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Crisis Communications & PR Buyer's Guide to PR Services & Products

January would not be complete without our special issue on crisis communications and our annual PR services & products buyer’s guide..

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O'Dwyer's Jan. Crisis Communications & PR Buyer's Guide Magazine

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Profiles of Crisis Communications Firms:

Ball Consulting Group, LLC

One Gateway Center, Suite 406
Newton, MA 02458
617/243-9950
[email protected]
www.ballcg.com

David A. Ball, President & Founder
Greg Turner, Vice President

Crises seldom appear conveniently at 9 a.m. on a Monday.  Even before a reporter calls out of the blue or a TV news van sets up out front, organizations need a trusted partner ready to step in to help minimize damage, maintain their reputation, and position them for future success.

Ball Consulting Group, LLC is an award-winning, full-service strategic communications firm that specializes in crisis communications, planning and management.

Founded in 2004 and based in the Boston area but with clients worldwide, we have helped lead organizations through many types of crises, including bankruptcies and closures, criminal misdeeds, cyberattacks, food and drug recalls, government settlements, lawsuits, labor strikes, layoffs, natural disasters, regulatory actions, and sexual harassment.

We have built a reputation for not only providing highly strategic guidance during challenging and complex crises, but also for helping organizations identify weak points and prevent a crisis from ever occurring.  We help clients prepare for any situation by creating a comprehensive crisis communications plan that identifies the crisis management team, establishes communication protocols and provides step-by-step guidance.

We take immense pride in our ability to bring a guiding hand, abundant experience and confidential counsel to help organizations overcome crisis and emerge stronger.



Boardroom Communications, Inc.

1776 N Pine Island Road, Suite 320
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33322
954-370-8999
www.boardroompr.com
[email protected]

Orlando-Tampa-Naples-Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm-Aspen

Don Silver, Chief Operating Officer
Todd Templin, Executive Vice President

Crisis Management: Preventing and Preparing for Potential Problems

BoardroomPR is one of Florida’s top PR agencies offering statewide coverage. The firm’s experienced staff of public relations and crisis management professionals routinely handle high-profile crisis projects and public affairs campaigns each year.  Examples include: investigations, hostile takeovers, litigation, product recalls, criminal charges, safety compliance issues, accidental deaths, project approvals, bid objections and legislative campaigns.

Whether you’re pre-developing a crisis communications plan or responding to an urgent threat, Boardroom’s trusted and respected team will help you evaluate the situation, mitigate the risks and deal with your most important audiences, including media, social media, employees, stakeholders, customers, government and others. We immediately consult with your executives to assess the situation and develop an appropriate strategy and plan. Our team monitors traditional media, blogs and social networking sites and handles all inquiries. Call or email us if you are faced with a situation where a capable, seasoned crisis management team can help guide you to a satisfactory resolution.



Bospar
 
Located in every major city, including: San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Austin.
844/526-7727 (844/5-BOSPAR)
[email protected]
@BosparPR

Bospar is honored to be named an O'Dwyers' Top 50 PR FirmBospar: Working From Home Since 2015.

Chris Boehlke, Curtis Sparrer, Tom Carpenter, Principals
Tricia Heinrich, Chief Content Officer

Hey!

Yeah, you, the person reading this.

Is it us, or do all these agency descriptions sound alike?

“We’re an integrated global communications and marketing agency that BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.”

That’s not the kind of thinking that’s going to get you noticed.

Yet, the industry has noticed Bospar for our “Politely Pushy” work in tech PR:

• Forbes’ Best PR Agencies
• Inc: America’s Top Private Companies
• PRovoke: Most Creative North American Agency, Innovator of the Year, Agency of the Year, Best Micro Campaign, Best Staff Retention
• PRWeek’s Best in Corporate Branding, Boutique Agency of the Year, Best Place to Work
• The Observer’s PR Power List

Our crisis practice is designed with proactive and reactive approaches in mind, because sometimes you need help right now. Our approach prepares you with plans, tabletop exercises, and training. We respond with monitoring, counsel, and internal and external stakeholder relations, and we help you recover with a full review and any necessary media, social and SEO activities to restore your reputation.

If you want to get known fast, accelerate adoption, or drive impact, Bospar exceeds all expectations.

With breakthrough coverage and visibility, simply put: our clients speed ahead—no “BLAH, BLAH, BLAH” about it!



Crosswind Media and Public Relations

501 Congress Avenue, Suite 150
Austin, TX 78701
512/537-1414
[email protected]
www.crosswindpr.com

Thomas Graham, President & CEO

Conversations that matter.

Crosswind Media and Public Relations fields the most experienced and effective crisis communications force in the Southwest, and our proven Crisis Preparation Response + methodology is an active engagement that paves the way for rapid, organized and smooth crisis response and reputation enhancement.

Members of Crosswind’s CPR+ response team have experience as frontline civilian and military responders and communication leaders:

• One Crosswind responder had oversight of the entire U.S. Navy public and community communications channels during multiple national and international crises and operations.

• Another, a much-decorated combat medic, returned to the Lone Star state to help handle our own regional catastrophes and critical calamities.

• A third Crosswind team member led response teams from the world’s largest defense company and the energy industry’s most maverick corporation through multiple calamities, financial setbacks and achievements.

Our broad experience and deployments include messaging for critical litigation and restructuring, navigation to safety of one of the largest university systems in the nation, frontline defense of the industry leader among national healthcare providers, course corrections for marketing the state’s most expensive highway build, and removal of impediments to progress of disruptive technologies across the energy, biotech, engineering and financial industries.

We are the leading regional public communications and marketing-communications firm based in Texas, with deep national and international Fortune 500 experience and seasoned talent, connecting, informing and creating inspiring work. We re-tune brands and reputations to broaden public awareness. We reframe national and international narratives to deeply engage with core customers and influentials.

