Since its creation almost 50 years ago, Hodge Jones & Allen (HJA) has been at the centre of some of the UK’s most renowned ‘David v Goliath’ legal battles against government, public authorities and big business.
Founded with a deep-rooted belief in civil justice, the firm has expanded to become a top-200 law firm serving the great, the good but most importantly the average person on the street.
Over the years, Black Letter Communications (BLC) has supported this expansion by showcasing the incredible work of the firm’s nine practice areas – enhancing the firm’s reputation, guiding clients through media storms, and shining a light on the profound impact the firm has on ordinary people’s lives.
One of the strengths of the HJA offering to the media is the incredible array of human-interest stories the firm has. As such, our strategy has always been to put the spotlight on this bank of newsworthy cases.
After recommendations from BLC, HJA offers our expertise as a value-add service directly to clients, free of charge, to enable those who want to tell their story in a secure and professional environment whist having the support of media professionals as well as their legal team. This creates a pipeline of powerful stories expertly entwining personal and legal views.
In addition, BLC supports clients going through litigation or inquests where they wish to avoid media attention. Our team prepares statements on behalf of clients and their lawyers in anticipation of press attendance at court. When journalists are present, BLC acts as a buffer, engaging with the media directly to explain that a statement would be available at the conclusion of the hearing, while making it clear that the client does not wish to comment. This approach has ensured clients are not approached and their privacy is respected.
BLC has also supported high-profile HJA clients such as Paul Weller during litigation, helped campaign for clients such as Rosamund Kissi-Debrah to bring in the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill, supported a multitude of protest groups including Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion during and following criminal court cases, and spearheaded the campaign to put the Lampard Inquiry into mental health deaths in Essex on the national news agenda – it had previously been seen as a local story before BLC’s involvement.
For those departments unable to talk about their cases due to their nature, particularly private client and family, we devise issue-based press releases for relevant consumer media highlighting their expertise in a news story. This results in regular exposure across national media, including: The Sunday Times, Financial Times, Times, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, BBC Online and Yours. The firm now receives regular requests from national consumer journalists for the firm to answer reader questions and provide comment.
To ensure continued engagement and an evolving pipeline of stories to take out to media, BLC regularly presents to teams about what we needed to showcase their practice area.
Activity has been underpinned by a close working relationship with HJA’s marketing team. All content created by BLC is used across social media and the firm’s website in a fully integrated approach. The results speak for themselves with thousands of pieces of coverage secured each year and each department winning new business leads as a result.
Partner Chun Wong says: “No other PR agency matches Black Letter Communications for results or proactivity. Their ability to spot and place a compelling story is second to none, and they consistently secure coverage that makes a real difference.
“They have a rare understanding of the sensitivities involved in helping clients during their darkest hours, handling every brief with care, discretion, and professionalism. Their integrity aligns with the ethos of the firm seamlessly, putting clients at the heart of what they do.
“Black Letter integrates with our teams and our clients, combining deep sector knowledge with a genuinely collaborative approach. Their enthusiasm and insight drive real engagement among our fee-earners. Thanks to their work, our firm enjoys a significantly enhanced profile.”
