Second General Counsel Survey Sponsored by FTI Consulting Finds That Most Organizations Have Crisis Plans, but Few Feel Ready for Crises

Steven H. Gunby, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FTI Consulting

“The successful management of crises rarely sits neatly within one part of a company or one jurisdiction. They cut across legal, regulatory, operational and reputational considerations, often before leaders have all the facts. A written plan matters, but real preparedness means recognizing the signals early, bringing the right experts together, determining what is really happening across multiple layers of an organization and making difficult decisions while there is still time to shape the outcome. General counsel are increasingly central to that effort.”

Jean-Werner de T’Serclaes, EMEA Co-Chair at FTI Consulting

“Preparedness budgets need to be spent smartly, particularly when resources are constrained. It is about making sure the capabilities needed to handle a crisis are there when it hits, particularly when enterprise value, reputation and stakeholder trust are on the line. When the stakes are high and the facts are still emerging, the GC is often one of the first people that leaders turn to and one of the few expected to answer the most difficult questions. That is why GCs need a seat at the table, working alongside management and the board to assess risks and make informed decisions when it matters most.”