Podcast: The Power of a Compelling Narrative in Litigation

Increasingly, cases are litigated outside the courtroom, whether through public relations or government relations, according to Shook Public Policy Practice Co-Chair Phil Goldberg. Goldberg appeared as a guest on Furia Rubel’s On Record PR podcast, where he discussed the importance of crafting compelling messaging around litigation.  

In an episode titled “The Power of a Compelling Narrative in Litigation,” Goldberg said that a lot of times, cases can be won or lost outside of the courtroom and in the public relations sphere. He pointed to the rise of third-party litigation funding as fundamentally changing the litigation landscape in the United States.  

Goldberg noted that it is important for companies’ legal, communications and government affairs departments to be talking together when high-profile litigation comes their way. 

"If you look at it as just a legal issue and not a public affairs or government relations issue, you’re missing the boat,” he said. “You might be harmed not effectively combating some of the pressures that are facing the company in these other areas. And if you look at it as just a public relations issue, that may not be good for legal. You have to make sure that everybody’s talking together and working to defeat some of the messages that are coming at you in the litigation."

Listen to the podcast >>