Politics, Law, And Public Opinion: Matt Feldman on PR Strategy in Law

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 Company Sitrick 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.