Wiley Rein law firm is expected to acquire Washington's McBee Strategic Consulting in a move to push into the public affairs arena, according to a Politico report.

There's been much speculation about the future of MSC following the Dec. 1 departure of its owner Steve McBee to NRG Energy.

Wiley Rein specializes in communications and telecommunications clients.

AT&T, Motorola Mobility, CBS, BBC Worldwide America and National Assn. of Broadcasters are among its accounts.

MSC will operate as a separate unit under WR. Its 60 staffers have been offered contracts.

Eric Bovim, who heads the McBee|Gibralter strategic communications practice, said the unit has a "robust pipeline" and expects to grow rapidly in 2015, according to Politico.