Reputation Management

A business’ reputation is often one of its most valuable assets but as a number of recent high profile examples demonstrate reputation is fragile and reputational damage can strike without warning and leave an indelible mark on the brand of the business causing significant long-term loss of value.

Damage to reputation can arise from a range of issues as diverse as social media use, product recalls, sensitive litigation, data security, regulatory investigations and criminal actions by directors and concerns over potential losses from reputation damage now very often exceed concerns over financial performance.  

We understand these concerns and we deliver a reputation management solution which reduces risk exposure through the identification of critical reputational risks and the development and early implementation of a bespoke reputation risk management strategy.  

We assemble multidisciplinary teams of our industry leading experts who work closely with clients to ensure they are prepared to immediately and effectively deploy this tailored strategy.  This typically involves the identification of a crisis management hierarchy, the appointment of emergency response teams, the delivery of training and the conducting of trial runs.  

If a reputational crisis strikes we work with management to oversee the implementation of the strategy, contain the damage as quickly as possible and advise on critical time sensitive legal requirements such as market announcements, regulatory notifications and law enforcement reporting.  

Once the crisis has subsided we advise on the implementation of change in the business to restore value and ensure the risk of a repeat crisis is minimised.

Reputational challenges can strike at any time and the interconnected nature of the modern business environment means the consequences of unsuccessfully dealing with these challenges can be severe, long lasting and potentially irreversible.  A reputational crisis will very often require businesses and individuals to navigate critical reputational challenges of which they have no prior experience.  We have helped many individual and corporate clients prepare for and successfully meet these challenges and whatever the reputational crisis our clients face we have the skills and experience to help.

Recent examples of our work in this area include advice in connection with:

  • an emergency, large-scale, multinational recall of a potentially hazardous food product 
  • defamation proceedings on behalf of both broadcasters and print media and individual clients
  • adverse publicity on social and print media
  • appearances by current and former executives of regulated financial institutions at public hearings of parliamentary committees
  • litigation readiness techniques such as the development and implementation of systems for the preservation and subsequent identification, collation and reproduction of large volumes of sensitive confidential data
  • responses to breaches of data protection law and managing and defending prosecutions of clients by the Data Protection Commissioner
  • a large financial institution’s interactions with a parliamentary banking inquiry
  • inspections, investigations and enforcement actions by the Central Bank of Ireland
  • the establishment and operation of a highly confidential internal investigation into alleged criminal staff misconduct on behalf of a global software provider which involved the carrying out of sensitive interviews, the provision of advice in relation to disciplinary actions against senior employees and compliance with statutory law enforcement notification requirements
  • clients encountering financial stress which threatens the viability or survival of their business
  • investigations of listed companies by the Takeover Panel 
  • trademark and patent infringements by competitors 
  • cartel investigations by the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (formerly the Competition Authority)
  • a landmark Supreme Court appeal overturning the judgment of the High Court granting damages for wrongful dismissal

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Key Contacts

Garrett Breen Partner

Fiona Barry Partner

Derek Hegarty Partner

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