August Strategic Communications

CEO: Steven Goldberg

Number of Employees: 12

Languages:English

Firm Overview

August is a U.S.-based strategic communications advisory firm that believes nothing is more important than effective communication when it comes to influencing perception, driving value, and protecting reputation. The firm achieves excellence in client service by bringing together individuals with specialized talent and subject matter expertise and empowering them to focus on what they do best. The firm deploys its expertise to help clients most effectively tell their stories during their times of greatest need and opportunity.

August sets itself apart with its deep experience in crisis preparedness and management, and with its multidisciplinary approach that considers all relevant social, political, economic, and cultural factors that influence crisis communication strategy. The firm recognizes that crises by their nature are unpredictable and dynamic. Its professionals are experts at crafting effective response strategies based on organizational discipline and diligent fact gathering to ensure that communications are accurate, transparent, credible, and consistent. For decades, August’s principals have worked alongside clients and their legal counsel to advise on how best to convey their narrative and manage reputation in the context of crises, as well as in preparation for potential crises and risks.

The August team includes former practicing attorneys from both the government and private sectors, former journalists, and other experts with backgrounds in sports and entertainment; healthcare; education; philanthropy; blockchain and digital assets; and DE&I.

Crisis Management

Whatever form a crisis takes – be it an unexpected leadership change, product recall, cybersecurity incident, allegation of workplace misconduct, or other major incident – August’s professionals appreciate that reputation and value are most affected by how organizations respond to a crisis more than the crisis itself, and that every crisis presents an opportunity to tell a story that underscores core values. The firm believes empathy, transparency, and speed of response without getting ahead of the facts are what lead to successful outcomes.

August partners with its clients to deliver communications strategies and carefully developed messages that help manage crises, minimize negative media attention, preserve trust and confidence in leadership, and protect and enhance reputation and brand.

August’s team includes subject matter experts who partner with individuals, public and private companies, and other organizations before, during, and after a crisis arises. This includes helping clients anticipate and prepare for crises by instituting policies, procedures, and crisis plans that can be deployed when the unexpected occurs; and respond to crises that have the potential to damage reputation and impair value.

Recent Client Engagements

• Owner Daniel Snyder and the NFL’s Washington Commanders in matters related to an investigation by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform
• Chris Cuomo in connection with his termination from and litigation against CNN
• BitMEX’s founders in connection with federal government enforcement actions
• Kodak in an investigation by the New York Attorney General
• Guardant Health in its defense against patent and trade secrets litigation brought by Illumina
• A major pharmaceutical company in its defense against FDA allegations and a threatened recall
• A leading electric vehicle manufacturer on multiple crises and reputational issues
• A leading executive search firm sued for workplace harassment
• The former CEO of a Fortune 100 company in connection with a Board imposed executive transition
• A prominent non-profit organization in connection with the dismissal of its CEO
• A major NYC cultural institution in a racial discrimination lawsuit
• Board members of Black Girls CODE in connection with an internal investigation conducted by a special committee of its Board of Directors and related litigation
• BlueVine in connection with a Congressional investigation and related media scrutiny
• CORE Services Group on its litigation with the City of New York and related reputational issues

Practice Areas

• Litigation and Investigations
• Crisis Management
• Financial Restructurings and Chapter 11 Cases
• Healthcare
• Blockchain, Digital Assets, and Fintech
• Positioning and Reputation Management
• Transactions
• Shareholder Activism
• Diversity, Bias, and Discrimination

Offices

• New York City
• Los Angeles
• Dallas
• San Francisco