Pre-Publication & Crisis Management

When a reputational crisis strikes, you need experienced specialists at your side

The hours before publication can be crucial. Whether the threat comes from a whistleblower, an unexpected call from an investigative journalist or adverse comment spreading across the internet, we can help. Controlling the story before publication can avoid the need for a legal complaint after publication.

We help our clients to manage a media crisis, with a view to preventing or mitigating damage to individual and corporate reputations and by using legal strategy to prevent publication of false, private or confidential material.

Our experience in the media field means we are known by both the editors and the in-house legal teams at the main media organisations in the UK and further afield, and we can engage with them quickly and effectively on time-sensitive issues

We have a strong track record in securing injunctions prohibiting publication – often in a matter of hours – particularly where the proposed story involves private or confidential information. Depending on the facts and the urgency our strategy can include:

  • Helping to prepare responses to journalists’ questions
  • Putting a publisher or broadcaster on notice that they have got their facts wrong and threatening to bring Court proceedings if false or private information is published
  • Seeking an injunction to prevent publication
  • Assisting the client, often alongside their PR team, with internal and external communications

24/7 Partner-led Crisis Response

We have a 24-hour, 365 days of the year crisis management response team – one of our specialist partners is always available to respond to urgent crises at any time.