LaFrenchCom Joins the CLC Alliance, a Prestigious Network of PR Professionals

CLCA, The Crisis and Litigation Communicators Alliance is deeply honored and delighted to announce its new member LaFrenchCom as the new representative member for France.

“The acknowledgment and inclusion of LaFrenchCom into the CLC Alliance fills us with a profound sense of pride and enthusiasm. We are eagerly looking forward to contributing to the group’s objectives and engaging with fellow members.”, said Florian Silnicki, President of LaFrenchCom.

LaFrenchCom has a wealth of experience in crisis management, thanks to more than 10 years of sensitive communication serving the defense of the most exposed leaders.

LaFrenchCom has demonstrated their commitment to excellence and innovation in every project they undertake, making them a valuable asset to the CLCA network.

“As a member of CLCA, LaFrenchCom will have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded professionals, share insights, and contribute to the advancement of the public relations field. Their passion for Crisis Communication and Litigation PR aligns perfectly with our network’s mission to collaborate on cross-border matters and when clients seek the reassurance of excellent and expert partners overseas” said Martin Jenewein, Chairperson of the CLC Alliance and Senior Partner at the Viennese Litigation PR agency SMJ Partners.

“LaFrenchCom is excited about the journey ahead with CLCA and is committed to making a meaningful contribution to the group” said Florian Silnicki in conclusion.

Notes to Editors

About CLCA

The Crisis and Litigation Communicators ́Alliance (CLCA) is a global network of owner-managed PR consulting firms who are each leaders in the areas of Crisis Management and Strategic Legal communications in their respective markets. Clients can benefit from the collaboration of members on cross-border matters and the CLCA’s specialist expertise in international disputes (especially competition law and cartel cases, cross-border litigation, class actions, regulatory enforcement cases, fraud and employment related disputes).

Our constituent firms can be found here. For membership enquiries in jurisdictions not already covered, please contact chairperson@CLC-Alliance.org

Crisis and Litigation Communicators’ Alliance announces KARV Communications and HilburgAssociates as new partners in the United States and Canada

The Crisis and Litigation Communicators’ Alliance (CLCA) is pleased to announce fresh partnerships that will further strengthen the network’s international footprint.

KARV Communications, based in New York (United States) is a globally recognized strategic communications and advisory firm with a focus on corporate and litigation communications, crisis management and public affairs/issues management. With experience across the globe, KARV helps clients achieve their communications and business goals through its expertise in crafting and honing often complex messages to a variety of stakeholders.

KARV has received recent international recognition for its work, including a Chambers & Partners ranking for both its Litigation Support and Crisis PR & Communications capabilities.

Andrew Frank, founder and CEO of KARV Communications said on joining CLCA:

As KARV celebrates our tenth year with a reach far outside of our New York home, we welcome the opportunity of CLCA membership. With our growing book of clients often having interests outside of the United States, we are greatly anticipating meaningful and impactful collaboration with other CLCA members across the globe.” 

HilburgAssociates, domiciled in Canada is a pioneer in both crisis leadership and litigation communication/trial services. Its principal, Alan Hilburg, has been personally involved in more than 100 trials (both criminal and civil) across multiple sectors such as tobacco, chemical, hospitality, transportation, manufacturing, telecommunication, consumer products, pharmaceutical and healthcare.

Since the 1980s Alan and his colleagues have provided a range of services with a focus on trial strategy including co-authoring openings and closings, daily trial services, witness preparation, media relations, executive and employee communication, post trial trust recovery, and even incorporating jury science in the psychological profiling of prospective jury members, which would not be permissible in many jurisdictions outside of the US.

HilburgAssociates established its crisis leadership credentials in 1983 with its management of the Tylenol crisis, which became the Harvard Business School’s platinum case history on crisis management and human-centered design. 

Alan Hilburg, CEO said:

“The CLCA offers the gold standard of communication counseling excellence  when company or executive brands are under threat.  We’re honored to be part of such an important global resource.”

The CLCA Chairman, Martin Jenewein adds:

Our Alliance once again demonstrates its best-in-class position as a network for litigation communicators offering clients litigation support services, each of whom are at the forefront of rapidly developing markets in their individual jurisdictions. The recognition our members receive internationally and in their home markets, through legal industry rankings, is proof positive of their capabilities.

We are particularly honoured to have attracted both a pioneer in trial management and strategic communications such as Alan Hilburg as well as an award-winning specialist agency such as KARV to join our network. We look forward to working with them to build ever stronger alliances across our member firms and sharing best practice for the benefit of the network and all our clients.”

Issued by: Martin Jenewein, Chair, CLC-Alliance Tel: +43 (0) 1 402 17 65-0, Chairperson@CLC-Alliance.org

 

Notes to Editors

About CLCA

The Crisis and Litigation Communicators ́Alliance (CLCA) is a global network of owner-managed PR consulting firms who are each leaders in the areas of Crisis Management and Strategic Legal communications in their respective markets. Clients can benefit from the collaboration of members on cross-border matters and the CLCA’s specialist expertise in international disputes (especially competition law and cartel cases, cross-border litigation, class actions, regulatory enforcement cases, fraud and employment related disputes).

Our constituent firms can be found here. For membership enquiries in jurisdictions not already covered, please contact chairperson@CLC-Alliance.org.

Crisis and Litigation Communicators’ Alliance expands into Spain and Portugal

ATREVIA joining the CLCA

The Crisis and Litigation Communicators’ Alliance (CLCA) continues its growth and announces a new member, ATREVIA, who will extend the alliance’s presence into Spain and Portugal.

“Our company is backed by an intense three-decade trajectory accompanying organizations from all sectors to defend their interests from a comprehensive multistakeholder perspective. To address crises and litigation, we have senior and experienced teams that anticipate, prevent, detect and act to protect our clients’ reputations using powerful technological tools and cutting-edge digital applications. This allows us to listen and act quickly in an increasingly complex world where knowledge of the dynamics of influence is more important than ever”, says Núria Vilanova, Founder and President of ATREVIA.