Texas is our home but our clients have global audiences and worldwide impact. We have deep roots in the state and understand how to bring Texas and Texas enterprise to the world and how to bring the world to Texas.

At Crosswind, we create conversations that matter.



Dentons Global Advisors

1900 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
202/759-5100
www.dentonsglobaladvisors.com
 
Edward Reilly, Chief Executive Officer
Deborah Scott, Partner & Head of EMEA
Adam Cubbage, Partner & Head of US
Melissa Kresse, Chief Content Officer

Dentons Global Advisors is an expert-led advisory firm that provides integrated solutions for clients in an increasingly complex, regulated and interconnected business environment. Comprising Albright Stonebridge Group and a deep bench of communications, public affairs, government relations and strategy consultants, we help clients engage with governments and regulatory bodies, navigate public disclosures and transactions within the private and capital markets, and manage their reputations through critical moments of change, challenge or opportunity. Our relationship with Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, means clients can draw upon integrated legal expertise and strategic advisory services when and where they need them.
 Our team of experts has significant experience advising boards and management teams on the most complex and high-stakes reputational issues and crises of the last decade. In these situations, we help protect our client’s brand, valuation, reputation and permission to operate by ensuring accurate representation of facts, maintaining credibility, strengthening relationships, reducing negative legal and/or political consequences, ensuring business continuity, driving employee engagement and protecting corporate value. Specific examples include: cybersecurity and privacy matters, product recalls, litigation, government investigations, executive transitions, labor relations disputes, workforce reductions, human resources issues, operational incidents, financial disclosures, as well as environmental, financial or social activism.

To learn more, visit dentonsglobaladvisors.com.



Dragon Horse Agency

Downtown Naples Headquarters:
848 1st Ave. North, #200
Naples, FL 34102
305/306-3992; 239/325-5088

North Naples Office:
999 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., #200
Naples, FL 34108
305/306-3992; 239/325-5088

Los Angeles, CA Office:
100 Wilshire Blvd., #700
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310/917-1009

[email protected]
www.dragonhorseagency.com
Linkedin.com/company/dragon-horse-media-llc
Facebook.com/dragonhorseagency
Instagram.com/dragonhorseagency

Julie Koester, Founder/Managing Partner/President
Patrick Blake Renda, Founder/Managing Partner/Chief Strategy Officer

Dragon Horse Agency was one of the first global ad agencies to identify the value and the necessity of an integrated business and marketing strategy delivering customized solutions. Dragon Horse Agency’s business strategists and creative architects integrate the synergies of business and marketing analytics and strategy into one powerful solution called DragonONE. Dragon Horse Agency is led by a highly experienced team of partners with over 60 years of combined professional experience in business and advertising.

Dragon Horse Agency specializes in all forms of Public Relations and Marketing, providing customized end-to-end solutions.
Dragon Horse Agency also offers an industry-leading digital and social media artificial intelligence platform called DragonIQ bundled with a data analytics reporting product called DragonVISION.

DragonIQ’s and DragonVISION’s A.I. bundle is a precision optimization platform enabling companies and brands to drive tactical engagement, 24/7, worldwide, with multiple campaigns running in unison across all platforms.

Dragon Horse Agency is your architect for a successful business marketing foundation, leverage the highly skilled professional team of Dragon Horse writers, creators, designers, technicians, Internet/social media experts, camera and film professionals, tv/radio/print producers, media buyers, brand managers, analysts, business strategists and more all under one company.

Dragon Horse Agency is committed to the vigorous pursuit of exceptional business marketing built on integrity, excellence, experience, and execution.

There is marketing, and then there is business marketing, only at Dragon Horse.

Accolades:

Best Ad Agency—Gulfshore Business Magazine
Best Ad Agency—Expertise
Best Website, Best Print Catalog —Aurora Awards
Best Website—Sand Dollar Awards
Best Direction, Best Video, Best Commercial—The Telly Awards
Best Marketing Campaign— NYX Awards
Best Marketing Campaign— MUSE Awards
Top Digital Agency in the USA —UpCity



Edelman

250 Hudson St., 16th Floor
New York, NY 10013
212/768-0550
Fax: 212/704-0117
www.edelman.com

Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our 6,000 people in more than 60 offices deliver communications strategies that give our clients the confidence to lead and act with certainty, earning the trust of their stakeholders. Our honors include the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for PR; Advertising Age’s 2019 A-List; the Holmes Report’s 2018 Global Digital Agency of the Year; and, five times, Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work. Since our founding in 1952, we have remained an independent, family-run business. Edelman owns specialty companies Edelman Intelligence (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, lifestyle).



FGS Global

909 Third Avenue, 32nd Floor
New York, NY 10022
212/687-8080
www.fgsgloabl.com
[email protected]

Office Locations: Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dubai, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Kingston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, South Florida, Tokyo, Washington, DC, Zurich

George Sard, Roland Rudd and Carter Eskew, Co-Chairmen
Paul Holmes, Vice Chair
Mike Feldman and Paul Verbinnen, Co-Chairs of North America
Alexander Geiser, Global CEO
Andrew Cole, Deputy Global CEO and Co-CEO of North America
Joel Johnson, Paul Kranhold and Winnie Lerner, Co-CEOs of North America
Faeth Birch, CEO of UK, Middle East and Asia
Brigitte von Haacke, CEO of Europe

FGS Global (formerly Sard Verbinnen & Co and Finsbury Glover Hering) is the strategic advisor for the stakeholder economy. FGS Global’s team includes leaders in all aspects of strategic communications, including corporate reputation, crisis management, government affairs, and transformation and change, and is the leading force in financial communications worldwide. FGS Global offers clients seamless and integrated support across the globe, with offices in 26 countries and more than 1,200 professionals across multidisciplinary practice areas, including design and creative, digital strategy, and research and insights.

