Capability IX
GRID
Every plaintiff firm in the MDL sees the same intelligence.
At a Glance
The Problem
In a mass tort MDL, the defense is coordinated. Kirkland, FTI, and Sitrick share intelligence, strategy, and resources across every defendant. The plaintiff side is not. Forty-seven plaintiff firms are each running their own media strategy, monitoring the defense separately, developing case themes independently. The defense has a grid. The plaintiff side has forty-seven silos.
In Practice
Case Reference
In a pharmaceutical MDL with twenty-three participating plaintiff firms, VIS served as the communications coordination point for lead counsel. A single weekly intelligence brief was distributed to all participating firms. Defense media placements were flagged within hours and counter-strategy was coordinated across the plaintiff bar before the next news cycle. Settlement occurred at a number that reflected coordinated plaintiff pressure.
What VIS Does
VIS builds and distributes shared communications intelligence across all plaintiff firms in the MDL. GRID governance: VIS operates as the single coordination point retained by lead counsel. Firm-specific client information is never shared across firms. Intelligence distributed is defense-facing. Conflict protocol: when firm strategies diverge, VIS coordinates through lead counsel.
- MDL communications intelligence brief — distributed to all plaintiff firms weekly
- Coordinated narrative architecture — one story across all plaintiff firms, consistent through verdict
- Defense activity tracking — what Kirkland, FTI, and Sitrick are doing, shared across the plaintiff bar
- GRID governance protocol — coordination through lead counsel, firm information protected
- MDL coordination cadence — weekly brief, real-time alerts, quarterly strategy session