The Intersection: Where the Court of Public Opinion and the Court of Law Collide

Mike and Sallie speak this week with global co-head of International Arbitration and Trade at Sidley Austin and co-managing partner of the firm's Singapore office, Tai Heng Cheng. Tai is recognized on multiple continents as a cutting-edge talent at only 47 years old. Tai shares his origins, growing up in Singapore before going to Oxford and then to Yale for law. He worked as a legal adviser to the Singapore police and ironically as a law teacher because he wasn’t licensed to practice there. Eventually, he made his way back to the US and private practices.Among the cases he discusses is a hack by North Korea’s Lazarus Group that drained $100 million dollars from the Bank of Bangladesh. Tai discusses the difficulties of taking on a case already in the media, how that affects the handling of media strategy going forward, and how he and Mike worked together to bridge the gap.Tai also discusses trying to expedite credit from a failing energy company. Tai talks about his presence on Tik Tok and how he uses social media to promote his work to the next generation. About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The Intersection, Matt Feldman joins Mike Sitrick and Sallie Hoffmeister to explore the powerful intersection of law, politics, and public opinion. We’re getting into how PR can be more important to a client than the outcome in a court of law, and how PR strategy can shape the narrative—especially when high-profile individuals come under legal scrutiny.Matt shares insights from the 1992 case of Donald Trump’s bankruptcy, where the future president focused heavily on PR strategy and swaying public opinion, rather than the financial details of the case itself. He also discusses how the governor of Hawaii set a precedent during the Maui wildfires by attempting to reduce the blame placed on companies like Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric—an approach that has significant implications for the recent wildfires in California.The conversation extends to recent crypto cases, including FTX, where managing public messaging becomes crucial. Matt also reveals how he works with clients to control the narrative, including efforts to prevent certain clients from making damaging public statements on social media. His advice on dealing with the media during high-stakes litigation? “Know who are going to be your friends and who are going to be your enemies.”Matt Feldman, Chairman of the Executive Committee at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, brings over 30 years of legal experience, representing both buyers and sellers of assets in bankruptcies totaling more than $100 billion. In 2009, he served as chief legal advisor to the Obama Administration’s task force for restructuring the auto industry.This episode explores public opinion, PR strategy, politicians in legal cases, politics and the law, Donald Trump, wildfires in California, crypto cases, PR strategies in litigation, public opinion, Legal media strategies,  and public relations in Law.About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick, specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Schiller steps onto the Intersection with Mike Sitrick and Sallie Hoffmeister this week to talk all about the media’s impact on high-profile cases. From representing the estate of George Carlin in an intellectual property dispute over his voice being used for AI content, and the problems posed when his voice is misappropriated. Josh also talks about how he informed the press and brought pressure on the Boy Scouts of America as part of a 2015 case to change a policy discriminating against the employment of any openly LGBTQ adults.Media’s impact on high-profile cases can influence outcomes and sway public opinion, The Intersection explores where this influence occurs and how you can win in the court of law and the court of public opinion. Beyond his experience in litigation, Josh tells us about his inspiration from his grandmother to get into law when she told him  “a fundamental education in law would open doors in any direction.” Josh is a partner in the San Francisco and New York offices of Boies Schiller Flexner. Josh has experience working in intellectual property law, securities, antitrust, entertainment, First Amendment, art and music law, civil rights, bankruptcy, and restructuring.This episode is about media influence on legal outcomes, media's impact on high-profile cases, George Carlin, The Boy Scouts of America, LGBTQ rights, public opinion, PR strategy, legal media strategies, pr strategies in litigation and public relations in law. About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode features Lance Etcheverry, a partner in the San Jose office of Skadden, Arps, and superstar intellectual property law litigator. He’s here to talk about intellectual property disputes, how to handle them in the courtroom, and the court of public opinion.Lance