FGS Global delivers the expertise and insights to help you stay a step ahead of complex and fast-breaking issues making sure you are prepared in advance and ready to communicate with calmness, clarity and consistency when situations arise. We map threats, develop strategies and build infrastructure to help you navigate the moment and stay focused on what’s important. When you’re facing intense scrutiny, our team of business, media, communications, legal and government affairs experts will help you respond rapidly, strategically and powerfully with an integrated campaign.



FINN Partners

301 East 57th St.
New York, NY 10022
212/715-1600
www.finnpartners.com

Jessica Berk Ross, Managing Partner, Public Affairs Global Practice Leader, Crisis Management Lead Coordinator Washington, DC, [email protected], 202/466-7800
Ryan Barr, Managing Partner, Global Financial
Gil Bashe, Chair, Global Health & Purpose
Fern Lazar, Managing Partner, Global Health
Chantal Bowman-Boyles, JD, Managing Partner, Europe
Nicole Cottrill, Senior Partner, Nashville, Health
Robin Crawford, Senior Partner, Washington, DC, Public Affairs
Margaret Dunning, Managing Partner, Higher Education
Kyle Farnham, Managing Partner, Global Consumer
Michael Heinley, Senior Partner, Health Litigation
Tom Jones,  Managing Partner, NY Health & Pharma
John Seigenthaler, Partner, Nashville, National Media
Sabrina Guttman, Managing Partner, Global Technology
Bess Winston, Senior Partner, Sustainability
Naeema Ismail, Managing Partner, Singapore
 
Finn Partners has been ranked among the world’s leading public relations agencies by The Holmes Report, and PRNews has acknowledged FINN senior staff as “Crisis Communicators of the Year.” Our depth of knowledge offers clients access to the counsel and strategies that reach influencers, media and policymakers effectively, and help to build resilience and positive reputation.

From business transformation, cybersecurity issues, executive leadership transition, financial restatement, government investigations, litigation, product recalls to shareholder relations, our experts in Consumer Products, Health, Economic Development, Education, Manufacturing, Public Affairs, Energy and Sustainability, Technology and Travel, blend crisis experience with sector expertise.  At a time of global uncertainty, when issues rise to the level of business disruption, our team of skilled crisis experts helps clients navigate the complex communications landscape, maintain the confidence of key stakeholders, and protect reputation and brand.



French/West/Vaughan

112 East Hargett St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
919/832-6300
www.fwv-us.com

Rick French, Chairman & CEO
David Gwyn, President / Principal
Natalie Best, Chief Operating Officer / Principal

Founded in 1997, French/West/Vaughan (FWV) is the Southeast’s leading public relations, public affairs, advertising and digital media agency, a distinction it has held since 2001.

FWV has become one of the nation’s go-to agencies for issues management and crisis counseling work, having defended the reputation of dozens of high-profile individuals, institutions, companies and associations. For a quarter century, we have helped prepare, guide and support our clients through challenging, unpredicted and even unprecedented times, including workplace accidents and shootings, construction-related accidents, environmental disaster response/plans (major oil spills, fires), natural disasters and driver negligence, among many others. Our experience ranges from healthcare to consumer goods clients, to sports organizations and food and beverage companies – each of which has been faced with its own unique challenges and issues.
Recent crisis communications work includes:

• Managed the aftermath of one of the largest commercial fires in the history of a large Southern metropolitan area. Worked with the construction company and contractor who was building the structure, managed news media, provided media training and led social media support.

• Provided crisis communications and media training for executives of a large senior living facility conglomerate accused of negligent behavior by its employees.

• Worked with a national poultry company accused of environmental contamination. This included media training, media relations and creating a strategic public relations and advertising plan.

In addition to its extensive crisis and issues management experience, FWV’s passionate team of expert storytellers works with many of the world’s leading companies and brands, including Wrangler, Proximo, Melitta, Volvo Trucks North America, Teen Cancer America and the N.C. Department of Transportation, just to name a few.

Among its partners and affiliates are: FWV Fetching, a pet and animal health PR and marketing agency; AMP3 PR, a fashion, beauty, luxury and lifestyle PR firm (New York City); CGPR, an active lifestyle, outdoor, ski, fashion, technology and travel PR and consumer brand marketing agency (Greater Boston); The Millerschin Group, a leading mobility and B2B-focused PR firm (Detroit); and Prix Productions, the company’s longform content feature and documentary film division, with offices in Raleigh and L.A. FWV employs more than 130 public relations, public affairs, social media, advertising and digital marketing experts between its Raleigh, N.C., headquarters and offices around the country.



FTI Consulting Strategic Communications

88 Pine Street, 32nd Floor
New York, NY 10005
212/850-5600
www.fticommunications.com
 
Mark McCall, Global Segment Leader

C-suites, boards of directors, and business leaders from around the world come to FTI Strategic Communications with their most complex, business-critical issues that require diverse skill sets and integrated disciplines. As part of a global business advisory firm, we help these organizations manage change, mitigate risk and enhance their market position by combining decades of deep subject matter expertise with functional and disciplinary experience.

Our financial communications professionals serve as trusted advisors to management teams on a range of capital markets events as well as other stakeholder issues throughout the corporate life-cycle. We help clients navigate their most pressing challenges and opportunities around M&A, IPOs, restructuring, capital raising, corporate governance, ESG strategy, proxy fights, and shareholder activism. Our integrated capabilities in financial communications, corporate reputation and public affairs help clients protect and drive business value.



