Legendary trial attorney James Brosnahan joins Michael Sitrick and Sallie Hofmeister to explore where legal battles collide with media narratives. Brosnahan shares insights on the rise of social media and the legal media strategies in cases he has worked on over the years with Sitrick And Company. We'll get behind some of his most controversial cases—from defending Patty Dunn in the HP pretexting scandal to representing Henry Nicholas amid allegations of Broadcom securities fraud.
“How did I become a lawyer? In the end of my sophomore year at Boston College, we watched the Army-McCarthy hearings… This lawyer Mr. Welch leaned across the table, and he said, ‘Have you no shame?’ He was talking truth to power, and I thought that looked neat. I liked that right away. I want to do — is that what you do? Is that what lawyers do? I want to stand up there and just tell people off. Whatever was wrong with me, that's what I wanted to do.”
James Brosnahan unpacks how media influences legal outcomes, the role of crisis communication in law, and how public opinion can shift a case’s trajectory. He also reflects on the evolution of legal crisis management, offering insights into how attorneys can navigate both the courtroom and the press to protect their clients’ reputations.
As a lawyer, lecturer, and author, Jim Brosnahan has been a consistent influence on California trial law for the better half of a century. Considered to be one of the top 30 trial lawyers in the US by the Legal 500 US, Jim has tried 150 cases and literally wrote the book for California lawyers with his “Trial Handbook for California Lawyers,” published in 1974. He has received countless awards and recognition over a 60-year career, the last 50 spent at Morrison Foerster, currently as Senior Trial Counsel.
This episode is about the James Brosnahan, Hewlett Packard spy scandals, alleged Broadcom fraud, media influence on legal outcomes, public relations in law, public opinion, PR strategies in litigation, and crisis management.
About Sitrick and Company
Sitrick and Company is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm founded by Michael Sitrick specializing in corporate, financial, and crisis communications. Known for its expertise in high-stakes situations, the firm has handled reputation management, litigation support, and media strategy for high-profile clients. It operates offices in New York City and Washington, DC, and is recognized as a leader in strategic communications and crisis management.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.