In an increasingly complex business environment, balancing legal priorities with corporate communication needs is an essential management discipline, particularly during crises. Establishing clear roles and internal protocol builds mutual trust and closes the gap between the legal and communications priorities; protecting the company’s legal exposure, brand reputation, and overall economic interests.

In this webinar, BarkerGilmore Strategic Advisor and Executive Coach Laura Schumacher – who most recently served as the Chief Legal Officer and Vice Chairman of External Affairs at pharmaceutical leader, AbbVie Inc. (ABBV:NYSE) – together with recognized industry experts:

• James Haggerty, President and CEO of PRCG
• Effie Delimarkos, Founder and Chief Communications Catalyst of Big Wide Blue Communications

…will share experiences, best practices, and actionable insights for fostering collaboration between the legal and communications functions at companies of all sizes.

Webinar attendees will learn:

• The root causes of friction between legal and communications roles
• The importance of establishing clear responsibilities
• The keys to nurturing mutual trust and respect
• How to align company values with core messaging
• Necessary protocols for regular, transparent communication
• Ways to ensure joint decision-making on sensitive issues
• Proactive risk management for legal and brand-related liabilities
• What practices to avoid, including:
  • Siloed operations
  • Reactive communication
  • Undermining of authority
  • Ignoring public perception of legal decisions
  • Lack of flexibility or compromise

Laura Schumacher
Strategic Advisor & Coach – BarkerGilmore
Former Vice Chairman, External Affairs, and Chief Legal Officer – AbbVie

James Haggerty
President and CEO – PRCG

Effie Delimarkos
Founder and Chief Communications Catalyst – Big Wide Blue Communications