G&S Business Communications

111 West 33rd Street, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10001
212/697-2600
[email protected]
www.gscommunications.com

Steve Halsey, Chief Growth Officer
 
G&S Business Communications helps innovative companies change the world. Our mission is to inspire people to take action, resulting in business growth for our clients. Our vision is to fuel transformation in the five key industries we serve, Advanced Manufacturing & Energy, Agribusiness, Financial & Professional Services, Healthcare and Home & Building.

Our researchers, media strategists, storytellers, and engagement experts meet each client at the intersection of business and communications. Our strategies help B2B clients meet their business goals, and our work produces meaningful results that move markets. Our commitment to measurement ensures that we are constantly learning and improving to make your program better.

We have a global staff of 140+ people, who operate primarily from four offices, New York, Raleigh, Chicago and Basel, but we offer our clients a global network of support through PROI Worldwide partners.



Gladstone Place Partners

485 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10022
212/230-5930
www.gladstoneplace.com
 
Steven Lipin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Lauren Odell, Partner and Chief Operating Officer
Christina Stenson, Partner
Felipe Ucrós, Partner
Vanessa Esparza, Partner
 
Gladstone Place Partners is a strategic financial communications firm headquartered in New York with an office in San Francisco. We specialize in advising companies and investors at critical moments when communications can make a significant difference in achieving core objectives. We are a highly focused and experienced team with a broad range of backgrounds, including business leaders, communications professionals, finance professionals, and former senior journalists.

With global capabilities, our diverse team is designed to meet the evolving strategic communications needs of leading companies’ CEOs, boards of directors, and heads of communications. Clients seek Gladstone Place Partners’ counsel on a range of matters, including mergers & acquisitions, crisis situations, corporate reputation and strategic positioning, IPOs and spinoffs, global trade and supply-chain matters, cybersecurity, shareholder activism, quarterly earnings announcements, and corporate governance communications.

Our boutique approach, with a focus on independent advice and confidentiality, enhances our ability to help our clients navigate layered and critical matters. We understand the complexity and super-charged nature of today’s environment, which is why we have social and digital capabilities embedded in our DNA. This includes hands-on experience with social media, including channels frequented by retail investors such as Reddit and StockTwits.

Gladstone Place Partners strives to build long-term, trusted relationships by delivering the highest quality work product, paired with uncompromising ethics, integrity, and judgment. Our work is underpinned by a culture of professional excellence, meritocracy, and diversity.

Our founder and chief executive officer, Steve Lipin, has spent more than 30 years at the intersection of the corporate world, Wall Street, and the media as a leading financial journalist and top communications strategist to C-suites, boards of directors, and chief communications officers.



H/Advisors Abernathy

abernathy.h-advisors.global
New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C.

Tom Johnson, CEO
Carina Davdison, President
Kendell Fitter, Managing Director and Head of Crisis

A trusted strategic communications advisor, H/Advisors Abernathy specializes in advising CEOs, board directors and senior executives on effective stakeholder communications and engagement. For nearly 40 years, we have been entrusted by clients across sectors to help build, protect and enhance their reputations, boost value and seize new opportunities.

We are one of the nation’s leading crisis management firms, having advised on some of the most high-profile and consequential challenges of the past four decades. Combining our strategic acumen with our extensive experience across industries and disciplines, we ensure business continuity, optimize outcomes for stakeholders and minimize reputational damage. We provide 24/7 real-time, bespoke communications counsel, including stakeholder engagement, media relations, scenario planning and litigation support, all informed by the latest industry and digital trends, to help our clients navigate their crisis and achieve their business goals. Our distinct approach to crisis and risk management has been recognized by Chambers and Partners—the leading research and rankings firm for the legal and related industries.

Abernathy’s crisis management experience spans a broad range of issues and events, from workplace misconduct to product recalls, cybersecurity to employee activism and physical disasters to mass violence. We also manage significant corporate matters such as C-suite changes, regulatory issues and white-collar crime. We are also experts in crisis preparedness, guiding clients through quick diagnostics or simulations for boards of directors and executive teams. We help our clients identify their greatest risks, effectively leverage their resources and implement tailored best practices to navigate effectively through any crisis.



ICR

685 Third Ave., 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10017
646/277-1200
[email protected]
www.icrinc.com

Thomas Ryan, CEO
Don Duffy, President

Established in 1998, ICR partners with its clients to execute strategic communications and advisory programs that achieve business goals, build awareness and credibility, and enhance long-term enterprise value. The firm’s highly-differentiated service model, which pairs capital markets veterans with senior communications professionals, brings deep sector knowledge and relationships to approximately 1,000 clients across more than 20 industry groups. ICR’s healthcare practice operates under the Westwicke brand (westwicke.com). Today, ICR is one of the largest and most experienced independent comms. and advisory firms in North America, maintaining offices in New York, Norwalk, Boston, Baltimore, San Francisco and Beijing. Learn more at icrinc.com. Follow us on Twitter at @ICRPR and LinkedIn.

ICR’s Crisis & Special Situations Group advises clients through dedicated experts across all categories of response and planning including, shareholder activism, short-seller attacks, M&A, bankruptcy/restructuring, litigation support, executive transition, cybersecurity and general crisis.



Infinite Global

21 West 38th St., 16th floor
New York, NY 10018
917/602-0545
www.infiniteglobal.com
Linkedin.com/company/infiniteglobal/
Twitter.com/igc_us
 
Additional offices: San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, DC and London.
 
Jamie Diaferia, Founder & CEO
Zach Olsen, President

Infinite Global is an award-winning strategic communications agency advising a wide range of domestic and international clients facing difficult scenarios in which reputational, legal and commercial risk is high.