“Additionally, in a context of globalization, we strongly believe that working on the prevention and management of crises and litigation processes very often requires an international approach. That is why we are honored to work with the support of renowned CLCA members around the globe”, adds Núria Vilanova.

“The CLCA is a steadily growing network of companies that have built up a great deal of expertise in the dynamic fields of Crisis and Litigation PR. This is why our members value the exchange of experience and cooperation in this peer group very much. With ATREVIA we have found an excellent partner for Portugal and Spain and have, in fact, also set a milestone for a future expansion of the alliance in Central and South America. We are thrilled to have ATREVIA join the network”, says Martin Jenewein, CLCA Chairman.

About CLCA

The Crisis and Litigation Communicators ́Alliance (CLCA) is a global network of owner-managed PR consulting firms who are leaders in the areas of Crisis Management and Strategic Legal communications in their respective markets. Clients can benefit from the collaboration of members on cross-border matters and the CLCA’s specialist expertise in international disputes (especially Competition Law and Cartel cases, Cross-Border Litigation, Class Actions, Regulatory Enforcement cases, Fraud and Employment related disputes).

Happy International Women’s Day 2022!

From founders to pioneers at the top of their industry, the following profiles showcase a collection of exceptional international female talent who are involved with the Crisis & Litigation Communicators Alliance (CLCA).

Tracey Cain – founder and Chief Executive Officer of Australian Public Affairs – one of Australia’s largest independently owned agencies.

Ianika Tzankova – founding partner at the law firm Birkway and holds the first European professorship in collective redress since 2007.

Derede M. – crisis management and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) expert and trusted advisor to CEOs, attorneys, C-suite executives, Boards of Directors, and public figures. (LEVICK)

Kate Hartley – co-founder of Polpeo, a crisis simulation company that helps some of the biggest brands and agencies in the world prepare for a crisis.

Caroline Sapriel – founder and Managing Partner of CS&A International, a specialist risk and crisis and business continuity management consulting firm with offices in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Singapore, and the United States.

Sarah Peters – Senior Consultant at Bell Yard Communications with over 20 years experience in corporate communications and substantial expertise in the professional and financial services sectors.

See the full LinkedIn-Post by our colleagues from Bell Yard

Bell Yard Featured in Lawdragon’s Top 100 Leaders in Legal Consulting

Bell Yard Communications’ founder and director, Melanie Riley and senior consultant, Louise Beeson, both feature in Lawdragon’s Global 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy & Consulting 2020 – out of only 10 UK-based consultants included in the guide.

The guide recognises the top 100 experts in management, marketing, communication and recruiting services, as voted for by legal industry leaders.

See the full list here

#BLM: How to Communicate Diversity in Business

Bell Yard Communications’ founder and director, Melanie Riley, was quoted in the UK’s financial newspaper, Financial News, alongside other PR gurus, on the importance of championing racial diversity in companies that have come out in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Click here for more information

#BLM: How to Communicate Diversity in Business

Bell Yard Communications’ founder and director, Melanie Riley, was quoted in the UK’s financial newspaper, Financial News, alongside other PR gurus, on the importance of championing racial diversity in companies that have come out in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

***
Engaging on race? You’ve got to do more than add a hashtag

“Don’t make any more excuses. Don’t think this doesn’t affect you. Don’t sit back and be silent.”

The white words flash across a black screen. A sombre piano plays in the background. Alongside the tweet, Nike says: “Let’s all be part of the change.”

The killing of a 46-year-old black man, George Floyd, pinned beneath three police officers in Minneapolis on 25 May has sparked anger around the world. The surge in protests since have created an urgency around conversations about race and inequality, bringing them to the fore and eclipsing the Covid-19 pandemic headlines.

Read the rest of the article here.

Tackling the Covid-19 Challenge – Crisis Communications in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands

The COVID-19 crisis is a challenge for all of us, and in these times of universal struggle accurate information and the use of adequate communications channels is of paramount importance. Best practice sharing and the exchange of knowledge and skills will be key to address the crisis communication challenges ahead in the world of business & politics.

Therefore, this brief initiative of the Crisis & Litigation Communicators Alliance attempts to lay out a short assessment of government communications and measures around the COVID-19 crisis with particular focus on Austria, Germany and the Netherlands. The report can be found here

Guideposts for aligning your legal strategy and crisis response

When you’re managing a crisis, it’s important to include a communications strategy with your legal plan.

PR pros and legal experts often find themselves at loggerheads over what to disclose, what to address publicly and what to keep close to the vest. For PR pros looking to convince lawyers and leadership teams, it’s helpful to rely on certain guidelines.

Click here for more information

Why Asian CEOs must pay more heed to crisis communication

Asian corporate leaders are generally more self-effacing than their Western counterparts when handling corporate and legal disputes, preferring to keep conflicts away from the public eye. The passive approach towards tackling crisis communications sometimes borders on avoidance and occasional states of denial.

Click here for more information

Why Asian CEOs must pay more heed to crisis communication

Asian corporate leaders are generally more self-effacing than their Western counterparts when handling corporate and legal disputes, preferring to keep conflicts away from the public eye. The passive approach towards tackling crisis communications sometimes borders on avoidance and occasional states of denial.

Nine out of 10 Asian companies I have advised on crisis situations over the past 20 years have never conducted “desktop” dry runs on scenarios before they happened, and most have not developed crisis-communications manuals listing essential procedures to deal with key stakeholders in such situations. Of the rare few who did so, few plans spell out scenarios of potential litigation disputes.

Until now, a typical crisis situation among public companies has revolved around a sudden financial loss or write-off, a hostile takeover, a fatal workplace accident or, increasingly, a boardroom fight or a shareholder requisition to remove directors. And, despite the higher emphasis on governance, there are reports of alleged financial wrongdoing at home or abroad by their overseas units, which may cause them to face criminal proceedings.

The default practice has been to seek legal recourse and worry later (usually at the eleventh hour) about how to communicate with the media and stakeholders. More often than not, chief executives of smaller listed companies stick to formal filings to the exchange, or – at best – a press statement and a print interview, eschewing live television and radio interviews.

