FTI’s third-party ally development program identifies, funds, and positions credible outside voices who carry the defense message without appearing to be defense voices. Scientific organizations, academic researchers, industry associations, community groups — all saying what FTI’s client needs said, none of them identified as defense operatives. The plaintiff bar has never built an equivalent.
In a chemical exposure case in the Midwest, VIS identified a university researcher who had independently documented the same health effects plaintiffs were claiming — before the litigation was filed, with no connection to plaintiff counsel. VIS facilitated the researcher’s engagement with media and regulatory bodies on their own findings. The defense could not challenge the source.
VIS identifies and activates real third parties — researchers with legitimate findings, community leaders with genuine stakes, affected populations with documented experience — who have authentic reasons to speak and will speak truthfully. No one is paid to say anything. Every voice is real. Every statement is true.