We advise organizations and individuals, providing counsel and tactical support to mitigate risk and protect reputations when it matters most. We have broad sector experience managing our clients’ reputational risk, often involving active litigation, regulatory and political pressure, media attention and heightened public scrutiny. Infinite has an established data breach response practice that helps clients across a range of industries—including financial and legal services, education and healthcare—mitigate, prepare for and respond to the risks endemic to housing sensitive data.

Our work spans each phase of the crisis lifecycle: from pre-crisis preparation and planning, to rapid crisis response and post-crisis reputational repair.



Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

622 Third Avenue, 36th Floor
New York, NY 10017
212/355-4449
[email protected]

One California Street
Suite 2275
San Francisco, CA 94111
415/869-3950

Joele Frank, Managing Partner
Matthew Sherman, President

The events of the past several years underscore the importance of effective corporate communications regardless of the crisis. Communications to internal and external audiences must instill confidence, articulate the issues and describe how challenges are being addressed.

Whatever the crisis, Joele Frank helps companies navigate new realities and unexpected circumstances. We help shape and implement effective communications strategies that are transparent and nimble enough to adapt to rapidly evolving situations. Indeed, in a crisis, a company is judged not only on the crisis itself, but also how it prepared, managed and communicated through the event.



KARV Communications

370 Lexington Ave., Suite 2001
New York, NY 10017
212/333-0275
www.karvcommunications.com

Andrew Frank, Founder and President
Eric Andrus, Executive Vice President

KARV Communications is a globally recognized strategic communications firm based in New York City, specializing in sophisticated corporate and financial communications, crisis and personal reputation management, litigation support and public affairs. The KARV philosophy is simple—we accomplish the goals set by our corporate, government and non-profit clients all over the world, through an extensive network and an unbiased approach to solving problems.

KARV is led by a team of talented professionals with wide-ranging global experience in a variety of industries: finance, media, energy, consumer goods and services, technology, healthcare, gaming, entertainment, government and non-profit sectors and more.

We offer clients the broad spectrum of relationships that we have cultivated over many years: legal, lobbying, financial advising, management consultancy, technology, risk management/business intelligence, and other in-house or outside advisors. Through these relationships, KARV brings a balanced and comprehensive approach to issues management and strategic counsel to our clients in high-stakes situations.

Many firms offer talent and experience; however, few offer talent, experience, and worldwide relationships. This is what sets KARV Communications apart as we deliver custom-tailored communications strategies to reach all critical stakeholders.



Kekst CNC

U.S. Headquarters
437 Madison Avenue, 37th Floor New York, NY 10022
212/521-4800
www.kekstcnc.com

Jeremy Fielding, Co-Chief Executive Officer
Bernhard Meising, Co-Chief Executive Officer

Many companies and institutions around the world will confront unforeseen events that may well alter their future, pose unprecedented challenges, and potentially define their reputation for years to come.

What is required in these circumstances is an expert, experienced strategic communications partner to work with senior management and a Board of Directors to develop and execute the necessary integrated communications strategies to gain the trust and confidence of key stakeholders in this era of accelerated change.

Kekst CNC is ideally equipped to help global business and institutional leaders address these challenges ... as well as their opportunities. For more than 50 years, our team of more than 250 experienced professionals, located in 15 offices around the world, has partnered with leading organizations of all sizes to: articulate new business strategies and a vision for success; explain an enterprise transforming event and its significance; help navigate complex business challenges or crises; build support among key stakeholders; and, work to strengthen and protect our clients’ credibility, reputation, and brand.

As trusted advisors, Kekst CNC’s professionals bring to client engagements high energy, sound judgment and expertise on such high stakes matters as: M&A, shareholder activism and governance, crisis communications, restructurings, regulatory investigations / resolutions, litigation support, complex investor relations, IPO communications, issues and reputation management, leadership transitions, employee engagement, as well as digital and social communications—providing exceptional counsel and execution supported by objective insights, based on access to proprietary research, data and analytics capabilities.



Lambert

47 Commerce Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616/233-0500

[email protected]
lambert.com/

Jeff Gaunt, Managing Director, Crisis & Reputation
Katie Barnes, Director, Crisis & Reputation

Lambert’s award-winning crisis & reputation team provides on-call crisis support, crisis communication planning and audits, crisis tabletop scenarios, media and crisis training and more to clients around the world. The Lambert team prides itself on serving as an extension of our clients’ leadership teams and in-house communications counsel. We have successfully helped our clients manage communications around a wide variety of crises and incidents, including national media investigations, class action lawsuits, regulatory enforcement actions, executive terminations, environmental disasters, bankruptcies, criminal cases and more.

We have extensive experience working with multinational and publicly traded companies, private equity firms, and sector leaders in industries including automotive, manufacturing, health care, consumer goods, education, non-profit, agriculture, energy, finance and more. We also have specialized experience in more complex legal and regulatory matters, including state and federal criminal cases, SEC investigations, and Superfund site remediation.



The Levinson Group (TLG)
 
New York
200 Park Avenue South, Suite 1218
New York, NY 10003

D.C.
655 15th Street NW, Suite 501
Washington, DC 20005

London
13 Norfolk Place
London W2 1QJ
c/o The Frontline Club

202/244-1785
www.TLGCommunications.com

The Levinson Group (TLG) is a full-service strategic communications and public relations firm with a global reach and impact, specializing in advising C-Suites, Boards of Directors, influential individuals, law firms, and other leaders in corporations, non-profits, and other organizations in their most mission-critical moments.

Since its founding in 2013, TLG has become well known for serving as a strategic partner and advisor in high stakes matters relating to corporate reputation and governance; government response and sensitive investigations; public affairs and issues management; crisis and risk management; litigation communications; and global financial communications including corporate restructuring, executive transitions, mergers, acquisitions, and other transitions. Headquartered in Washington, DC and New York, NY, the firm also has deep expertise?advising multiple Am Law 50 law firms.