The cultural fear of loss of face and weak public-speaking skills leave many corporate leaders in Asia ill-equipped to handle the cut and thrust of press conferences and shareholder meetings held to address contentious issues. The tendency to avoid embarrassing situations deters pro-active crisis planning for a potential media maelstrom in the event of dispute or criminal investigation.

Such crises can damage a brand, as well as the market value and reputations of the corporation and its top executives. It is not uncommon for media engagements to be an afterthought to repair damage; such positioning is essentially defensive rather than strategic.

However, recent global developments and trends may soon jolt Asian bosses out of this reticence and passivity, based on expert views exchanged at a conference of the London-based Crisis and Litigation Communicators Alliance (CLCA) held in Amsterdam last month. CLCA members from Europe, the United States, Asia and Australia gather annually to share best practices for handling media communications during litigation and crises.

Three trends sweeping Asia and the developed world are likely to trigger a sea change in this craft and in the main actors – corporate leaders and their key spokesmen.

The first is the growing scale and sophistication of mass action claims as global business becomes increasingly borderless and multi-faceted. The CLCA heard from a Dutch investor group that was successful in an appeal in an Amsterdam court against a major European bank involving a €1.3 billion (S$1.9 billion)settlement.

Such collective action that is led by associations or foundations is increasing. Their stated aims are often to achieve “optimum return” by representing investors’ interests, clustering strengths, exchanging information and “promoting honest and efficient financial markets”.

Tools and tactics include formal representation in legal proceedings, shareholder meetings and consultations, investment study clubs, political lobbying to Parliament and regulatory bodies, as well as engaging traditional and social media.

Beyond championing investor rights, a second trend is the increase in disputes and mass actions involving issues such as anti-competitive behaviour (usually concerning technological disruption or a recent industry consolidation) and those relating to the environment, human rights and privacy.

The publicity generated recently by Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg belies a broader trend of mass action which can spill over to claims related to the environment. Such claims can be targeted at governments as well as corporations.

The third trend is the rise of third-party funding (TPF) at a time when Asian nations such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia seek to attract more dispute settlements to their respective jurisdictions. TPF involves an entity not directly involved in the dispute funding some or all litigation-related expenses in return for a share of the recovered sum (30 per cent is an oft-cited figure).

At a seminar on arbitration at the Maxwell Chambers and Suites in Singapore that I attended in August, legal experts cited how the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) is emerging as a trendsetter. Unlike open courts, arbitration is conducted behind closed doors and is generally considered to offer speedier resolution of disputes. Confidentiality is also preserved.

According to SIAC, it handled 402 new cases, with a total sum in dispute of US$7.06 billion (S$9.6 billion), last year.

In comparison, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre – seen as a rival to SIAC – handled 521 cases, with a total sum in dispute of all arbitration cases at US$6.7 billion.

In the same year, Malaysia changed its Arbitration Act 2005, updating its arbitration framework and rebranding the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration into the Asian International Arbitration Centre that promises similar amenities as Singapore’s but “at a fraction of the costs”.

The trend in Asia mirrors efforts of English-speaking commercial courts in Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris looking to attract disputes away from Britain amid the Brexit debate.

Last month, Singapore’s Ministry of Law relaxed rules to allow TPF’s reach to extend beyond international arbitration to include domestic arbitration and certain proceedings in the Singapore International Commercial Court. It is a question of time before other Asian jurisdictions do the same.

The confluence of accelerated global business linkages to Asia, the rising trend of mass action to recover economic rights or champion issues, and the colour of third-party money joining the fray of dispute resolution will soon transform the practice of litigation as well as the litigants themselves.

Reticence may no longer be the preferred status quo. To avoid loss of face, it is time for Asian corporate leaders to be more proactive and put on a braver face to protect their own interests better.

Lai Kwok Kin is the founder of regional corporate strategy and communications firm WeR1 Consultants, the first Asian member of the Crisis and Litigation Communicators Alliance. 

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 13/11/2019. 

CLCA UK member firm Bell Yard Communications has posted a blog reflecting on discussions at the 2019 CLCA annual meeting in Amsterdam

Despite all the shenanigans of Brexit, Bell Yard was grateful to receive a warm welcome from European colleagues last week at the annual meeting of the CLCA network (Crisis & Litigation Communicators Alliance), held in Amsterdam.

Click here for more information

CLCA’s UK member firm top-ranked for Litigation PR

CLCA UK member firm Bell Yard Communications is delighted to be ranked as a Band 1 Litigation PR firm in the Chambers’ Litigation Support Guide 2019.


The firm already secured a lead ranking in last year’s inaugural guide and has held that position for the second year running. This year, the agency is described as “very effective” and “highly recommended.”



Click here for more information

CLCA’s UK member firm top-ranked for Litigation PR

CLCA UK member firm Bell Yard Communications is delighted to be ranked as a Band 1 Litigation PR firm in the Chambers’ Litigation Support Guide 2019.

The firm already secured a lead ranking in last year’s inaugural guide and has held that position for the second year running. This year, the agency is described as “very effective” and “highly recommended.”

Bell Yard Communications’ Director, Melanie Riley, is also ranked Band 1. The guide says clients describe her as “professional, charming, incredibly thorough and a joy to work with.”

Melanie comments: “Maintaining our pre-eminent position in this important guide for litigators makes us extremely proud. We believe this is testimony to the trust and belief in our counsel, shown by our clients, peers and referrers alike, for which we are truly grateful.”

Chambers Litigation Support Guide is a comprehensive analysis of the leading professional firms who provide support to litigants and litigators in key markets worldwide. Covering asset tracing and e-discovery experts through to litigation PR specialists, it is an invaluable resource for lawyers, GCs and private clients involved in complex disputes.

Crisis and Litigation Communicators’ Alliance expands in Asia and Europe

Maverick (Jakarta) and Rossen & Company (Copenhagen) are the new CLC partners covering Indonesia and Denmark

The Crisis and Litigation Communicators’ Alliance (CLCA), an international network of leading Litigation and Crisis PR agencies, continues its course of growth not only in the Asian continent but also in Europe. It is delighted to announce two new members – Maverick from Jakarta, Indonesia, and Rossen & Company from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Maverick’s Managing Partner Ong Hock Chuan sees the membership at the CLCA as the perfect instrument for Maverick’s clients to benefit from the experience of the network. He said: “Maverick is already well-known for its crisis and litigation work in Indonesia. Joining CLCA will expand our network and deepen our knowledge in these specialist areas so we can serve clients better. As our clients are mainly multinationals, the CLCA will will be an excellent platform where we can tap into international PR expertise when needed”.