reminisces about cases he has worked on with Sitrick And Company and shares a few lessons he has working on cases that include a high-stakes spyware case, where protecting the company’s reputation was a top priority. PR strategy was essential to sway public opinion to continue to trust the company.While as a litigator the audience is the judge or jury, the client is more focused on a broad audience of public opinion and media influence. This can shape how lawyers present their crisis communications and pr strategies in litigation.He’ll get into dealing with tech company competition and trade secret theft. Plus, some of his favorite cases, from working with the Walt Disney Company regarding the rights to Winnie the Pooh to a massive 137-count federal indictment for healthcare fraud in Las Vegas.Lance Etcheverry is a graduate of Berkley Law School and has been named one of the Top 20 under-40 lawyers in California. He’s often dealing in corporate law or intellectual property disputes. Lance has secured more than $2.5 billion for his clients on the plaintiff side and absolved his clients of liabilities in excess of $1 trillion on the defense side. Some of his former clients include Hyundai, Kia Motors, and Samsung Electronics.This episode of The Intersection: Where the Court of Public Opinion and the Court of Law Collide is about: intellectual property disputes, intellectual property law, legal rights to Winnie the Pooh, tech law, trade secrets,  media influence on legal outcomes, legal media strategies, and crisis communication.About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we welcome criminal lawyer Lazar Raynal, a partner at King & Spalding in Chicago. With an extensive criminal law background, Lazar is an expert in matters involving patent infringement, breach of contract, and fraud. He has led numerous internal investigations for clients in response to governmental investigations and civil lawsuits. And today, he’s here to share his tips on dealing with reporters without getting burned.As we know, in the court of public opinion, lawyers have to deal with the media influence on legal outcomes. That means having a good PR strategy up your sleeve, and the skills to handle reporters.Lazar recounts his representation of actress and heiress Liesel Pritzker, who filed $6 billion lawsuit against her father and cousins, claiming they had misappropriated money from trusts. The victory of this lawsuit led to the breakup of the family’s Hyatt hotel empire. The media played a big part in this case, and Lazar discusses how to determine whether a reporter is trustworthy and what it means to be a reporter in the modern age.“What is a reporter today? Is it a person who's got a podcast? Is it a person who's got a blog? In the tech space, which I work a lot in, there are all kinds of industry publications, and so it's not really clear who you can trust or not trust, or are they even trained reporters and do they follow those rules?”Lazar also shares the lessons he’s learned from Mike Sitrick, who worked with him on the Pritzker case early in his career: how the absence of a statement can be perceived as an indictment, and give clients a reality check when they have unrealistic expectations about the court of law and court of public opinion.  __This episode of The Intersection: Where the Court of Public Opinion and the Court of Law Collide is about: PR strategies in litigation, the Liesel Pritzker lawsuit, media influence on legal outcomes, legal media strategies, and reporters.About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Michael Sitrick and Sallie Hofmeister sit down with Jonathan K. Waldrop, Chair of Kasowitz Benson Torres’ Intellectual Property group to talk tech law, PR strategy, and of course, the TikTok Ban. They'll discuss Jonathan’s upbringing in Birmingham, Alabama, and how he became involved in patent law. They also talk about the challenges of explaining technical issues to the media and how that can affect how the story is presented to the public, using the recent controversial TikTok ban as an example."One of the things we try to do is we get really good professionals who are really good in the communication space, particularly depending on how important the issue is, to make sure that we are describing it in a way that is effective. A lot of times lawyers think they're being effective, but they're not. And so, we get help from outsiders. We talk to people who are smart like Mike Sitrick, like you guys, about making sure that we are fully delivering the story correctly, and we stay after it.”Jonathan Waldrop is regularly recognized by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, IAM Patent 1000, IP Stars, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers, Jonathan represents leading companies in patent and trademark litigation involving interactive web, video-on-demand, and cable technologies, computer-assisted sales processes, medical devices, gaming systems and complex financial