Critical incidents continue to increase and evolve both in frequency and severity. These incidents expose businesses, schools, workplaces, events, houses of worship, and virtually any other entity where people gather to massive reputational and financial harm. Whether these incidents claim lives, cause injuries, damage property, are a hoax, or are thwarted prior to physical harm, the lasting impact can cause irrevocable harm to individuals, businesses, and communities alike. We can no longer regard these events as uncommon occurrences. By partnering with Wilson Elser, you can ensure that you are prepared to handle the fallout from a critical incident.

Wilson Elser has responded to and helped manage the fallout from hundreds of critical incidents, including, but not limited to, active shooter, pipeline explosions, catastrophic trucking losses, building collapses, natural disasters, and mass casualty events that result in vast reputational and financial exposure. We recognize that each event is unique and requires an immediate response and thorough investigation in order to develop a strong strategy and establish the best defense.

Our Critical Incident Response Team is comprised of several attorneys who draw on decades of experience in law enforcement and can guide you through each step of the process. The Critical Incident Response Team’s vast investigative and legal experience puts us in a unique position to gauge potential risk and liability for our clients, all while working under the protection of attorney-client privilege.

Once notified of an incident, Wilson Elser will deploy a “go team” comprised of attorneys and investigative personnel. As our client, you will have boots on the ground immediately to take proactive measures to preserve crucial evidence, interview witnesses, liaise with appropriate experts, assist with public relations, guide you through interviews, and formulate strategies designed to mitigate financial and reputation harm.

Our approach to interacting with victims and their families is one of compassion and empathy. This approach can have a significant impact on reducing the severity of claims or in some instances, resolving claims without costly litigation. Through a wide range of partners, our Critical Incident Response Team has the ability to connect victims with counseling services, family assistance, and other resources to ensure their needs are met. We will also work with our clients to provide and facilitate training, assist with risk identification, and create an action plan in order to mitigate our clients’ exposure to potential future incidents.

The Team 

Stuart Miller | Partner 

  • Crisis Response Team lead
  • 25 years of experience in on-scene crisis response
  • Lead investigator in dozens of active-shooter and fatality incidents
  • Skilled corporate investigator known for discreetly handling corporate ethics and fraud incidents
  • Strategist adept at reducing reputational and financial risk
  • Experienced trial attorney, often requested to “parachute” in on high-risk and high-profile trials

James F. Burke | Partner

  • Decorated former police officer
  • Detective Sergeant with New York City Police Department
  • Narcotics Division, Detective Bureau and Organized Crime Control Bureau
  • Lead trial lawyer with NYPD Civil Enforcement Unit
  • Experienced trial attorney

Alexandra M. Bucci | Of Counsel 

  • Decorated former police officer
  • School Resource and D.A.R.E. Officer, juvenile investigator
  • Undercover narcotics officer with local, state and federal agencies
  • Executive Operations Officer who maintained compliance with state accreditation standards, police
  • policy and procedure development
  • Practicing attorney

    Michael Glidden | Of Counsel 

    • Decorated former police officer
    • Detective in Crimes Against Persons Unit: Homicide and Kidnapping
    • Undercover detective in Street Narcotics Unit and DEA Drug Task Force
    • Sergeant in Charge of Special
    • Experienced Trial Attorney