In today’s world of around-the-clock global news and social media coverage, stories of corporate misconduct often take center stage. These stories not only capture headlines but also shape public opinion about the companies involved. And once news of an investigation into corporate misconduct becomes public, regulators, law enforcement, shareholders, and customers expect swift responses.

When crafting such responses, companies typically (and should) turn first to their lawyers for help navigating legal issues in connection with impending investigations. But companies also frequently engage public relations and crisis management firms (PR firms) to help them deal with the negative publicity. When coordinating a company’s response to allegations of misconduct, the company’s lawyers often speak to its PR firm about legal strategy and risk.