A founding partner of Baretz+Brunelle, Cari Brunelle has earned a national reputation as the go-to advisor to law firm leadership for their executive communications needs. Managing partners and executive committees of premier law firms regularly rely on her judgment in managing crises, and handling the communications of critical and sensitive business issues to internal and external audiences.
Named a “Top Woman in PR” by PR News and one of the “100 Leading Legal Consultants and Strategists” by Lawdragon since 2008, Cari has spent nearly 25 years shaping PR strategy for prominent law firms. In addition to designing strategic media relations campaigns that drive growth, Cari has guided national and international firms through high-profile news events including mergers, talent departures, and government investigations. Her talent for crisis management — which earned her distinction as PR News’ “Crisis Manager of the Year” — has been called on by many legal, corporate, and individual clients undergoing public controversies and “bet-the-company” disputes. Cari advises corporate CEOs and boards and acted as spokesperson in litigation, takeover battles, and in connection with international news events such as the cases of Anna Nicole Smith, JonBénet Ramsey, and the astronaut Lisa Nowak, as well as the disposition of the estates of public figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali. She regularly provides media training for law firm partners and firm management, and has also trained non-profit executives, Fortune 50 CEOs, and U.S. senators.
Cari brings a background as an award-winning journalist to her work. She began her career as a broadcast news anchor and reporter and produced two documentaries for PBS, one of which was nominated for an Emmy. She also served as the public information officer for a Virginia state agency and handled media relations for the University of Florida and Virginia Commonwealth University and their teaching hospitals. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia.
