When unexpected, business critical, adverse events occur, they challenge even the most resilient organisations. Our crisis management team helps bring clarity and calm to lift the logistical and emotional weight, allowing you to focus on supporting those impacted.
Our Corporate Crisis Management Service is here to support businesses, healthcare providers, public sector bodies, and third-sector organisations through their most challenging times. From handling high-profile health, safety or environmental incidents, cyber-attack or data breach to navigating regulatory interventions and investigations and targeting of senior individuals by regulators. Our team provides expert legal guidance, practical solutions and effective route maps to safeguard your organisation’s future.
Who do we work for?
- Construction and House Builders
- Manufacturing and Engineering
- NHS Organisations and Blue Light Services
- Sports, Leisure and Hospitality
- Energy
- Life Science and Medical Technology
- Transport and Industry
- National/Activity Parks
- Care Homes
- Social and Private Housing Providers
What we do
Crisis and Incident Management
Whether a business is confronted by a serious workplace accident, environmental event, data breach, or product-safety incident, we provide a pragmatic and commercially sensitive approach to crisis management:
The first 72 hours of a crisis are critical. Our cross-disciplinary team will mobilise immediately to respond to the issues you are facing, providing the support you need, wherever it is needed, slotting into your crisis management team and collaborating with your other advisers.
As the situation moves beyond the initial response, we work as part of your team to build a detailed assessment and management process, undertake forensic investigations covered by legal privilege and advise on how to engage with regulators, potential claimants or defendants.
Drawing from experience in high-profile cases and working with external crisis comms specialist partners, we support you in handling public relations, media inquiries, and evolving communication strategies.
A regulatory investigation can be a serious threat to your reputation and your business. With UK criminal and regulatory authorities working together more closely than ever, a coordinated response is always critical to achieving the best outcome. Our team of business crime and investigations lawyers have vast expertise at the cutting edge of managing complex enforcement proceedings.
We offer ‘lessons learned’ reviews and training sessions to help your organization develop safeguards and improve response to future incidents.
Risk Management
Some problems are impossible to predict or avoid, but many are avoidable or can be mitigated through robust controls, strong compliance culture and good governance. Increasingly regulators expect these things and exposure to regulatory or criminal risk can be much greater if they are inadequate or non-existent.
Planning for the unexpected is vital to ensuring that a business can respond efficiently and effectively when serious issues arise. We help our clients develop strategies and systems to ensure that they are well placed to handle crises and mitigate their impacts.
Risk Audit
A review of existing risk registers and risk management systems, training on crisis response and risk management, and creation and testing of crisis plans.
Scenario Design
Crafting a realistic crisis scenario relevant to your organisation, such as a major regulatory inquiry, an inquest following a death in service, or a compliance breach.
Guided Crisis Response
Working with your team to analyse each decision, action, and response, identifying strengths and improvement areas.
Recovery
Providing a detailed review of the crisis handling, highlighting best practices, potential risks, and steps to strengthen crisis preparedness.
Inquest Representation
When a workplace incident results in an inquest, especially in sensitive cases involving a death in service, our team is equipped to guide you every step of the way. We offer expert representation and comprehensive legal support for all types of inquests, including:
Navigating complex cases with right-to-life implications, ensuring your organization’s actions are thoroughly prepared and presented.
Managing proceedings involving multiple stakeholders, such as healthcare providers, local authorities, and emergency services.
Coordinating with Coroners and handling disclosure obligations to ensure full compliance and transparency.
Our approach focuses on thorough preparation and strategic guidance, helping clients and witnesses feel confident and informed while addressing regulatory and reputational risks throughout the process.
Why Choose Ward Hadaway?
At Ward Hadaway, we offer more than just legal advice. We are your trusted partners and an extension of your team. We’ll provide you with the tools and expertise to navigate complex crises with empathy, efficiency, and confidence. Our approach is tailored to meet your unique needs, helping you to respond effectively and maintain resilience.