Meet Joseph McGreal

What’s one moment that defined the future of PCI?

McGreal: Early in my career, I was recruited by a coordinator for a prominent Chicago family. After several discreet interviews, she revealed herself as the family’s matriarch and extended an offer to work for her family. I was to oversee personal logistics, ensure privacy, and operate inside the family’s inner circle. That experience reshaped everything. It wasn’t about investigation, it was about anticipation, containment, and trust. That engagement didn’t just shape PCI; it became its foundation.

How do you describe what PCI does for clients?

McGreal: PCI operates as a private intelligence and strategic protection advisory for principals and institutions confronting matters of consequence. Our work centers on managing risk, limiting exposure, and supporting defensible decision-making when discretion is critical and outcomes must withstand scrutiny.

How does PCI work alongside legal counsel and existing advisors?

McGreal: PCI is not a replacement for counsel and does not offer legal advice. We work in alignment with general counsel and trusted advisors to ensure intelligence, documentation, and execution support legal objectives. Our role is to help preserve discretion, manage exposure, and give decision-makers all relevant information.

When do you advise principals or institutions to engage PCI?

McGreal: Control is established before exposure; the earlier the better. By the time most people reach out, the problem is already visible. PCI exists to protect position, continuity, and discretion when the costs are high. Early engagement allows for control, additional options, and outcomes that can withstand scrutiny without unnecessary escalation.