Your client’s gone viral—now what?

Drawing attention to a client's plight can be a great outcome for an attorney wanting justice in a case. But what do you do when your client is trending on Twitter for all the wrong reasons?

In this episode of Asked & Answered, the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with attorney Pete Wentz, an expert in crisis management and communication strategy. Wentz shares what tactics he’s found helpful, when you should know that it’s time to address online controversies—and what commonly given legal advice turns out to be the least helpful in putting out fires.

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In This Podcast:

Stephanie Francis Ward
Pete Wentz, executive director of APCO’s Chicago office, provides clients with expertise in corporate reputation, crisis, financial and litigation communication and strategic planning. He also has extensive experience in higher education.

For 17 years, Wentz served as vice president of corporate communication and law for Helene Curtis Industries, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, where he led all aspects of the company’s public relations program, including reputation management, investor relations and crisis communication. Wentz next served as a principal and general manager for the Chicago office of The Dilenschneider Group, a national strategic public relations and crisis management firm.

Wentz was the associate dean of Northwestern University School of Law, where he was responsible for strategic planning and public relations. He continues to teach a course that includes crisis management and the law. In addition, Wentz served as an attorney at Sidley Austin and a legislative assistant to Senator Joseph R. Biden.

Wentz is a graduate of Trinity College and Northwestern University School of Law, where he was elected as a member of Order of the Coif.