Our clients are under attack. Political torchbearers are after corporate America, the scourge of profit and greed, all orchestrated by the villain du jour, the CEO. The press is full of attacks and criticism. See http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123414924647562233.html. And the American wind is blowing around the world. http://www.nationalpost.com/related/links/story.html?id=1137335.
The problem is that the public is catching on. Around kitchen tables all over the country, businesses that have been revered for decades are now decried.
These are our clients; businesses led by decent women and men, who employ good people and make our communities better. Locally CEO's lend their time and talent to all manner of charitable good. After the recent floods in eastern Iowa, it was the CEO's of our major employers who led the effort to revitalize our home towns. The same is no doubt true for your community.
We defense lawyers generally do not like to get involved in public controversy. We are slow to write letters to the editor or speak up at a forum. However, now is the time to speak. Our clients are under attack. While there are always a few in any group who deserve the criticism, the vast majority of CEO's are good people who run great businesses. So swim against the stream and tell your community of the good done by our clients. Remind them of the good deeds done by corporate leaders. And repeat the mantra that CEO is not a four letter word.
Mike Weston
mweston@lwclawyers.com