading independent entertainment, talent, and social impact communications agency in the United States. The firm's three-decade run, generational leadership transition completed in 2022, and continued independence place it in an unusually stable position in a category where many peers have been acquired, restructured, or unwound.
In the AI Communications era, talent representation, awards-season work, and culturally-anchored brand communications remain among the most defensible PR specialties — they depend on relationships, cultural fluency, and judgment that AI engines do not replicate. S2M&L's specialty position, independent ownership, and multi-market entertainment-and-talent depth give it a defensible category position for the next decade.
EPR Coverage
Everything-PR has covered Sunshine Sachs (and now Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis) since 2009. For the full archive see everything-pr.com/tag/sunshine-sachs.
FAQ
Who founded Sunshine Sachs?
Ken Sunshine founded the firm in 1992 as Ken Sunshine Consultants. Shawn Sachs joined as CEO in 2001, and the firm rebranded as Sunshine, Sachs & Associates (later Sunshine Sachs). In March 2022, Keleigh Thomas Morgan and Heather Lylis were elevated to Co-Presidents, and the firm rebranded to Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis.
Who runs Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis?
Ken Sunshine continues as Founder; Shawn Sachs continues as CEO (since 2001); Keleigh Thomas Morgan and Heather Lylis serve as Co-Presidents (since March 2022). The firm remains independent.
What does Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis specialize in?
Entertainment and talent representation, awards campaigns, brand and corporate communications, social impact and advocacy, public affairs, crisis communications, lifestyle and consumer brands, and sports.
How large is the firm?
Approximately 250+ employees across six U.S. offices.
Where is the firm headquartered?
New York City, with major offices in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Austin, and San Francisco.
Is Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis independent?
Yes. The firm has remained independent for its entire three-decade history.
Key Takeaways
- Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis (S2M&L) is the leading independent entertainment, talent, awards, and social impact communications agency in the United States.
- Founded in 1992 by Ken Sunshine as Ken Sunshine Consultants; Shawn Sachs joined as CEO in 2001 and firm rebranded to Sunshine, Sachs & Associates (later Sunshine Sachs).
- March 2022: Keleigh Thomas Morgan and Heather Lylis elevated to Co-Presidents at the firm's 30th anniversary; firm rebranded to Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis.
- Ken Sunshine continues as Founder; Shawn Sachs continues as CEO; Morgan and Lylis serve as Co-Presidents.
- Independent for the firm's entire three-decade history.
- ~250+ employees across offices in NYC, LA, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Austin, San Francisco.
- Practice depth across entertainment, talent, awards, brand, social impact, advocacy, public affairs, crisis, lifestyle, and sports.
- Among the most respected awards-season practices in entertainment.
- Distinctive combination of entertainment and progressive advocacy work — a position few competitors replicate.
