“Deny-delay-defend” crisis strategy isn’t sound just because it comes from the legal department

In the countless battles between communicators and corporate attorneys over what to say in response to reputation-threatening situations, the lawyers’ advice to say nothing (or little) usually prevails.

The result is often disastrous for the organization, but CEOs and senior leaders presume that mitigation of legal risk is of paramount concern. Industry pundits often agree, arguing that corporations are legal entities, requiring leaders to sweep legal concerns under the rug.

There is no need to characterize this situation as a battle between PR and Legal, however. The fact is that, viewed strictly through the legal prism, the counsel… Read More »

FIR Live #14: May 26, 2009—Lawyers and Communicators

Content Summary: Communicators are often frustrated in their efforts to protect or restore an organization’s reputation by attorneys who simply block any communication at all, or minimize the response. In today’s FIR Live, attorney Jim Golden and crisis expert Helio Fred Garcia discuss the relationship between attorneys and communicators and how it should change.

Discussion participants were FIR co-hosts Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz. In addition, we were joined by the following guests:

Jim Golden negotiates early reasonable settlements in complex accident and commercial disputes, avoiding or shortening litigation and significantly… Read More »

Lawyers and communicators: Next on FIR Live

It’s not unusual for communicators to feel stifled by corporate attorneys whose counsel, often viewed as contrary to the organization’s reputational interests, is rubber-stamped by CEOs. IN the next FIR LIveNeville and Shel will look at communicators’ perceptions of lawyers (the myths and the realities), explore ways legal and communications can work together, and discuss whether attorneys’ judgments are always best for the company. Our special guests include Helio Fred Garcia, president and founder of the crisis management firm LOGOS Consulting Group and executive director of the LOGOS INSTITUTE for Crisis Management & Executive… Read More »

Weighing legal counsel against other issues

A significant portion of my family is made up of lawyers. My brother, an uncle, several cousins all practice law of one type or another. I’ve also worked closely with corporate attorneys over the course of my career, and I can’t think of one who wasn’t a good, decent person. So I don’t view lawyers through the stereotypical filter that has produced volumes of lawyer jokes. They’re real people and most of them work hard to do a good job for their clients.

That doesn’t always mean their advice is always best. In the business world, a lawyer’s job is, in large part, the mitigation of risk. That’s why so many communicators seeking to… Read More »

Overcoming key resistence to adopting social media

I’ve talked before about the reasons companies resist social media. The Arthur W. Page Society and the Corporate Executive Board are out with a study that puts some numbers behind the top reasons for organizational resistance. The study, which targeted more than 30 chief communications officers who are corporate members of the Page Society, revealed nothing surprising, but still, it’s easier to offer counter-arguments when you know what’s holding companies back.

Resistance from the legal department

Lawyers take too much heat for opposing social media. Their job is to be cautious, to advise their employers/clients against things that… Read More »

Blogging in a regulated environment

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