Stephen is a Partner in Maltin PR’s Litigation & Reputation practice. He advises governments, corporates and high-net-worth individuals on strategic communications during high-stakes disputes and periods of legal, political and reputational scrutiny.

Stephen has extensive campaign experience and advises clients on information campaigns and media strategy to create narratives which deliver on client objectives.

Prior to joining Maltin PR, Stephen led litigation and crisis mandates within the Litigation and Disputes team at Portland Communications, advising boards, senior executives and their counsel on complex cross-border matters and investigations attracting significant public, regulatory and media attention.

Stephen operates in fast-moving, multi-jurisdictional contexts, shaping case narratives and engagement strategies that align with legal objectives and wider commercial and stakeholder pressures. His experience includes international arbitration and enforcement, high-value commercial litigation, public-law challenges, shareholder and boardroom disputes, reputation recovery following litigation or investigation, and strategic positioning ahead of settlement or judgment.

He works in tandem with legal teams, intelligence and investigations providers, and defence and security colleagues to resolve communications challenges aligned with broader organisational and commercial aims.

Stephen’s approach is informed by his experience at the highest levels of Canadian government and politics. In government, he supported the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Canada’s response to the first Trump administration and the renegotiation of NAFTA, and later worked with the Minister of Finance on Canada’s economic response to COVID-19, including communications around the government’s first pandemic budget.

During the 2021 Canadian federal election, he travelled nationwide with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the core election team, advising on campaign narrative, message discipline and media strategy.