transactions. His clients include Google, LG, ASUS, Uber, and Adobe.This episode of The Intersection: Where the Court of Public Opinion and the Court of Law Collide is about: the TikTok Ban, PR strategies in litigation, media influence on legal outcomes, crisis communication.About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legendary trial attorney James Brosnahan joins Michael Sitrick and Sallie Hofmeister to explore where legal battles collide with media narratives. Brosnahan shares insights on the rise of social media and the legal media strategies in cases he has worked on over the years with Sitrick And Company. We'll get behind some of his most controversial cases—from defending Patty Dunn in the HP pretexting scandal to representing Henry Nicholas amid allegations of Broadcom securities fraud.“How did I become a lawyer? In the end of my sophomore year at Boston College, we watched the Army-McCarthy hearings… This lawyer Mr. Welch leaned across the table, and he said, ‘Have you no shame?’ He was talking truth to power, and I thought that looked neat. I liked that right away. I want to do — is that what you do? Is that what lawyers do? I want to stand up there and just tell people off. Whatever was wrong with me, that's what I wanted to do.”James Brosnahan unpacks how media influences legal outcomes, the role of crisis communication in law, and how public opinion can shift a case’s trajectory. He also reflects on the evolution of legal crisis management, offering insights into how attorneys can navigate both the courtroom and the press to protect their clients’ reputations.As a lawyer, lecturer, and author, Jim Brosnahan has been a consistent influence on California trial law for the better half of a century. Considered to be one of the top 30 trial lawyers in the US by the Legal 500 US, Jim has tried 150 cases and literally wrote the book for California lawyers with his “Trial Handbook for California Lawyers,” published in 1974. He has received countless awards and recognition over a 60-year career, the last 50 spent at Morrison Foerster, currently as Senior Trial Counsel.This episode is about the James Brosnahan, Hewlett Packard spy scandals, alleged Broadcom fraud, media influence on legal outcomes, public relations in law, public opinion, PR strategies in litigation, and crisis management. About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Intersection, Patricia Glaser joins Mike Sitrick to break down the explosive Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni case—one of the biggest legal battles in Hollywood where PR strategy, public opinion, and legal media strategies are at play. As the case dominates headlines and social media, lawyers, PR strategists and even fans  are weighing in on how media influence on legal outcomes is shaping its trajectory.Glaser offers expert insight into what went wrong, analyzing the PR and legal mistakes made by both parties. She zeros in on  how things could have been handled differently to mitigate reputational damage.Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment and a smear campaign during the production of It Ends With Us, citing a hostile work environment. Baldoni responded with a $400 million defamation and extortion countersuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist. The feud escalated with leaked texts, PR battles, and a denied gag order request, further fueling the court of public opinion. As the case continues, it leaves both reputations in turmoil.“I don't think there's necessarily a relationship between really good, effective media, and effective litigation, 'cause I think a lot of lawyers, unfortunately more than ever, are using the media to extort big settlements. Allegations have become evidence. And when you believe the allegations,  then you have to have a Mike or somebody akin to a Mike to counter that because it's horrible stuff.”Patricia Glaser is one of the most sought-after litigation lawyers in the country – and for good reason. As partner and head of the litigation department at the law firm Glaser Weil in Los Angeles, she’s seen more than her fair share of controversy. Her list of clients includes Fortune 500 companies, major studios, real estate investors and developers, financial institutions, and high-profile entertainers and public figures. This episode explores: the Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni case, PR strategy, media influence on legal cases, litigation, crisis management in PR and crisis management in law.About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Intersection, Jeffrey Kessler, one of the world’s leading sports attorneys and co-executive chairman of Winston & Strawn, joins Mike Sitrick and Sallie Hofmeister to discuss the power of PR strategy in litigation, and the impact of media influence on legal outcomes. He shares his firsthand experience with high-stakes cases, including the NCAA v. Alston case and major NFL disputes—revealing how media coverage helped shape their direction.Kessler will lay out the details of his landmark Supreme Court win in NCAA v. Alston, which reshaped college athlete compensation and led to the historic NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) settlement. He also reflects on representing the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team in their equal pay lawsuit, explaining how a carefully orchestrated media strategy turned public sentiment into legal leverage.