@danharris
April 24th, 2009
Partner, Harris & Moure
Author of the award-winning China Law Blog
Appearances on Fox News, Fox Report, CBC Report on Business, BBC World, BBC World Have Your Say
Today, we’re tweeting with @danharris: international lawyer, “Sushi grade” China Law blogger, news & movie junkie, and more
- @Danharris, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Who is the person behind @Danharris?
Me. Just me.
- Can’t go wrong with that. Tell us about your law practice.
It’s 99% international law. Maybe around 60% China, 20% Korea, 15% Russia, 5% Misc.
- What type of clients do you represent?
From Startups to Fortune 50 companies. Most have between $5 and $300 in revenues.
Whoops. Meant between $5 million and $300 million, not between $5 and $300.
- What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Great question. Figuring out the law and following it.
- Imagine that’s difficult in those jurisdictions. What’s the single most important business issue affecting your clients?
Very tough in China, yes. Toughest business issue is the credit crunch.
- What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
“Hi, I’m Dan. ” Hard to generalize much beyond that….. sorry…..
- It is what it is, right? What was the most significant client representation you’ve had?
Helping recover $300+ million in assets from Russia RIGHT after fall of communism. Got WSJ cover story out of it. ….
Funnest was going to Papua New Guinea to recover three helicopters.
- Impressive results. Why do your clients hire you?
Three reasons, primarily. 1. Quality 2. Responsiveness/Concern/Personality 3. Price Fairness
- You’ve become a leading voice on China / China law in a relatively short time. What led you to your China practice?
It’s actually taken a long time. We were big in Korea & Russia & China was thrust on us by our clients.
- How will the rule of law in China affect the way business is done in China?
It already has & it will continue to do so. Foreign companies must follow laws or they run real risk of getting tossed.
- You may have just answered this in part, but what’s the future for foreign lawyers in China?
Very bright. Cultural differences are a huge & permanent chasm. This holds true for most foreign countries, even European ones
- How do you market your practice?
By never sitting still. Blogging. Speaking. Writing. Lunches. Phone calls.
- How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Every minute I work I am enhancing the brand, so I will say 12-16. As my Twitter profile says, “sleep is for wussies.”
- You’re the principal author of the award-winning China Law Blog (http://bit.ly/n4k7T). Who do you write it for?
The SME owner or CFO who is in China or thinking about going there.
- Have your Web 2.0 activities had an impact on referrals or client engagements?
It creates huge media publicity, which leads to clients. Clients come in already knowing where I stand on things.
- That’s very useful, I’m sure. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
BigLaw costs too much. Firms must move from hourly billing. Abt 75% of my firm’s work is flat fee. Better for clients & for us
- That’s a lot! Guess we’ll need a second twitterview…. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Mega firms and specialized boutique firms. Mid-sized “national” firms will be no more.
- What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Radio Talk Show Host……Full time blogger/twitterer?
- I’m sure you’d be successful at that too…. How do you want to be remembered?
Too deep for me…. As a great father and a good person.
- More down to earth, then: what do you do when you’re not working?
Dote on my kids, work out, read, watch TV, go to movies & plays, travel for fun.
- As opposed to traveling for clients… How many miles would you say you travel in a typical year?
Maybe 150,000 air miles for clients…. 25,000 for pleasure. Guessing.
- That’s a lot of time in the air… Final question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Don’t I know it. I would say don’t go to law school unless you know what you want to do with the degree once U have it.
