KCBA CLE: 2024 Crisis Communications: Advising Your Client in a Crisis

KCBA Continuing Legal Education Department is delighted to present:

2024 Crisis Communications: Advising Your Client in a Crisis
Presented by J Vander Stoep & Kraig R. Naasz, Sound Counsel Crisis

Hybrid In-person at the KCBA Office and on Zoom, 4pm Thursday, October 17th, 2024.
PENDING Credits

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

Sound Counsel Crisis Communication has been retained by organizations in all parts of the US to respond to problems where the client faces a high public profile. The response can make or break the reputation of the organization. In fact, a mishandled response can create more reputational damage than the situation that first drew the public attention.

Sound Counsel will provide a one-hour CLE focused on best practices to consider for your clients in preparing for and responding to communication crisis. Warning: the lawyer’s response “don’t say anything” isn’t always the best course.

Sound Counsel provided the daily public updates for Life Care Kirkland when that facility faced the nation’s first major COVID outbreak with 10 resident deaths in the first week. The company provided communication assistance for 14 other national nursing home companies and two cruise lines during the pandemic. In our region they have done work for UW Medicine, Port of Seattle, University of Idaho, school districts, nonprofits, hospitals, unions and many businesses.

BIOGRAPHY:

J. Vander Stoep has more than 25 years of experience helping public figures and organizations prepare, avoid, and manage communications crises — including high profile cases appearing in national and regional media. An attorney-at-law, he served as Chief of Staff to a U.S. Senator and was a Washington state representative. J. has worked with dozens of public agencies, public figures, nonprofits and businesses as a communications consultant and strategist.

Kraig R. Naasz is an experienced public communicator. A CEO of several national trade associations that experienced crisis, he guided the mining industry’s response to the Sago Mine disaster, the fertilizer industry’s response to the Oklahoma City bombing and the apple industry’s response to the Alar scare.

Kraig has created many national communications campaigns including the Frozen, How Fresh Stays Fresh campaign encouraging consumers to take a fresh look at frozen foods and the Alcohol Responsibility campaign driving underage and binge drinking to their lowest levels in 40 years.

Early in his career, Kraig served as press secretary and communications director to several members of congress.

By attending this King County Bar Association event, participants, presenters, and staff hereby consent to the use, publication and display, by or on behalf of the King County Bar Association, any photograph, digital image, or video and any reproduction thereof in which an individual may be portrayed or identified.

It is understood that the King County Bar Association may use, publish and display such photographs, digital images, videos or reproductions thereof, in whole or in part, for any business purpose in their individual discretion. Participants, presenters, and staff waive all claim for any compensation for such use.

This program has been approved for credit in the following jurisdiction(s):
Washington State Bar Association
Credit has been approved with the Washington State Bar Association for 1.00 Law & Legal credit.