Nicolai Frederik Bonnén Rossen, Managing Partner at Rossen & Company believes this partnership opens up new possibilities and comments: “We strive to meet the highest international quality standards in PR as a company active in Denmark and the whole Scandinavian region, and with litigation support being a growing market, clients will appreciate the background of an alliance specialized in this particular field”.

“Indonesia and Scandinavia are regions with vibrant and appealing economies where we are thrilled to have two highly experienced companies who are champions in their markets as new members. We are delighted to welcome Maverick and Rossen & Company and we look forward to start working together”, noted Martin Jenewein from Schneider | Minar | Jenewein Consulting and Chairman of the CLCA.

Global Network of Litigation PR Experts Grows with New Swiss Agency Partner

The Crisis and Litigation Communicators´ Alliance (CLCA), a global network of international Litigation PR specialists expands its success in 2019 by welcoming a new member firm to its network – the highly-respected Swiss agency Cabinet Privé de Conseils (CPC), based in Geneva and Bern

Click here for more information

Global Network of Litigation PR Experts Grows with New Swiss Agency Partner

The Crisis and Litigation Communicators´ Alliance (CLCA), a global network of international Litigation PR specialists expands its success in 2019 by welcoming a new member firm to its network – the highly-respected Swiss agency Cabinet Privé de Conseils (CPC), based in Geneva and Bern.

Philippe Eberhard, founder and President of CPC, sees membership of the CLCA as having great potential for CPC´s clients to benefit from the network’s expertise:

“Since founding in 2004, we have gained considerable experience in Litigation and Crisis PR. We want to share our knowledge – especially in the Swiss market – with specialist partner agencies abroad. Switzerland is a global hub for businesses and has a strong international focus. In our CLCA membership we see substantial benefit for our clients, especially because of the ability to refer to internationally recognised Litigation and Crisis PR specialists when needed.”

Martin Jenewein from Schneider | Minar | Jenewein Consulting and Chairman of the CLCA comments:

“With our new member CPC, headquartered in Geneva, we not only add a leading Swiss Litigation PR specialist firm to our network, but also now have both the French and German speaking regions truly well covered. This will have the dual benefit of assisting international companies with interests anywhere in Switzerland, as well as supporting CPC’s existing clients with their transnational exposure.”

CLCA UK member talks about Brexit PR

Bell Yard senior consultant Louise Beeson has been quoted in an article about how law firms are communicating around Brexit topics. There is still much uncertainty and PR is mostly about promoting expertise right now but Brexit is doubtless likely to give rise to litigation and therefore litigation PR challenges in future.

Click here to view the article

CLCA members recognized in new Litigation PR ranking

The long-established Chambers & Partners legal directory known for researching the world’s best lawyers in different fields has expanded its analysis this year to include Litigation Support Advisers and has assessed PR & Communications firms for the first time.

Two Crisis and Litigation Communicators´ Alliance (CLCA) members have been recognized in the inaugural rankings which are limited to the jurisdictions of the UK and US only so far.  

Bell Yard Communications, our UK member and a founder of the CLCA, secured a Band 1 ranking in the UK. The firm is described as “one of the earliest exponents of the craft (of litigation PR) in the UK“ with Director Melanie Riley mentioned as a “Noted Practitioner“ of whom peers said “If I could have only one speed dial to a PR, it would be to Melanie at Bell Yard.”

LEVICK, our US member firm, ranked in Band 3 in the US section and is said by clients to be “the go-to firm for crisis management in DC,” and recognised for being “very knowledgeable” in cases involving the Department of Justice or Congressional investigations. Ian McCaleb,  chair of Levick’s legal advisory and communications practice, is described by clients as being: “… quick to work out the political ramifications of a case…and get to the heart of a problem very quickly.”

To see the full Chambers rankings click here: CHAMBERS

Martin Jenewein from Schneider | Minar | Jenewein Consulting and Chairman of the CLCA, comments:

“The CLCA is proud that our UK and US member firms have achieved this distinction and it is good to know they have been externally validated as best in class. When the Chambers team expand their research into other jurisdictions, we look forward to other CLCA member firms making the cut in the future.”

–ENDS–

For further information, please contact: Martin Jenewein, CLCA chairman, jenewein@smj.at: Tel: +43 (0) 1 402 17 65-14  

About CLCA: The Crisis and Litigation Communicators´ Alliance (CLCA) is a global network of owner-managed PR consulting firms who are leaders in Crisis Management PR and Strategic Legal communications in their respective markets. Clients can benefit from the collaboration of members on cross-border matters and the CLCA’s specialist expertise in international disputes (especially Competition Law and Cartel cases, Cross-Border Litigation, Class Actions, Regulatory Enforcement cases, Fraud and Employment related disputes).

CLCA members to speak at Swiss Litigation PR summit

The CLCA’s academic partner, Professor Dr. Patrick Krauskopf and ZHAW School of Management and Law, organise a Litigation PR convention each year which will take place this year on 18th April 2018 in Winterthur, Zurich, Switzerland titled “The influence of Trump, Twitter & #fakenews on legal communications.” For further information click here

 

CLCA members to speak at Swiss Litigation PR summit

The CLCA’s academic partner, Professor Dr. Patrick Krauskopf and ZHAW School of Management and Law, organise a Litigation PR convention each year which will take place this year on 18th April 2018 in Winterthur, Zurich, Switzerland titled “The influence of Trump, Twitter & #fakenews on legal communications.” (see https://litigation-pr.ch/)

It is the largest Litigation PR conference in the DACH region (covering Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and will feature experts such as the former German Minister of Finance Peer Steinbrück, the judge and speaker of the court during the NSU and Hoeness trials, Andrea Titz, as well as the former Swiss Federal Minister of Defence and Undersecretary General of the United Nations, Adolf Ogi. We are also pleased that CLCA members Uwe Wolff of Naïma SLS and Patrick Minar of Schneider | Minar | Jenewein will participate as speakers and present their expertise during a presentation titled “Fake versus Facts: Litigation PR in the Post-Truth-Era”.

