Public relations firms are increasingly occupying an important seat at the table when their clients confront a crisis of one type or another. The 24-hour news cycle and the constant availability of “trending” information on social media have only exacerbated the need for effective strategic communications. Crisis work regularly involves legal issues and legal advice — these matters range from regulatory or compliance matters, to sensitive employment issues, to claims or litigations, corporate restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions.
PR firms need to be mindful of ways their work product may be protected by the attorney-client privilege whenever working with a client’s internal legal team or its external legal counsel.