For companies, media protection isn't just about litigation. We also advise our clients’ boards, legal and communications teams and their external PR advisors on how the law can be used to protect their relationships with the media in a variety of situations.
Large organisations and their directors often contact us when they are involved in corporate transactions where press attention is more intense, and an effective communications strategy is crucial to their success. They come to us to help them cope with crises and successes, as well as when they have contractual disputes which may require an eye for the media issues involved.
But they also seek our help when the press are camped outside their door, they receive persistent calls from journalists, untrue stories are about to be published about the company or its executives, or confidential information is about to be published, particularly during sensitive business transactions such as takeovers and IPOs.
What is important for the company is for it to understand the full range of options at its disposal, to enable it to deal with the problem and make an informed decision on strategy, even if we advise that it may be more appropriate to take a PR driven approach than a legal one.
We have strong relationships with PR firms in many specialist industries and work closely with them. We give specific, commercial legal advice aimed at obtaining the best possible result often in the shortest possible time.
Frequently, lawyers and PR experts can work in tandem. The lawyer can communicate directly with the publication’s legal team, protecting the reputation of their client assertively.