International capability: greater cooperation between regulators
A new international regulatory investi-gations and crisis manage-ment service was launched today by leading white collar crime specialists Cubism Law and crisis management and litigation PR specialists Byfield Consultancy in the UK and Infinite Public Relations in the US.
PressLegal (see presslegal.com) is an international collaboration of highly specialised lawyers and communications experts with the capacity to handle a broad range of legal and crisis PR mandates on a 24/7, 365 days per year basis. Byfield is a Legal Futures Associate.
The service is aimed at the regulated industries and has been designed to offer comprehensive protection covering preventative advice, strategic planning and immediate response from both a legal and communications perspective. The service is unique in that it dovetails legal and communications activity to ensure that the client receives top-level advice in both arenas at a critical time.
Focused on the management and resolution of internal regulatory issues and external investigations, from both a PR and legal perspective, PressLegal has substantial experience of dawn raids, insider dealing, allegations of bribery and corruption, money laundering, director’s misfeasance, health and safety breaches, product recalls and major corporate investigations. PressLegal acts for both companies and individuals across a full range of sectors and professions.
Often where regulatory investigations are instigated against a company or their employees, in-house legal and PR departments require additional specialist support. In such a scenario, a panel law firm may be conflicted from working for a director implicated and similarly the director’s law firm may be conflicted from working for the company implicated. PressLegal offers an immediate solution to these issues.
Dan Hyde, head of legal, UK at PressLegal said: “We are increasingly seeing companies and individuals becoming subject to regulatory, criminal or civil investigations. This comes at a time when domestic and international regulators are taking a new and confrontational approach to corporate investigations. Given this harsh regulatory environment it has never been more important to plan and respond to investigations and crises with the appropriate legal and PR action. PressLegal has been launched with these needs in mind and we look forward to building upon our established credentials through this boutique product that combines legal and PR expertise.”
Richard Elsen, head of PR, UK at PressLegal said: “PressLegal provides essential support at a critical time, to safeguard companies’ and individuals’ reputations and legal positions. Companies are now subjected to the media glare for even the smallest alleged misdemeanour so having proper support in place is crucial to protect your reputation in a time of crisis. Through this relationship we are able to dovetail media strategy with legal strategy on a domestic and international footing.”
Jamie Diaferia, head of PR, US at PressLegal said: “This collaboration comes at a time of greater cooperation between international regulators, especially in the US and UK. Clearly the UK has become more like the US in its aggressive stance towards investigating and prosecuting allegations of corporate wrongdoing. In this kind of pressurised environment, PressLegal offers a joint approach that quickly and effectively tackles legal and regulatory issues.”
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