Many of TLG’s team of expert communications advisors come from backgrounds in journalism, politics, government, and the private sector. The team specializes in creating and implementing targeted, always-on communications campaigns crafted to cultivate meaningful engagement with valued stakeholders. TLG’s expert team have emerged as industry leaders, securing recognition twice as the “Crisis Manager of the Year” from PR News, “Women to Watch” by PR Week, and “Top 100 Legal Strategists” by Lawdragon.

Chambers & Partners and National Law Journal ranked TLG among the top public relations and communications firms in the U.S., noting the firm’s proven track record in Crisis Management and Litigation Communications. TLG has also been recognized for its commitment to leading social impact programs and for its robust pro bono practice.



The Montgomery Strategies Group

2445 M St., NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20037
202/255-0737
www.tmsgr.com

Michael W. Robinson, Chairman & CEO, [email protected]

The Montgomery Strategies Group is a full-service agency with broad expertise in crisis and litigation communications, reputation management, public affairs and regulatory/legislative advocacy, financial communications and transactions, as well as marketing and brand awareness.

We draw on decades of collective experience as trusted counselors and strategists to public and private company C-suite executives, boards of directors, private equity investors, hedge fund managers, and trade association officials—with a team that includes former senior communications leaders from the SEC, The White House, Department of Justice, FINRA, NASDAQ, Capitol Hill, the Investment Company Institute (ICI), a host of Fortune 500 companies —T-Mobile, Lenovo, Honeywell, GE, Freddie Mac, and ExxonMobil among them—as well as a wide cross-section of global communications and marketing consultancies.

The breadth of our award-winning team includes expertise across all types of criminal and civil litigation, regulatory enforcement and policy actions, congressional and state AG investigations, and securing the legislative/regulatory approvals necessary to complete key corporate transactions. We provide proven depth in a number of industries and issues, with a particular focus on financial services, banking, and tax; healthcare and medical devices; consumer-facing industries and product recalls; data privacy, cyber breach, and technology policy; global trade and supply chain; and corporate governance.

We have teams and partners in: New York, Chicago, Boston, and London.



Montieth & Company

155th E 44th St, Suite 1610
New York, NY 10017
646/437-7602  
www.montiethco.com

Montieth M. Illingworth, CEO & Global Managing Partner

Perry Goldman, Senior Director, Professional Services, Crisis Management and Litigation PR
Katarina Matic, Senior Director, Marketing Communications, Issues Management and Public Affairs, Branding and Website Development
Becky Nye, Director, Financial Services
Cameron Penny, Director, EMEA
Joyce Lee, APAC Lead/Hong Kong

Montieth & Company is a global specialist communications consultancy that provides a fully integrated set of communications services and solutions that deliver high-value, measurable outcomes for organizations across sectors and global money and media markets.

We are recognized globally for our issues and crisis management, and litigation PR expertise which is provided throughout the world. This work includes crisis planning,j strategic counsel, media relations, and stakeholder communications support on the full range of civil and criminal matters from business disputes to regulatory and law enforcement actions. We have advised on many of the most high-profile, headline issues, crises, and court actions in the world. A list of representative crisis and litigation matters can be provided by emailing us at [email protected].

Our mission is to help our clients achieve influence, realize their ambitions, and solve their most critical problems. Central to our value-add is achieving outcomes in our issues, crisis and litigation counsel that protects the corporate reputation and, where relevant, supports key corporate initiatives. These range from expanding profitable market share to M&A, corporate competitions, management transitions, restructurings, commercial conflicts, government and community relations.  

Montieth & Company’s flexible, integrated, and budget-efficient cross-border business model enables us to reach multiple media markets via our global hubs in New York, London, and Hong Kong, and our affiliates around the globe.



The Next Solutions Group

230 Park Avenue
New York, NY
347/986-0327
www.TheNextSolutionsGroup.com

Ray Kerins, CEO (Former SVP of Corporate Affairs at Bayer and VP of Public Affairs/Communications at Pfizer)
Justin Blum, Managing Director of Content/Issues Management  (Former Sr. Editor at Bloomberg News and Reporter at The Washington Post)
Dan Childs, Managing Director of Global Media Relations (Former Dir. of External Communications at Bayer and Sr. Producer at ABC News)
Mike Harley, Managing Director of Business Intelligence (Former NSA and Military Intelligence)

Our senior team of professionals has a broad range of experience in business, government, and journalism. We have supported C-suite executives, top government officials, military, and non-profit leaders.

We protect and advance our clients’ reputation while ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. We support and coach executives and leaders in preparation for engagement with key audiences, including investors, employees, regulators, and journalists.  At a time when companies and their leaders are coming under relentless assault online, we monitor the clear, deep, and dark web to protect their safety and reputation.

We have represented multinational companies in sectors including healthcare, technology, consumer goods and financial services. Our senior leaders are engaged. We do the day-to-day work. Clients won’t get passed off to junior staff. We have engaged with companies that have been under investigations by various governmental agencies, including the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission. We have worked on class action lawsuits, executive issues/transitions, corporate layoffs, anti-corporate activism, and cyber/ransomware attacks. Our work has also included M&A, regulatory and product issues such as recalls.



Padilla

1101 West River Parkway
Suite 400 (Headquarters)
Minneapolis, MN 55415
612/455-1700
PadillaCo.com

Chris Werle, Senior Vice President
24-hour emergency hotline
(1-877/PR ER 911)

Crises can come from any direction, and each one represents a moment of truth for your brand and your reputation. Fortunately, the Crisis Communications + Critical Issues Management Team at Padilla can guide you from pre-crisis event preparation to crisis and critical issues event support. We help our clients perform at their absolute best on their very worst day by showing them how to maintain control in the midst of chaos.