Crisis and Litigation Communicator´s Alliance expands to new continent

The CLCA is pleased to welcome Australia’s premier provider of crisis and litigation communications – “Australian Public Affairs” (APA) – as a new member bringing a wealth of experience in this new southern hemisphere market for the alliance. For further information click here

Crisis and Litigation Communicator´s Alliance expands to new continent

Australian Public Affairs (APA) selected to join worldwide expert network

The Crisis and Litigation Communicator´s Alliance (CLCA) continues to grow steadily and is pleased to welcome the Australian Agency “Australian Public Affairs” (APA) as a new member to its worldwide network. APA specializes in Crisis and Litigation Communications, besides covering the complete portfolio of classic communication services.
Tracey Cain, Managing Director from Australian Public Affairs sees potential for clients to benefit from APA’s association with CLCA. “We are Australia’s premier provider of crisis and litigation communications and note that with increasing globalization the Australian marketplace is a significant element in legal decisions and the management of stakeholders around complex legal and regulatory challenges and opportunities. In CLCA we found a network of like-minded firms that wish to make an intellectual contribution to communications around legal issues and matters. Together we can offer clients a seamless communications solution across multiple jurisdictions. We are honoured to have been selected to be part this world-leading network.”
“The CLCA continues its usual growth course with big steps. We are delighted to have Australian Public Affairs and for being represented in the Australian market. We can tell that with the new English-speaking market we are well prepared for the future. Our new member convinces through an interdisciplinary approach and rich experience in various areas of legal communication “, noted Martin Jenewein from Schneider | Minar | Jenewein Consulting and Chairman of the CLCA.

Crisis and Litigation Communicators‘ Alliance continues its expansion

Czech Republic and Slovakia added as new markets, member exchange in the Netherlands

The Crisis and Litigation Communicators Alliance (CLCA) is pleased to welcome the Czech agency “Marcus and Art” as a new member to its network. The agency with offices in Prague (Czech Republic) and Bratislava (Slovakia) specializes in Litigation PR, Crisis Communication and Digital Marketing. For the CLCA, this partnership opens up new possibilities.

“We at Marcus and Art are proud to become a member of the world’s leading platform for international Crisis and Litigation PR professionals. We look forward to cross-border projects with our partners and representing the CLCA in our two markets,” said Mirek Denes, Managing Partner at Marcus and Art.

Member Exchange in the Dutch Market

The CLCA is also welcoming a new member firm in the Netherlands. At the end of 2017 former Dutch member, Van Kempen Associates, left the network on account of the retirement of their founder from PR and the termination of their business activities. The CLCA is delighted to have found a high-calibre replacement member with the agency HuijskensBickerton. The team of HuijskensBickerton is based in Amsterdam and specializes in Crisis Communication, Corporate Communication, Financial Communication and Public Affairs.

“We have been following the CLCA for several years and are pleased to be the new Dutch member of the alliance. We look forward to future cooperation with the CLCA and the opportunities it can bring,” says Charles Huijskens, Founding Partner at HuijskensBickerton.
Martin Jenewein, Chairman of CLCA and Senior Partner at the Vienna based agency Schneider | Minar | Jenewein comments: “We are delighted that we were able to continue our expansion course and to widen our network. The CLCA is on a growth path and is attracting some excellent new member firms – that is very exciting.”

The Crisis and Litigation Communicators´ Alliance (CLCA) is a global network of owner-managed PR consulting firms who are leaders in the areas of Crisis Management and Strategic Legal communications in their respective markets. Clients can benefit from the collaboration of members on cross-border matters and the CLCA’s specialist expertise in international disputes (especially European Competition Law and Cartel cases, Cross-Border Litigation, Class Actions, Regulatory Enforcement cases, Fraud and Employment related disputes).

CLCA predictions for 2018

We asked three CLCA member firms to give their top 3 predictions of where they see workflow arising in 2018 and here is what they have to say:


Richard Levick, Chairman and CEO of LEVICK our US member firm:

1. Cyber will move into 3.0, where full disclosure is expected and there will be real loss of life, safety and health, not just information. Companies will be more on the defensive than they have been in the past. The question media will ask is, “What was your prophylaxis?” Companies better have a good answer.

2. Continuation of #MeToo targeted reputation challenges against high profile individuals (in the arts, politics, finance, etc) with Wall Street, law firms, and other industries not escaping the heat either. The obvious media question for companies is going to be: “What did you know and when did you know it?” with the potential for reputations to turn toxic if culture is called into question. It will also be important to navigate a path of fairness to the accused as well as alleged victims and other potential victims. HR will be under tremendous pressure to operate with due process.

3. Litigation funding is on the march. Not just in the US but globally. Disputes from fraud cases to divorce cases are now being financed by third-party funds and companies are increasingly striking deals with funders to take litigation risk off-balance sheet. This in turn means funders will have a skin in the PR dimension of cases. Watch this space….


Louise Beeson, consultant at Bell Yard Communications in the UK:

1. Expect more gender equality lawsuits (recruitment, pay and discrimination challenges). Companies in the UK with over 250 staff are now obliged by law to publish gender pay gap information which is proving incendiary at organisations like the BBC, in financial services firms and at certain global law firms. We are likely to see class action cases as well as employment claims from high profile senior managers.

2. There have already been legal challenges against the UK Government about their conduct of the Brexit process. 2018 will be the year Brexit spawns commercial and employment disputes – for example, employment claims from EU employees based in the UK who find themselves subject to discrimination, disputes over business contracts being lost due to Brexit or challenges to insurance policies being changed to take account of Brexit. This one will run and run for years to come, of course, as the detail and practical reality of Brexit begins to bite.

