Corporate Bankruptcy Public Relations
Communicating a Compelling Turnaround Story
During corporate bankruptcy proceedings, controlling the flow and content of information is critical. By failing to communicate a compelling turnaround story to its customers, vendors, employees and investors, a company stands little chance of successfully emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Similarly, by not aggressively taking steps to address and combat negative stories, a company in bankruptcy runs the risk of staying there.
Understanding the challenges faced by a company in bankruptcy, as well as the substantive procedures involved in a bankruptcy proceeding, is critical to the formulation of an effective Chapter 11 bankruptcy communications strategy.
At Harrington, we offer strategic communications and public relations expertise to companies facing the prospect of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Led by Jay Harrington and Tom Nixon, our corporate restructuring communications practice has bankruptcy knowledge and expertise unmatched by other public relations firms.
We specialize in helping companies communicate a compelling turnaround story to their customers, suppliers, employees, investors and other key constituencies – including the news media – in order to help them successfully emerge from Chapter 11. And because we possess deep, substantive knowledge of the process, we can anticipate and adapt to the inevitable crises and challenges that arise during a Chapter 11 case.
From more limited engagements where our professionals simply train and support a company’s in-house management, to “all hands on deck” engagements where we put a team on-site to handle a company’s communications needs during a restructuring, we offer flexible, scalable services that meet the unique needs of each client. This critical advantage makes Harrington the right strategic partner for any company undertaking a restructuring.
Our Services Include:
Development of communications strategy to help stabilize and maximize value of the business.
Creation and distribution of communications – including press releases, web portals, FAQs and other items that assist in the implementation of strategy.
Training employees to communicate key messages to key constituencies.
Working with the media to manage bad news and highlight good news.
About Jay Harrington
Prior to founding Harrington, Jay Harrington represented a wide range of companies—from small and midsize privately held businesses to large publicly traded companies—as legal counsel in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Jay practiced in the Corporate Restructuring practice group of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, one of the world's largest and most prestigious law firms. While at Skadden, he represented companies such as Comdisco, Inc., Eagle Food Centers, Inc., Kmart, and Orius Corp. in their Chapter 11 proceedings. Thereafter, Jay practiced in the Business Reorganizations practice group of national law firm Foley & Lardner LLP. Located in Foley's Detroit office, Jay represented large Tier 1 automotive suppliers in their bankruptcy proceedings. He also founded and ran a boutique corporate restructuring firm in Detroit. His legal experience allows him to provide communications advice to companies in a crisis that cuts right to the heart of the matter.
About Tom Nixon
Tom Nixon has more than 25 years of experience providing communications and public relations counsel to sophisticated businesses. Prior to joining Harrington, Tom was managing partner in a large public relations firm in metro Detroit. He has counselled clients through a wide range of crisis communications challenges, from fiscal distress to community relations during times of uncertainty. He represented clients large and small in managing messaging and communications initiatives before, during and following the Great Recession, working to optimize the flow of information to internal and external stakeholders alike. He was among the first in the industry to conceive of, implement and execute a social-media crisis communications initative in the mid-2000s.