Byfield launches as dedicated legal PR consultancy
For immediate release
23 May 2007
Today sees the launch of the Byfield Consultancy, a specialist PR Consultancy dedicated to the legal profession.
With more than 20 years previous experience of working with law firms, barristers' sets and legal associations, the Byfield Consultancy offers specialist expertise in day-today retained and project PR services geared towards building organisational profile, complimented by specialist case-specific Litigation/Dispute PR services and Reputation/Issues management for the legal profession and its clients, as and when required.
The Byfield Consultancy is launched at a time when the legal industry is facing radical reform in the shape of the Legal Services Bill, which promises to revolutionise the way in which legal services are delivered by opening up the profession to multidisciplinary practices, outside investors and non-traditional legal providers (often referred to as the 'Tesco Law' model).
The Byfield Consultancy is headed by directors, Richard Elsen and Gus Sellitto, both of whom have extensive expertise in the Legal PR arena.
Richard, one of the first exponents of Litigation and Dispute PR in the UK, is a specialist in this field and in the area of reputation and issues management. Richard has over 15 years PR experience, beginning his career with British Rail, where he handled media relations on issues ranging from privatisation to major crisis management incidents.
In 1993, Richard 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.
Commenting on the launch of the Byfield Consultancy, Richard says:
"The Byfield model, offering a comprehensive service exclusively to lawyers, barristers and their clients marks a unique and exciting entry into a developing growth market. The combination of specialist skills that we bring will quickly establish Byfield as the agency of choice in its field, setting the standard in this sector through its mix of high quality retained and project work."
Gus joins the Byfield Consultancy from Kysen PR, a specialist professional services consultancy, where in addition to managing a large portfolio of leading national and international law firms, barristers chambers and legal associations, he was also responsible for Litigation PR and Crisis management mandates.
Gus has over nine years experience specialising in Legal PR, in both an in-house and consultancy capacity. Prior to joining Kysen, he spent three years managing the PR function of a leading national law firm.
Commenting on the launch of the Byfield Consultancy, Gus says:
"This is an exciting time to be launching a consultancy dedicated to the legal profession. You need only look at the pages of the national and legal press to see that parts of the legal profession are now starting to make their plans known in relation the Legal Services Bill. What is less certain is whether these same firms, and the rest of the profession, are prepared for the communication challenges that the forthcoming Act will present.
"We are going to see tougher regulation, law firm flotations and increased competition from big brand entrants, such as the much feted 'Tesco Law' model. All of this means the public perception of the legal profession has never been more important and as a dedicated consultancy we see this development as a superb opportunity going forward."
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The Byfield Consultancy is located at:
83-87 Crawford Street
London
W1H 2HB
Tel: 0207 616 1740
Website: byfieldconsultancy.com
For further information, please contact:
Richard Elsen 0207 616 1741 Mobile 07886 757 307
Gus Sellitto 0207 616 1742 Mobile 07966 444 131
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