3. With the advent of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, new types of legal case will surely follow. Query will we see tighter regulation of cryptocurrency operators in 2018 with enforcement actions too and will there be a rush of claims from those who experience wrongdoing in cryptocurrency transactions – from fraudulent misrepresentation to fintech fails. This is clearly not just a UK trend. Given cryptocurrencies and their investors rely on various different underlying legal systems, the potential for multi-faceted cross-border disputes is high.


Uwe Wolff, CEO of NAÏMA Strategic Legal Services in Germany says:

1. I predict growing interest in our reputation-management service for the aftermath of a legal crisis. Executives involved in litigation don’t want their name forever tied to allegations or disappointing court judgments, which have reputation longevity thanks to the internet. Given not all online media reports will qualify for the right-to-be-forgotten, there are PR programmes and activities that can help to reposition personal reputation. Insurance companies are becoming increasingly receptive to covering these PR related services.

2. An increasing number of companies are finding themselves victim to deliberate and damaging fake-news media attacks. These may be orchestrated by protest groups, subversive competitors and eccentric hackers through to those with an interest in benefitting financially from such an attack. Companies need the right IT experts and the right communications partners to fight off these attacks and restore reputations.

3. Companies need compliance systems now for monitoring everything from employee behaviour to anti-bribery policies. And ironically these raise the bar for reputation fall-out if there is a compliance violation. The Supreme Court in Germany recently ruled that companies will face a less harsh sentence if their compliance system failed. With every failure comes a communications crisis ….

Professor Dr Patrick Krauskopf becomes Academic Partner of the Crisis & Litigation Communicators’ Alliance

The Crisis & Litigation Communicators’ Alliance (CLCA) is pleased to announce that Professor Dr Patrick Krauskopf of Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and the CLCA have signed an Academic Partnership Agreement.

For further information click here

Professor Dr Patrick Krauskopf becomes Academic Partner of the Crisis & Litigation Communicators’ Alliance

The Crisis & Litigation Communicators’ Alliance (CLCA) is pleased to announce that Professor Dr Patrick Krauskopf of Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and the CLCA have signed an Academic Partnership Agreement.

The CLCA is an international network of independent, owner-managed PR firms specialising in crisis and high-stakes litigation PR advice. The network approached Professor Dr Krauskopf to forge a special relationship to share know-how and best practice, given his strong interest in, and reputation for, litigation PR in Switzerland and German speaking countries.

As well as his role as head of the Center for Competition Law at ZHAW, Dr Krauskopf is a practising lawyer and founder of AGON Partners, known for anti-trust and cartel proceedings.

CLCA Chairman Martin Jenewein, from Austrian agency SMJ Consulting, comments: “Professor Dr Krauskopf has pretty much established and owned the concept of litigation PR in Switzerland. He has developed a unique reputation for using communications in his legal work. Through his lectures and conferences, he has demonstrated commitment to broadening the understanding of litigation PR among the legal community. We are delighted he is joining the CLCA.”

Professor Dr Krauskopf comments: “I am honoured to become the Academic Partner of the CLCA. I am looking forward to meeting all CLCA members and working with them to broaden the concept of litigation PR in Europe and around the world. There will be many areas to explore of mutual benefit and cooperation. “

A first example of this partnership will be the cooperation of the CLCA and Dr Krauskopf at the 3rd annual litigation PR convention in Winterthur, Zurich which he organizes. It is due to take place on 18th April 2018 under the title: „The influence of Trump, Twitter & #fakenews on legal communications.” Further details and registration information can be found at https://litigation-pr.ch

Prior to joining ZHAW and setting up AGON Partners, Professor Dr Patrick L. Krauskopf was, inter alia, Vice-Chair of the Swiss Competition Commission (COMCO).  He studied at the Universities of Fribourg and Berkeley (Master’s, 1991; Ph.D., 1999) and at Harvard Law School (LL.M., 2005). He is admitted to all Swiss courts as well as in New York.

CLCA appoints Martin Jenewein as its new Chairperson

Martin Jenewein, Senior Partner of the CLCA’s Austria member firm, SMJ Consulting, has taken over as Chairman of the CLCA starting January 2018. He replaces Louise Beeson of CLCA’s UK member firm Bell Yard Communications.

Martin Jenewein comments: “I am delighted to take on the leadership role of the CLCA.  I have long been an active and committed member of the CLCA and am passionate about its potential. I intend to further expand the footprint of the CLCA and to help encourage greater collaboration between member firms. I also hope to make the CLCA better known for its unique expertise in the area of Litigation PR. Watch this space! My special thanks go to the dedicated team of Bell Yard Communications and Louise Beeson who were the co-founders of this excellent network.” 

Louise Beeson comments: “It was an honour to head the CLCA for the last 3 years. In this time, we attracted five new talented member firms and launched an enhanced website, hosted several meetings of members to exchange ideas and know-how, and adjusted the membership structure.  During 2017, the Alliance exchanged the highest number of client mandates in our history, with multiple cross-jurisdiction instructions.  I am confident Martin will now grow the Alliance further, taking it to new heights during his tenure. He is a highly popular choice for the role and maintains all our support as he spearheads the CLCA’s next exciting chapter.”

 

Martin Jenewein can be reached at:

Tel: +43 (0) 1 402 17 65-14

Mail: jenewein@smj.at

CLCA welcomes new member firm in Korea, Access Communications & Consulting Co., Ltd

Access Communications & Consulting Co., Ltd, based in Seoul, Korea, has joined the CLCA, as its second member firm in Asia. Founded in 1995, Access has a strong reputation for issues management and crisis PR work for multinationals and brands operating in Korea and has an impressive track record of litigation work, patent and IP related litigation in particular. Click here for more information

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NAÏMA Strategic Legal Services GmbH

NAÏMA Strategic Legal Services GmbH has joined the CLCA as its new member firm in Germany. Founded by Uwe Wolff, it has a 15 year track record of working on Litigation PR mandates for companies, financial institutions, NGOs, associations and prominent individuals in Germany. Mr Wolff also wrote the first book in Germany on litigation PR “In the Name of the Public Opinion – Litigation PR as a Strategic Instrument in Legal Disputes”. NAÏMA Strategic Legal Services GmbH is based in Berlin but has a Brussels office too.

