Maltin PR Expands U.S. Presence with Office in New York, Appoints Leading Litigation Communications Advisor Chris Gidez as Senior Partner

The Maltin PR New York office will be headed by Chris Gidez, who joins the firm as Senior Partner and brings more than 30 years of PR and corporate advisory experience. One of the most internationally recognized and experienced counselors in legal conflict communications, Gidez has led communications strategies for some of the most high-profile and controversial legal battles in the United States and internationally.

Chris Gidez said: "Maltin PR has a stellar reputation for working alongside clients and their legal counsel to successfully manage the most challenging communications assignments and protect reputations. The firm ranks among the most respected consultancies in litigation communications, and I look forward to working with the team across the U.S. and Europe in serving our clients, and helping to drive the firm’s continued international growth."

Gidez previously held senior communications leadership roles at Texaco, Chevron and Caterpillar. He also led Hill & Knowlton’s global risk and crisis practice for a decade before founding his own boutique consultancy focused on legal conflict communications, reputation risk management and crisis response.

Chris first rose to prominence in reputation management during the Agent Orange class action litigation. Since then, he has advised clients across a wide range of complex legal and reputational matters, including cyberattacks, data breaches, environmental disasters, product recalls, product liability claims, corporate misconduct, discrimination, regulatory scrutiny, criminal prosecutions, boycotts and social controversies.

A pioneer of the concept of Reputation Risk Management, Gidez advises companies on incorporating reputation considerations into their broader approach to risk. His work helps clients identify, assess and mitigate the reputational consequences of corporate strategies and decisions, both inside and outside the courtroom.

From New York, Gidez will lead the continued expansion of Maltin PR’s U.S. litigation communications, crisis and reputation management practices. The opening of its New York office further strengthens the firm’s ability to support corporations, executives and their legal teams in major commercial disputes and other high-stakes situations. In addition to New York, Maltin PR also has offices in Washington D.C. and California.

Tim Maltin, Managing Partner of Maltin PR, said: "Expanding our team in New York is the natural next step for the firm as our U.S. and international client base continues to grow. New York is one of the world’s most important centers for business, law and the media, and establishing a team here significantly strengthens the support we can provide to clients facing complex disputes and reputational challenges.

“We are delighted to welcome Chris to lead the office. He is a real powerhouse in the strategic communications industry, and his wise counsel and deep experience of litigation and crisis communications will provide calm and reliable strategic advice to our corporate clients when the stakes are highest.”

The New York team also includes Associate Directors Barnaby Scudds and Nick Connor, as well as newly appointed Associate Director Marley Ward. Ward brings extensive experience advising corporations, senior executives and high-profile individuals on litigation, crisis and reputation matters. She works closely with legal teams and in-house counsel to align communications with litigation strategy and has advised clients across consumer-facing and regulated sectors, including technology, cryptocurrency, media, retail, hospitality, sports and entertainment.