LITIGATION SUPPORT BACKGROUND

During the course of my work as lead public relations for an aviation client, I had the pleasure of working closely with the principals of a variety of law firms in the U.S. Much of the specific information about the work and details are privileged, however, I am able to characterize what I did in my role working with the attorneys on the team.

With a nationally known media training expert, I helped train several attorneys who would or may serve in a spokesperson capacity on behalf of the client. The media training session (and subsequent refreshers) focused on message, how to field questions that were beyond the purview of the attorneys’ expertise, how to return to the main message from hostile or off-subject questioning, specific techniques including gesturing, eye contact, “bridging” from the question to another subject, controlling a press conference, and addressed the question of going “off the record.”

The lead legal counsel generally serves as primary spokesman for the client in all media inquiries. In addition to the media training, my role included participating in media and legal strategy development, as well as message development in daily teleconferences with the client.

I also helped maintain a public sensitivity to the messages being communicated by attorneys to the public via the news media, story placement with national and local media, developing talking points, preparing the spokesman for interviews (who is the reporter, what publication/TV station, and what is their main area of interest), participating in all interviews with the spokesman (whether by telephone or in person), and reviewing and critiquing the interview with the spokesman and client following the interview.

In addition to the above, I’ve worked with attorneys or law firms on story development and placements with national legal trade publications, such as Law Journal, ABA Journal, Lawyers Weekly and other outlets.

Finally, for several years I worked as legislative aide to several state representatives in the Illinois General Assembly, which provided a unique perspective on the creation of legislation.

I would be happy to discuss my work and how your firm can benefit from it.

James M. Grandone

(618) 692-1892

grandone@charter.net