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The ‘20% off’ memo that hit the headlines

CEO Melissa Davis discusses why the real lesson from this awkward experience for Stephenson Harwood is that every internal memo is a press release in the making. It was another one of those ‘oh dear’ moments. Lots of law firms have issued guidance to their teams in recent months on working...


Kellogg's Rice Krispies

From Snap, Crackle and Pop to Johnny Depp – why court cases in the news matter

Partner Steve Rudaini looks at why it's important to get cases in the media and how the right communications strategy can raise the profile of the lawyers involved and grow important relationships with the media. This week, the BBC reported that food giant Kellogg's is taking the government...


elon musk

Is Twitter Musk’s MySpace moment?

Remember MySpace? Will Twitter be the next to be 'cancelled'? Our PR, Marketing and BD Director David Standard looks at why Elon Musk would do well to remember the unpredictability of the social networking sector. It cannot be easy being the richest man on the planet. What is there to...


david standard

Professional services PR veteran goes to MD Communications

One of the country’s leading marketing and media experts in the professional services sector has joined the specialist agency, MD Communications, which was founded in 2010 by Melissa Davis. David Standard has spent 27 years working in the professional services sector and has been behind some of the largest...


earth day

Is REAL commitment to ESG your best chance to attract talent?

Earth Day came and went this year with little fanfare from the professional services sector but should we be surprised, with energy bills and inflation soaring, asks our CEO and founder Melissa Davis? There are multiple awareness days and campaigning events for professional services businesses to support – either...


Locked gate

Should you always expect your internal comms to go external?

Our CEO Melissa Davis looks at why it's always best to start crisis management before the crisis starts. And in terms of memos or internal communication via the intranet, that means planning for things occasionally to leak. ‘I think we should put a memo out.’ Communicators in the legal sector will...


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The Ukraine crisis: what can we do?

In the last week, we have witnessed extensive media and social media coverage about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Many of us have been both deeply moved and shocked by the events unfolding, and are seeking ways to provide help to the Ukrainian people. Many of us know people...


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Is your reputation just a tweet away from disaster?

This week, our CEO, Melissa Davis, chooses a few brands to illustrate the importance of living by your company values. It only takes a tweet for something to go wrong if your values aren't embedded throughout the organisation. How values are 'lived' within a company can hugely...


Nadine Dorries

Nadine re-writes the media training handbook

Picking the right person to front up to the media, whether in times of crisis or when the news is positive, means considering not just what they will say but also how they will say it, writes our Founder and CEO Melissa Davis. Without getting too political, I’d like to start this by thanking...


Tabloid covers

Why lawyers who want to build their profile should read the Daily Mail

How do lawyers get noticed in the media? Our new partner Steve Rudaini explains why plain, easy-to-understand language is key to getting coverage. Did the headline catch your attention? Well that is the first lesson. You read the headline correctly – every lawyer should read the Daily Mail. Don’t worry,...