Experience

Richard Elsen, Director and founder

Richard Elsen, Byfield's founder, is well known amongst leading journalists for his handling of highly sensitive national and international news stories. His work includes dispute litigation, crisis and reputation management mandates.

Richard has over 15 years PR experience, beginning his career with British Rail, where he handled media relations on issues ranging from privatisation to rail accident crisis management.

In 1993, he joined the Press Office of the UK's Labour Party culminating in his becoming Deputy Head of the 'Rebuttal & Attack' media team, at Labour's Millbank headquarters, a post he occupied during the 1997 General Election.

In the last decade Richard has handled media aspects of some of the most challenging and high profile civil actions brought before the High Court.

Richard has also lectured on litigation and crisis PR and has written about the topics.

Richard's Dispute briefs have included, among others, the following:

  • The 'Nat West Three' bankers in their fight against extradition to the US.
  • Michael Jackson in the aftermath of the Martin Bashir documentary 'Living with Michael'.
  • Elite Models in their defamation dispute with the BBC, following the MacIntyre Undercover documentary.
  • ICAP in its high profile defence of a poaching claim brought by Cantor Fitzgerald.
  • Franklin Mint in its various actions with the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
  • Sanyo (UK) Ltd over its decision to close operations in Sedgefield, ahead of the General Election.

These represent a small selection of clients that have been advised by Byfield's founder.

For testimonials about our Dispute PR and Reputation management work, please contact us.

Gus Sellitto, Director

Gus has worked with the legal profession for over nine years, with both in in-house and agency experience. He began his PR career in Public Affairs, working for a top ten consultancy where his clients included the FSA, the ICAEW and a number of law firms and legal associations.

Gus decided to specialise in Legal PR by moving to a leading national law firm where he headed up the PR function for three years. He then returned to a consultancy role by moving to a specialist professional services PR firm, where as well a managing a large portfolio of legal clients, he was principally responsible for crisis management and Litigation PR mandates. Gus spent over four years in that role, leaving in May 2007 to launch the Byfield Consultancy with Richard.

Gus has helped to raise the profile of a number of leading global, national, City and regional law firms, barristers sets and legal associations. Instructed by his law firm clients, Gus regularly manages the reputations of organisations and high profile individuals in the media.

Gus has a particular interest in the Legal Services Act and the communication challenges it presents to the legal profession.

For testimonials about our Legal PR work, please contact us.