Dewey hires Paris Hilton's PR man to fight negative press
Dewey & LeBoeuf has turned to one of the biggest names in crisis management to help it deal with bad publicity surrounding its financial health.
Michael Sitrick
Described by Forbes magazine as the ‘Flack For When You’re Under’, Michael Sitrick is expected to quieten the media storm after a wave of partner exits - 30 since the beginning of the year - put Dewey in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Since writing his book Spin: How to Turn the Power of the Press to your Advantage, Sitrick has acted for a number of companies and celebrities under extreme media scrutiny. He was hired by former Hewlett-Packard chairman Patricia Dunn following a boardroom spying scandal, by controversial R&B singer Chris Brown after his alleged assault on then girlfriend Rihanna, by New York socialite Paris Hilton after she spent time in jail, and by NFL quarterback Michael Vick after he was implicated in an illegal dog-fighting ring.
Since the partner exodus Dewey has been fighting negative headlines, with recent captions including ‘Do We Stay? Flee the Sinking Law Firm’, ‘The Struggles at Dewey & LeBouef Continue’, ‘Nationwide Layoff Watch’ and ‘Lean Times for Dewey and LeBoeuf’.
Earlier this month a spokesperson for the firm denied that it had deferred any profit payments (8 March 2012) following an article in the Daily Journal that claimed that the firm had suspended payments in order to build up a strong cash base.
Sitrick told The Lawyer: “I’ve worked with Dewey on a number of projects for mutual clients over the years and have a lot of friends there.”
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Readers' comments (11)
Backfire | 23-Mar-2012 3:21 pm
When the spin doctor has become part of the story it is already time for them to leave the show.
(And frankly, this guy's presence simply alerts everyone to the fact that Dewey clearly does have a problem.)
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Irony Overdrive | 23-Mar-2012 4:00 pm
As "Backfire" has pointed out, the mere presence of someone who is famous himself for only being hired when the proverbial has already passed through the fan and is plastered all over the walls seems counterintuitive. It just adds to the panic.
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Anonymous | 23-Mar-2012 4:03 pm
Is this the new Howrey?
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Kaiser Soze | 23-Mar-2012 4:15 pm
I agree; when the PR person becomes the story then far from sending a reassuring message that things are being dealt with, it looks like a blame the press and hide the truth strategy.
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Anon | 23-Mar-2012 4:55 pm
SJ Berwin and Dewey should merge, they have a lot in common.
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Backfire (2nd barrel) | 23-Mar-2012 4:57 pm
I'd also suggest that anyone who holds themselves out as a sophisticated PR operative, but then talks to the press on the record about his supposedly behind the scenes role there, is perhaps not that sophisticated.
So much for being a PR ninja, more like a PR Mr Bean.
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Anonymous | 23-Mar-2012 11:34 pm
Halliwells did this shortly before they went under.
Sitrick is no doubt getting some free self-publicity into the bargain - it's what he does, after all.
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Anonymous | 26-Mar-2012 9:37 am
If I can make an alternative remark on the press, The Lawyer should have said where those 'captions' were seen. The New York Times is a household name, but there is no justification provdied for the selection of the other sources except the implied one of substantiating the claim that Dewey is the subject of negative headlines. If that is true, then why such a ragtag bag of blogs, lesser known trade journals, etc?
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Anonymous | 26-Mar-2012 9:44 am
The article starts off well, with the firm's name. But its downhill then on - an awful lot of negative words none about Dewey but now linked. Is that what Ninja Spin looks like?
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Anonymous | 26-Mar-2012 2:49 pm
The story is already out of date. With today's announcements, there's now 40 who have left this year. Today's lot included 20 and 30 year veterans, a head of a practice area and a head of an office. Unlikely they're all under performers, so the only conclusions is that the Ship Be Sinking and as many as possible are scrambling for life preservers before it goes James Cameron.
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