US law firm Debevoise & Plimpton  is launching a Strategic Crisis Response and Solutions Group bringing together a global team with the aim to help organisations and boards navigate their most critical issues. Led by former SEC Chair and former United States Attorney Mary Jo White, Debevoise’s Strategic Crisis Response and Solutions Group will leverage the expertise of six teams of lawyers organsied to provide swift deployment to help clients avert legal and reputational harm, while addressing the precipitating causes of the crisis. ‘After years of seeing ‘really big messes’ unfold from just about every vantage point, I know how vital it is to be able to quickly bring the right team to bear. In putting together this truly talented group, we can offer organisations and boards a rapid response team whose wisdom, background and knowledge are matched to the specific challenge at hand,’ said Mary Jo White, partner and Senior Chair of the firm.

Range of disciplines

Debevoise’s Strategic Crisis Response and Solutions Group brings together rapid response crisis teams from a range of disciplines and aligns their experience and expertise to a particular crisis. These teams feature, in addition to Miss White, preeminent practitioners, including former federal regulators, lawyers and judges, with many decades of combined experience managing a wide range of crises and investigations. 

'Every crisis is different...'

‘Every crisis is different, and every crisis response should be too. Our Strategic Crisis Response and Solutions Group is designed to reflect this reality, as we understand that experienced judgment is often key to successfully addressing government investigations while overcoming the glare of tremendous public and Congressional pressure and scrutiny,’ added Miss White.

Ilustrious members

Debevoise’s elite crisis team members include 16 former Assistant US Attorneys or Department of Justice attorneys; the former Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission; the former SEC Director of Enforcement; the former Acting Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ Criminal Division and the former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and a former leading federal district court judge. In addition, Debevoise claims it is also the only law firm with two former Attorneys General: Lord Goldsmith QC, the former Attorney General of the UK who serves as the firm’s Co-Managing Partner in London and Chair of European and Asian Litigation; and Judge Michael B  Mukasey, former US Attorney General and US District Court Judge, currently of counsel at the firm.