For in-house attorneys, table-top exercises offer a valuable tool to stress test a company's crisis response plans.

The most effective way to conduct these exercises, however, was a point of contention for in-house counsel panelists at the second and final day of Corporate Counsel's 29th Annual General Counsel Conference in New York City.

One approach is to have all relevant people in the room to participate in the simulated crisis. Roughly twice a year, this is what News Corp. does, said panelist Genie Gavenchak, senior vice president and deputy general counsel at the media company. She said the company includes representatives from every department at headquarters that would be “potentially relevant in a situation,” which can include legal, HR, IT, finance, physical security and investor relations.