“As lawyers, we sometimes have to take hard cases that are controversial. Not everybody's going to love you for it. You may be attacked for it. But it's part of what our profession requires.” – Jeffrey KesslerFrom representing Tom Brady in Deflate-Gate and leading the lawsuit that resulted in the 2011 NFL lockout to fighting for college athletes’ compensation rights and defending Ray Rice after his career-ending suspension, Kessler has handled some of the most controversial sports cases of our time. But beyond the courtroom, he’s seen firsthand how legal media strategies shape public narratives—and why controlling the story is just as important as winning the case. As co-chair of Winston & Strawn's global Antitrust/Competition Practice and the former co-chair of its Sports Law Practice, Kessler has worked with such corporations as Panasonic and Activision Blizzard, as well as the Player Associations for the NBA, NFL, and MLB.This episode explores some of the biggest legal cases in sports, as well as media influence on legal outcomes, PR strategy, crisis management in PR and sports, litigation in professional athletics, and public opinion.About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long after a verdict is reached, the court of public opinion continues its trial. In today’s digital world, media coverage of legal cases—especially high-profile ones—can define a person’s reputation forever. PR strategy is essential. But, how can lawyers, PR strategists, and litigation experts fight back against damaging narratives?This week on The Intersection, Matthew Schwartz, Chairman of Boies Schiller, joins Mike Sitrick and Sallie Hofmeister to discuss PR strategy in litigation, the role of media influence on legal outcomes, and how crisis management in law is just as critical as legal arguments in the courtroom.“Even if someone is tried and acquitted, and the jury finds them to be not guilty, the stories of their arrest and charges, sometimes even the press release from the government, lives on the internet forever. And the fact of those allegations living on can be incredibly damaging. Every future employer or counterparty…is going to dig that up. And so, if the other side of the story is not at least presented to contextualize the allegations, then it puts a client at a real disadvantage.”Named a “buttoned-up assassin in the courtroom” by Forbes, Matt spent a decade as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, where he worked on high-profile cases—including the government’s investigation of Bernie Madoff. Now, as Chairman at Boies Schiller, managing partner and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, he represents major clients such as Red Granite Pictures and DraftKings, navigating complex litigation and the media challenges that come with it. Tune in as Matt, Mike, and Sallie discuss:- The impact of media coverage on jury selection- How crisis communication strategies can protect clients’ reputations- The challenges facing law firms in today’s litigation and PR landscape- Differences in press communication between the private sector and the governmentThis episode explores: PR strategy, crisis management, legal media strategies, and the intersection of public opinion and legal cases.About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Winning in the court of law often depends on mastering the court of public opinion. So how do lawyers and crisis PR experts shape public opinion to influence high-stakes legal battles? Wizard of Spin Mike Sitrick and PR partner Sallie Hofmeister explore the powerful connection between media influence and legal outcomes.From crisis management to PR strategies in litigation, Sitrick and Hofmeister sit down with America’s leading lawyers and PR minds to reveal how media narratives can make or break a case. Whether it’s controlling the conversation, managing reputations, or leveraging public sentiment, this podcast shares what you need to know about legal media strategies.For anyone interested in the media’s role in legal cases, The Intersection: Where the Court of Public Opinion and the Court of Law Collide is the podcast for you.Tune in to The Intersection: Where the Court of Public Opinion and the Court of Law Collide to hear more about:Media Influence on Legal Outcomes, Public Opinion and Legal Cases, Legal Media Strategies, Crisis Management in PR, Crisis Management in Law, PR Strategies in Litigation, Crisis Management, PR Strategy.About Sitrick and CompanySitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.