Years after a crisis has passed, the public still remembers it. While some companies crumble in the wake of disaster, others grow stronger as a result of the way they reacted. Understanding the common causes of crisis and best practices for responding can help in-house counsel guide a company through the minefield of media and public scrutiny that follows a catastrophe.
In-house lawyers must be attuned to the various kinds of disasters that can befall their companies. These vary by industry but can include catastrophic accidents, product malfunctions or recalls, discharge of hazardous chemicals, governmental investigations, employee disclosures or whistle-blowing, legal or regulatory actions, and discovery of serious internal problems requiring disclosure.
