Crisis Management

When faced with an event that gives rise to significant legal, financial, and public relations exposure, corporate management needs more than ever to remain focused on running its business. Steptoe’s crisis management team can free management to focus on the bottom line and help steer the company through difficult times. Steptoe lawyers are experienced in handling multifaceted problems with multiforum demands. Whether it is "bet the company" litigation, a congressional inquiry, regulatory proceedings, or a criminal investigation – or, as is often the case, a combination of law enforcement, oversight, and public relations inquiries – Steptoe has helped leading institutions prepare and respond, minimize legal exposure, and protect the reputation of management and the organization.

Our clients seek our assistance when dealing with a crisis because of our versatile lawyers and the multidimensional strategic plans we tailor to the individual client’s circumstances. We have decades of success in providing clients with coordinated political, business, public relations, and legal advocacy.

Steptoe's Strategy. Steptoe advocates a multifront approach to crisis management. Whether the situation stems from internal problems or external events, we enable our clients to maintain focus on their business objectives while managing a crisis to its best outcome. Some of Steptoe’s strengths include:

• Daily contact with congressional leaders, regulatory agencies, and enforcement agencies 
• Experience and success developing coordinated communications strategies that allow for simple, consistent, and credible communication with the full array of industry and corporate stakeholders 
• Experience and success leading sensitive internal investigations quickly and discreetly
• Experience and success acting as lead counsel in "bet the company" litigation
• An anticipatory approach that takes into account the various potential directions developing crises can take
• A white-collar criminal defense practice with vast experience managing high-profile, complicated matters

Preventing the Crisis. Many clients have benefited from a proactive approach towards potential crises, and asked us to advise them on implementing preventative measures and an avoidance strategy. The avoidance strategy includes systems to monitor changes in regulatory and enforcement practices and to monitor critical or vulnerable internal functions in order to give the client the maximum ability to address difficulties before they escalate.

Preparation is integral to preventing or minimizing the impact of a crisis. To meet this critical need, Steptoe helps clients conduct targeted internal investigations and draft crisis management plans and crisis communication plans. With Steptoe’s assistance, clients identify potential threats early and quickly implement proactive strategies.

While the firm’s more than 24 practices support the crisis management team, a core group of lawyers with specialized backgrounds comprise the practice’s leadership. In addition to impressive legal careers that include significant time spent in government service, we have developed particular insight that makes us uniquely suited to crisis management.