Kathy O'Brien Email & Phone Number

New York, New York, United States

At Rubenstein, I co-head the legal group where we provide strategic, high-level public relations counsel to law firms and their executive leadership. Areas of expertise:- Media Relations- Crisis Communications- Content Strategy- Brand PositioningOver the years, I have developed an extensive network of media contacts and I know what will play with the press. My breadth of skill in writing, researching, and developing story ideas, combined with my crisis communications skills, makes me a vital asset to my clients, which have been covered by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, BusinessWeek, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and other major media. I am routinely named one of Lawdragon's "100 Leading Legal Consultants and Strategists," was a finalist for the PR News Platinum Award, and received LMA's “Your Honor Award,” the most prestigious accolade in the legal marketing industry.I speak often on legal marketing topics, including:• Tools for effective PR measurement and how to communicate the results to law firm leadership, Legal Marketing Association (LMA) Annual Conference, April 24, 2023• Tips for Breaking Into the News Cycle When It’s In Overdrive, Legal Marketing Association (LMA) Podcast, January 7, 2021• Creating News When there is No News to Announce," LMA National Conference, March 25, 2020• "Damage Control: Recovering Your Firm’s Reputation After a Breach," Jaffe Webinar, December 5, 2018• “Setting a Content Marketing Strategy,” - LMA Houston Chapter, Houston, TX, September 2014• “Trends in Media/PR for Law Firms: What’s Valuable and Effective,” LMA - National Conference, Orlando, Florida, April 2014• “Meet the Press and Make Your News News,” LMA– Houston, August 20, 2013; Austin, August 21, 2013; San Antonio, August 21, 2013• “Social Media Strategies – Content Frequency and Impact,” LMA - NY Chapter, February 2013• “What Lawyers & Law Firms Need to Know About Rankings,” LMA- Los Angeles Chapter, June 2011

Greater New York City Area

New York

As a sought-after publicist, I bring nearly two decades of experience encompassing both corporate and agency work. Having been an in-house marketer and PR professional with agencies in New York and Connecticut, I appreciate both sides of the PR equation—as the client at the top, and the service provider helping clients get there. I also created Jaffe’s RankingsForLawyers™ service, which helps firms determine how to get ranked on the “right” lists.

New York/Connecticut

While at Madison on Main Communications, I was responsible for strategy development and the day-to-day implementation of innovative communications programs including aggressive media outreach establishing clients as trendsetters, not just newsmakers, proprietary research to support corporate positioning, and keeping the PR momentum on track and on budget. (subcontractor to Brodeur Worldwide)

Connecticut

I provided strategic support to chief company spokesperson and media strategist. Supervised creative team, outside PR agency and vendors. At USSC, I was responsible for proactive media relations and served as the media ‘gatekeeper’ for trade, business and consumer press. I developed programs that reinforced USSC's leadership role in minimally invasive surgery and assisted in implementing employee relation campaigns and communications programs, including the development of a USSC’s website and intranet site. I worked closely with the marketing team on national media launch of USSC’s breast biopsy technology, which resulted in coverage in leading women’s magazines - Parade, Family Circle, Working Mother, Consumers Digest, 230 TV news reports and 600 newspaper stories.While at USSC, I also researched and directed complete production of patient education brochures, including layout design, photo shoots, printing and distribution. More than 60,000 marketing kits and five million patient education brochures were issued to help build patient awareness.