That work begins before the crisis strikes. First we help our clients measure their level of preparedness with our Crisis IQ methodology. Based on that analysis, we develop plans and programming to address and mitigate the primary threats facing the business and simulations designed to stress test an organization’s crisis preparedness.

Padilla is a full-service agency that transforms brands and organizations through strategically creative communications. Our work across a range of industry sectors is consistently recognized by industry partners such as PRWeek Awards, PRovoke IN2 SABRE Awards and PRSA Anvil Awards, among others. Padilla operates in seven cities in the U.S. through its family of brands, which includes, SHIFT, FoodMinds, and Joe Smith. As an AVENIR GLOBAL company and a founding member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the agency provides services to clients through 155 offices worldwide. Transform with purpose at?PadillaCo.com.



Peppercomm

470 Park Ave. South, 5th Fl., North
New York, NY 10016
212/931-6100
[email protected]
www.peppercomm.com
 
Steve Cody, CEO and Founder
Ann Barlow, EVP & President, West Coast
Jacqueline Kolek, EVP & Chief Innovation Officer
Maggie O’Neill, EVP & Chief Client Officer
Tara Lilien, Chief Talent Officer
 
Peppercomm is an award-winning strategic, integrated communications and marketing agency headquartered in New York City with office in San Francisco, London and Singapore. Acquired by Ruder Finn following 27 years of expertise serving blue chip and breakout clients, the agency has guided countless clients through a wide variety of issues and crises, managing corporate reputation on an ongoing basis. Experience includes “traditional” crises (consumer product recalls, social media crises, class action lawsuits, professional sports drug scandals, food contamination, pandemic-related issues) and more importantly, today,helping brands and leaders respond to societal controversies that matter. Increasingly, all stakeholders — from consumers and businesses to employees and community members — want to work with, for, and alongside brands that align with their values. But far too often, brands either ignore issues that their stakeholders care about, or make empty statements backed by no action or investment. Brands need a new playbook for determining if, when, and how to respond to societal issues. Peppercomm recently launched its new issues and crisis communications solution, RepCompass, that guides organizations through the development of an issues response framework aligned to their unique values and stakeholders, and successfully prepares for those critical moments when they have an opportunity to speak out (or not). Visit www.peppercomm.com or find us at @Peppercomm.



Reevemark

521 Fifth Ave., 27th Flr.
New York, NY 10175
212/433-4600
[email protected]
www.reevemark.com
Follow Reevemark on LinkedIn and Twitter.
 
Brandy Bergman, CEO & Founding Partner
Hugh Burns, Paul Caminiti, Delia Cannan, Renée Soto, Founding Partners
 
We are strategic communications specialists trusted by clients to advise leadership on navigating complex situations. Founded by five established practitioners of public and investor relations, Reevemark delivers big-firm expertise in a boutique package.  We provide direct and insightful counsel, develop top-quality written and digital content, and engage with key stakeholders, including the media and investors. We created Reevemark to focus on what really matters—delivering favorable outcomes for our clients.

Our practice areas include litigation support, crisis communications, bankruptcies and restructurings, shareholder activism and corporate governance, transactions, investor relations and corporate positioning programs, and reputational matters.

Reevemark has been recognized by Chambers and Partners for litigation support and crisis communications, The Deal as top global bankruptcy communications advisor, Bloomberg as a top ten global shareholder activism defense advisor and Business Insider for crisis and financial communications.

Clients Include: AIG, Bausch + Lomb. BigBear.ai, Carronade Capital, H.I.G. Capital, INNOVATE Corp., Sanderson Farms and The Children’s Place.



Sitrick and Company

800/288-8809
www.sitrick.com
Los Angeles: 310/788-2850
New York: 212/573-6100
San Francisco: 415/999-9634
Denver: 720/904-8560
Washington, D.C.: 443/977-7215
Boston: 617/897-0326

Michael S. Sitrick, Chairman and CEO

Less important than what you say about yourself is what others say about you.

• The New York Times: “The City’s Most Prominent Crisis-Management Firm.”

• Forbes: “The crew from the television magazine is banging on your door.  You can have the security guard throw them out and know they’ll trash you.  Or you can sit down with them and figure that out of the hour you give them, they’ll use only 40 seconds on air.  And those 40 seconds will make you look very guilty.   Better solution, call Mike Sitrick.”

• BusinessWeek: That’s unbelievable. This is the heavy artillery.”  Quote is from the CEO of one of the largest PR firms in the world, after learning we were brought in on the other side of a contentious matter in which his firm was involved.

Since our firm’s founding 31 years ago, we have been consistently ranked among the top crisis and strategic communications firm in the nation.

The majority of the firm’s senior executives are former editors and reporters from news organizations that include the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Bloomberg, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, CBS News and NBC News. We also have former practicing attorneys and business executives.

Matters with which we have been involved include litigation support of all kinds; intellectual property matters, allegations of stock manipulation, wrongful termination, contract disputes, allegations of fraud and fraudulent inducement, wrongful death claims, allegations of illegal drug use, SEC matters, and a variety of other white-collar crimes.  We have also handled criminal and civil cases against companies and their executives for such things as price fixing, insurance fraud, options backdating, antitrust violations, race and sex discrimination, sexual harassment, racism and #MeToo matters.  We have a significant data breach, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance practice and have done extensive work combatting short sellers. Other issues include sensitive environmental matters, racketeering cases, family disputes, and high-profile divorces, reputation management and reputational positioning.  We have also been involved in helping to launch such firms as Oaktree Capital.

Offices are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston and Washington, D.C., though we have handled cases all over the world.

For additional information including clients for whom our work was public and additional media comments about our firm see: www.sitrick.com.



