In this internet-driven world, the reputation of an attorney and their law firm is one of the most important factors to consider. A good reputation can lead to more business, but bad ones can cost clients and companies dearly.
An experienced lawyer specializing in reputation management can help. This practice involves monitoring reviews and ratings, and addressing any negative comments or reviews.
Expertise in a Specific Area of Law
Few professions rely on the trust and confidence of their clients more than attorneys do. But maintaining a positive reputation isn’t easy, and it can be destroyed in an instant.
Whether it’s an article in the press, a negative online review, or even a Facebook post from a disgruntled client, bad publicity can have devastating effects on an attorney’s business. This is where an experienced lawyer specializing in reputation management can help.
Carter-Ruck’s renowned reputation department has been involved in a range of high-profile phone hacking cases and advises on defamation, privacy and breach of confidentiality claims for public figures, celebrities and high net worth individuals. It also handles sensitive crisis situations and offers pre-publication advice to media organisations. This makes it an excellent choice for both claimants and defendants. Its reputation is built on its deep understanding of the law and its impact on people’s lives. This helps clients make confident decisions about their case and build trust with the firm.
Experience with Cases Similar to Yours
In an age of social media and increased connectivity, fans and customers can be brought closer to brands and celebrities, but this also means that private or confidential information could find its way into the public domain. This can have devastating effects for both individuals and businesses, with reputations taking years to build and being destroyed in an instant.
Reputation management is not a new practice for many firms, but it can still be a daunting task for the client, as a good or bad reputation may have repercussions that go well beyond a simple blemish on Google. Experienced lawyers will have handled cases similar to yours before and have the skills needed to get you through a tough time.
Avoiding Mistakes
Few professionals know the value of reputation management more than attorneys. They often have a significant stake in their clients’ reputations, and the issues at hand can be life-changing. Thousands, even millions, of dollars and someone’s freedom or reputation can be at risk in these cases.
In these situations, it’s important to avoid making any mistakes that could damage your client’s reputation further. This includes speaking with the media without taking a defensive tone, providing an explanation for any lapses in service (but not excusing them), or releasing confidential information to the media.
In addition, it’s important to be brief when responding to the media. It can be tempting to write a long statement full of legalese, but that can actually make things worse in the short term. Instead, provide a simple and straightforward explanation to the media to help minimize the damage. Then, focus on what you can do moving forward. This can help the media to move on and stop focusing on what you might have done wrong.
Having a Strong Case
With greater connectivity and a more global audience, brands, celebrities, public figures and others face more threats to their reputations than ever before. This can include everything from a negative newspaper article to a disgruntled customer review on social media. It is important for them to act quickly to limit the damage and reduce the risk of lengthy legal disputes.
A lawyer who specializes in reputation management can offer invaluable support and advice when it comes to protecting a client’s image. They will have experience with high-profile defamation and privacy matters and will be able to provide valuable advice on sensitive crisis situations. They will also be able to advise on pre-publication issues such as phone hacking, harassment and Data Protection Act breaches. Carter-Ruck’s acclaimed practice is regularly involved in high-profile libel and privacy claims for a variety of claimants including politicians, sports stars and prominent business people.