Click here for more information.

 

CLCA announces new US member firm LEVICK

LEVICK, the leading crisis, litigation and public affairs communications firm in North America, has joined the CLCA as its newest member firm. LEVICK has an unrivalled pedigree and employs nearly 50 professionals in Washington DC, New York, Chicago, and Toronto. LEVICK has an outstanding reputation and a rich experience of crisis and legal disputes ranging from criminal or regulatory matters on Wall Street to multi-party action following environmental disasters.

More information can be downloaded here.

The growing trend of collective claims in Holland

Margaret van Kempen, of CLCA’s member firm in the Netherlands, finds this article by Dutch liability law Professor Dr Bauw very interesting for the debate it summarises about the growing trend of collective claims in Holland. Although Professor Bauw is not necessarily against a claim culture, he is critical about commercial driven claim vehicles that do not comply with the Dutch Claim Code.

A translation of the article can be downloaded here.

CLCA’s Germany member quoted by Bloomberg

CLC Alliance member Stephan Holzinger based in Munich comments to Bloomberg on the Aldi familial dispute whereby the family normally obsessed with secrecy has allowed a dispute about art, vintage cars and a multimillion-dollar allowance to spill into public view.

“It’s grotesque that Theo Albrecht is attacking his sister-in-law invoking the company’s reputation,” says Stephan Holzinger, a Munich litigation adviser who isn’t involved in the dispute. “Aldi’s reputation has been more damaged by the mudslinging.”

Read more

 

SMJ speaks at Austrian Judiciary Conference

Patrick Minar, a partner at SMJ Consulting CLCA’s member firm in Austria, recently spoke at the Austrian Judiciary Conference held 4-8 May 2016 in Vienna and attended by 150 members of the court system and legal profession.

He delivered a lecture on the growing importance of Litigation PR.

Download the full speech here

 

Aria Partners joins CLCA

The CLCA is delighted to welcome a new member firm for France – Aria Partners, the leading and highly respected crisis, litigation PR and corporate communications agency based in Paris. Founded by Jean de Belot, Aria Partners has been involved in some of France’s highest profile crisis and litigation matters in recent years from the rogue trader Kerviel case where it advised French bank Société Générale through to the PIP Implant case where Aria supported Rheinland TUV, the company who inspected the manufacturing process of the implants. Aria Partners is an independent PR firm, with unrivalled experience of litigation cases in the French market. It is trusted on sensitive and significant reputational matters by corporates and lawyers alike. The CLCA is very pleased to add this calibre firm to its network. Read more

Annual gathering

Earlier this month, CLCA member firms convened in London for our annual get-together. We had an convivial dinner at the Aqua Shard with amazing views of the City, and got down to business the next day at an exclusive meeting room in Fleet Street.

First on the agenda was an exchange of news, trends and best practice litigation PR ideas in each of our markets. Next we had a demonstration from our Austrian member firm SMJ about their impressive intelligence gathering tool available to all CLCA clients. It deep-mines the internet and social media for information about a matter, company or individual and processes patterns of interconnectedness.

And lastly we discussed future plans for the CLCA including the countries of priority for expansion (France; Ireland; Abu Dhabi; Israel and Australia) as well as our business development and marketing pledges.

All in all it was great to meet everyone in person and renew our commitment to the CLCA and to discuss professional as well as World Cup prospects!

Next year Vienna?!

New CLCA members in Asia and Austria

The CLCA is delighted to welcome two new member firms – WeR1 Consultants, the leading investor and media communications agency based in Singapore, and Schneider | Minar | Jenewein Consulting (SMJ), one of Austria’s leading litigation and crisis communications agencies based in Vienna. This adds Asia to the CLCA’s footprint for the first time and expands our capabilities in Europe. Both firms are highly regarded in their home markets. The WeR1 team has worked on some of the most high profile court cases in Asia including matters involving criminal proceedings and financial class action-style suits. It has also led crisis management activities for companies in Malaysia, Hong Kong and India, where clients were experiencing fraud and bankruptcy situations. SMJ advises high-profile individuals, businesspeople and financiers during times of dispute. It has also led crisis responses for companies based in Austria and Switzerland. For further information about their capabilities please see websites WeR1 and Schneider | Minar | Jenewein Consulting (SMJ).

There has been much discussion over the past few years, led unsurprisingly by a coalition of broadcasters (BBC, SKY & ITV), over the arcane rules regarding the visual reporting of British criminal trials. Whilst the print media are allowed access to report for their readers, the broadcast media were banned from having cameras broadcasting from within a court building.

 

So, the news bulletins have been forced to rely on still sketches drawn from the memory of court-room accredited sketch artists. Perhaps even more surprising, these artists have to take a mental picture of their surroundings within the court room, such as the look of the judge, defendant, witnesses and barristers, and reproduce this picture with crayons outside the court room – no drawing is allowed inside the court! No wonder the broadcasters want the rules changed.

So the Judges allowed a test trial to be broadcast (after 3 years of negotiation) from a murder trial in Scotland that lasted 6 weeks and had 70 witnesses. This was distilled into a 2 hour programme that was broadcast for the first time on British TV last week. The reviews were glowing, certainly as to the way the footage was shot and edited to engage the viewer and build suspense as we got closer to the jury’s verdict. However, respected criminal law partner Michael Caplan QC from Kingsley Napley LLP, joined Bell Yard in sounding a note of caution for future trial reporting. Our article, first printed in the legal publication – Solicitors Journal – can be read here in full.

CLCA Inaugural Chairman Stephan Holzinger contributed to Springer’s new book “Litigation-PR: Alles was Recht ist” with his article “Fields and Structures of Communications Consulting in Legal Disputes”. “Litigation-PR: Alles was Recht ist” is the most current book on academic and operational issues of litigation PR in German-speaking countries. Here is the English abstract of Holzinger’s contribution:

 

Litigation public relations has turned from a trendy topic into a serious discipline in the legal community, playing a rapidly increasing role on the criminal law side in white-collar proceedings, also due to a greater than ever doubtful handling of media issues by some prosecutors, while continuing to have a harder stand on the capital crime side, likely for practical and also ethical reasons. A much broader range of application can be found on the civil side, either as strategic advice to top executives being in a dispute with their (former) employer, or in B2B disputes, with IP battles and private follow-on lawsuits against cartel members complementing classic areas of litigation public relations consulting in competition law, securities law, and product liability law, e.g. visual legal communications and public affairs also gain in importance especially in mega-cases which are highly complex and by definition often also political.”