Sloane & Company

One World Trade Center
285 Fulton Street, 69th Floor
New York, NY 10007
212/486-9500
Fax: 212/486-9094
[email protected]

Darren Brandt, Whit Clay, Co-CEOs
John Hartz, President
TJ White, Managing Director and Head of Special Situations

Sloane & Company is an industry-leading strategic communications firm that provides a range of crisis-focused services around situations including: shareholder activism; litigation; unforeseen management changes; Board issues; employee issues; cybersecurity; natural disasters; product integrity; regulatory and legislative issues; bankruptcies / restructurings; environmental issues; and corporate governance. More broadly, we provide strategic counsel and support around corporate and financial public relations; transactions; strategic insights; messaging, analytics and measurement; public affairs; and investor relations—to public and private companies as well as investors, associations and individuals.

We are experts at assisting clients when unforeseen events threaten to impact their business or damage their reputation. We are known for our intelligence, intensity, creativity and focus on getting results. Whether the situation calls for developing and delivering the right messages to the audiences that matter or advising on high-stakes deals or crises, our goal is the same—to drive winning outcomes for our clients.

We have become a go-to firm when these crises and special situations occur by listening to our clients, understanding the situation, determining the risks to their business and delivering candid advice to management teams, boards, executives and organizations when they need it most. Clients have the benefit of working with senior executives with decades of experience who offer professional counsel in all phases of crisis planning and response, leading to immediate results.

Beyond specific crisis situations, we develop effective and actionable contingency plans in close coordination with a client’s legal, financial, marketing, communications and government relations/lobbying advisors. Our approach provides best-practices and enhances client procedures and appropriate training of personnel before and during a crisis. When the unexpected happens, we actively manage and support implementing the appropriate communications tactics. After the crisis subsides, we help clients restore their credibility and reputation in the marketplace.



Stanton

909 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10022
212/366-5300
[email protected]
www.stantonprm.com

Alex Stanton, CEO
Tom Faust, Charlyn Lusk, Managing Directors
Liam Collopy, Matthew Conroy, Michael Goodwin, Scott Lessne, Katrin Lieberwirth, Sr. VPs

Stanton provides a full range of senior-level counsel to protect corporate reputations before, during and after a crisis hits, when critical issues arise, and through major transitions. Our expertise helps clients prevent crises through thoughtful planning and oversight. In the event a crisis does occur, we help contain the situation by managing media coverage and executing proactive communications to offset reputational damage and repair relationships with key constituents.

Stanton works with senior leadership teams, corporate task forces, outside counsel and other advisors to develop comprehensive communications strategies that ensure our clients are fully prepared. We apply our decades of experience to create the right strategy and put the right support behind it to control the narrative from the start and stay focused on your priorities. Our experience spans a variety of situations including corporate litigation, cybersecurity, bankruptcy and restructuring, executive changes, consumer and special interest boycotts, workplace violence, manufacturing plan issues, employee misconduct, financial improprieties, environmental issues, product tampering and many others. Stanton’s efforts help clients minimize negative attention and prevent escalation of vulnerabilities during crisis situations. That’s why you’ve never heard of some of our best crisis work.

Clients include: Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, Bain Capital, Bob’s Furniture, Carl Marks Advisors, CityMD, CVC, HGGC, Immediation, Makena Capital, Sun Capital Partners and Winston & Strawn.



Taylor

1540 Broadway, 40th Flr.
New York, NY 10036
212/714-1280
Fax: 212/695-5685
www.taylorstrategy.com

Tony Signore, CEO & Managing Partner
Bryan Harris, COO & Managing Partner
John Liporace, Mike Costabile, Managing Partners
Maeve Hagen, President

Taylor has a history as a values-led organization and is sharpening its focus as a purpose-led marketing communications agency.

As “Shapers of Possibility” we help the world’s leading brands lean into the edge of their purpose to unlock opportunities for growth.

We create platforms, experiences and moments that open the door to meaningful engagements.

Our heritage in public relations and deep sports & entertainment expertise fuels breakthrough creativity across the entire media ecosystem.

Impactful insights, intentional strategy, imaginative creative and influential engagement shape possibilities for our client partners.

We live our values every day, we walk the walk. From publicly available diversity data to pro-bono partnerships, we ensure access and opportunity for underrepresented communities.

Our diversity of thought is a tremendous asset and our people provide a unique edge in shaping the world we want to live in and the mark we want to leave behind.

Clients include: AIG, Capital One, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Diageo, Gillette, Guinness, Panini America, P&G, Red Bull, Samsung, Secret, Smirnoff, Tide, UNCF and World Athletics.



Tierney

Headquarters 
1700 Market Street, 29th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215/790-4100 
hellotierney.com/about

Mary Stengel Austen, Chief Executive Officer
Tim Spreitzer, Executive Vice President  

Tierney is an award winning, Philadelphia-based full-service marketing and communications agency, providing strategy, content, PR, media, creative and digital services. We are owned by The Interpublic Group (IPG), giving us access to a global network, unmatched media clout and industry-leading research and analytic tools.

Our public relations team includes 30+ practitioners; we’re fully stocked with strategic thinkers who represent a variety of backgrounds and experience in consumer, B2B and crisis/issues management, across all industries—together, we can tackle just about any communications challenge.

When it comes to reputation management and crisis communications, we understand the importance of helping organizations navigate some of their most challenging moments. For decades, our reputation management team has provided strategic counsel on the most sensitive issues. Our goal is to help our clients proactively assess their vulnerabilities, design plans to effectively prepare and manage a crisis and create solutions to avoid future crises. From crisis prevention and detection to 24-hour on-call support and robust material development, we cover the whole scope of the crisis world, with an approach that evolves as constantly as consumer and media landscapes.

But, don’t take our word for it; talk to our references. Visit hellotierney.com to learn more.

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