Smart Law Firms Treat Crisis Response as a Leadership Moment, Published in the New York Law Journal

In an article published on February 6 in the New York Law Journal, Segal McCambridge Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Jennifer O'Donnell is quoted and emphasizes that crisis readiness is a measure of credibility and disciplined communication helps firms lead with authority when clients and media are watching. A firm’s response presents a leadership moment where the first hours and days can either stabilize trust or compound reputational damage.

Modern crises encompass a range of issues, from data breaches and partner controversies to rapid misinformation surges, with AI-driven deepfakes posing an increasingly significant risk. The firms that perform the best prepare a clear crisis plan well in advance that defines roles, a designated spokesperson, internal alignment, and a disciplined cadence for accurate updates so stakeholders hear one clear message.

“Our team knows that we must be expedient in our reply, but also diligent with our follow-up communications and the expectations we set,” says O’Donnell. “Having a policy or a plan in place is important so that we know how we’ll communicate, who is responsible for speaking to the public, and what our message is. Consistency in our response doesn’t just protect our reputation; it strengthens it, and cements our role as a trusted industry leader.”

Read the story in full, click here (subscriber-based).