Accolade for US member firm Hellerman Baretz

CLCA member firm in the US, Hellerman Baretz, has been honored by ‘The National Law Journal’ in its “Best of 2012” survey as “The Best Law Firm Crisis Management Firm.” It was also named “Best Legal PR Firm” in the same nationwide survey of the legal industry. These are well deserved recognition of HB’s expertise and reflect their strong reputation for crisis work in their marketplace.

See www.newlawjournal.co.uk and www.hellermanbaretz.com for further details.

“Corporations involved in a lawsuit are often more afraid of a loss of reputation in the public’s eyes than loosing the case in the courtroom. Litigation communications is therefore gaining in importance. Lawyers have to take this development into account.”

JUVE has published a big story about litigation PR in their November issue, describing a client case of Holzinger Associates and quoting Stephan Holzinger. In a JUVE survey among the top 50 law firms in Germany, Holzinger Associates was recommended as an Expert Consultancy.

www.juve.de

Retired Army Colonel Rudy Burwell Joins CLC-A Member Firm Hellerman Baretz as EVP for Crisis Communications & Litigation PR.

CLC-Alliance member firm Hellerman Baretz Communications is pleased to announce that retired Army Colonel Rudy Burwell has joined as Executive Vice President of Crisis Communications and Litigation Public Relations in its Washington office. Burwell has over 20 years of crisis management experience both abroad and in the United States, including serving as the Chief of Media Operations for the Multi-National Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom and as the Director of Army Reserve Communications. For more information, click here.

CLCA founding member and inaugural chairman Stephan Holzinger will speak as a panelist on the 5th Annual Conference on the Globalization of Class Actions and Mass Litigation in The Hague from 8-9 December 2011.

Attached please find the current program.

Media

The newly founded BUJ association, representing corporate lawyers in Germany, reports in the first edition of their magazine “unternehmensjurist” about litigation PR, featuring CLCA founding member Stephan Holzinger as litigation PR-pioneer in Germany.

New CLCA member in the Netherlands

The CLCA is delighted to welcome a new member firm in Northern Europe — Van Kempen Litigation PR based in The Hague. Highly regarded for its crisis and litigation work, Van Kempen recently launched a dedicated unit to further grow this part of its business. It has experience of shareholder disputes, (tax) fraud, environmental catastrophe (criminal prosecution), mass litigation, medical (neglect) and forced relocation matters and has supported several internationally-known Netherlands based companies during sustained and high profile crises. For more information about Van Kempen Litigation PR’s capabilities click here.

Study shows increase in reporting of legal disputes in German media and in dangerous ‘no comment’ responses

CLCA member firm Holzinger Associates has published a study of trends in lawsuit reporting in three German media sources for the period 2008-2010. Whilst the volume of reports involving legal matters increased, there was a disproportionate increase in the number of “no comment” responses which can result in a loss of trust and damage to a company or person’s credibility the author argues. The growth of the importance of social media in litigation PR is also mentioned. Click here for more information

Journalism and PR – between co-operation and confrontation

CLCA-member Stephan Holzinger will present current trends and hot issues of Litigation-PR at a conference of netzwerk recherche e.V. and Hamburg University’s Rudolf-Augstein (Der Spiegel) professorial chair. The netzwerk recherche (“research network”) is the association of investigative journalists and editors in Germany. For the full programm, see here.

Judgements of serious consequences in the court of public opinion

Professional article of CLCA partner Roland Binz in the daily newspaper “Der Bund”, Switzerland (only available in German). The article is analysing the increasing influence of public opinion verdicts on the reputation of involved companies and leading figures.

UBS Imbroglio Offers PR Lessons

“Good news travels fast,” the saying goes, “and bad news travels even faster.” That addendum may sound pessimistic, but it has never been more true than it is now when it comes to PR and companies in crisis. Given today’s global business environment and lightning-quick communications, news of a corporate public relations crisis can hopscotch from one continent to another in minutes, causing lasting harm in multiple locations without careful management.

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Recent CLCA coverage:

The Crisis & Litigation Communicators’ Alliance (CLCA) has recently been featured in Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), Wirtschaftsblatt and Der Standard.at (both Austria), as well as in the trade publications The Holmes Report and Bulldog Reporter (both USA), Persönlich and Klein Report (both Switzerland), PR REPORT and PR-Journal (both Germany), PR Week and Gorkana PR News (both UK), and Extradienst.at and Medianet.at (both Austria). Copies of the editorials are available through CLCA office.

Premier PR Firms Launch First International Communications Network for Litigation and Corporate Crises

Allows Coordinated Communications Strategy Across Continents

(New York), November 16, 2009 – In today’s world, business takes place globally – and so do PR challenges. In recognition, five prominent consulting firms today announced the establishment of an international network to provide clients with seamless crisis and litigation communications support as needed around the globe. The five founding members of the Crisis & Litigation Communicators’ Alliance, each a highly regarded boutique agency specializing in communications strategy in crisis and high-value litigation matters, are based in the U.S. (Hellerman Baretz Communications), U.K. (Bell Yard), Germany (Results: S. Holzinger!), Austria (PreventK) and Switzerland (Roland Binz Kommunikation & Image).

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UK employment dispute with cross-border reputation/media advocacy implications

When several former members of Dresdner Kleinwort’s London-based management committee found themselves in dispute with the investment bank’s new owner, Commerzbank, earlier this year over unpaid severance and guaranteed bonus packages, media interest was not just confined to the UK where the legal claims were filed. Given the bank’s German HQ, the sizeable German government shareholding and that the Claimants ran global businesses within Dresdner Kleinwort with a significant German client base, the lawsuits attracted greater media attention in Germany than in the UK.

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