Lawyers Are Warning of Bad-Publicity Risks to Clients Planning Litigation

 "Lawyers would be wise to lay out the potential for bad publicity when clients embark on a lawsuit, despite the lack of formal ethical or legal obligations to inform prospective plaintiffs of privacy concerns, attorneys say." - Bloomberg Law, June 2, 2022.

No, this isn't a mandate - not yet, for lawyers. But it sure looks like a best practice. Yes, Johnny Depp won most of his defamation lawsuit but his career path is iffy. Perhaps too much came out during that high-profile trial. In addition, the defendant Amber Heard's lawyers indicate they are planning to appeal the verdict. The future could extend the negative publicity - for both. 

Providing counsel about the public relations risks is the direction law firms are moving in.

They have been doing that in either or both of two ways.

One is through their regular approaches to litigation. There is, though, more explicit emphasis on possible fallout in the court of public opinion. 

The other, as The Wall Street Journal points out, is by establishing new kinds of profits centers which provide specialized guidance, including in public relations. Dentons' NextLaw Network directs clients to top public affairs firms. That's an addition to its Global Advisors consulting service. 

This migration from stand-alone legal services comes under the umbrella of what Paul Weiss Chairperson Brad Karp calls being a "business partner" with clients. In a Leaders Magazine article Karp hammered the need to shift beyond just being a leader counselor. Clients want total business solutions.

The power of law firms has been a known. But competing with that is the growing clout of public relations firms. Social networks have increased exponentially the influence of public opinion. That's exactly why more law firms are hiring, including full-time, story-tellers like myself for their clients' needs. Loop in that need are also law firms' own marketing. That goes beyond blogging and repurposing. It more about shaping a compelling and engaging narrative. 

Connect with Editor-in-Chief Jane Genova at janegenova374@gmail.com. Complimentary consultations for help in telling your unique story.

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