@AndreaGoldman
July 14th, 2009
Construction, business and real estate disputes attorney
Author of Home Contractor v. Homeowner Blog and the Massachussets Builders Blog
Today we’re tweeting with construction, business and real estate disputes lawyer, arbitrator and mediator @AndreaGoldman
- @AndreaGoldman, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @AndreaGoldman?
I am an advocate and neutral who uses all of my tools to resolve disputes, adviser to construction companies, exercise fanatic, mom.
- - Tell us about your law practice.
I spend about 80% of my time litigating and negotiating settlements, 15% on arbitration and mediation and 5% on writing contracts.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
I represent builders, contractors, construction companies, homeowners and businesses resolving disputes and writing contracts
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
For residential contractors: staying in compliance with the law. All of construction-having good contracts that protect them.
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
My job is to take a disaster in your life and turn it into something you can move on from. A lawsuit is not a good way to make $$.
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Represented Perini v. Missouri with my partner. Suit about construction of a bridge that was delayed due to concealed conditions…
Represented four homeowners whose property was damaged by a mudslide caused by faulty excavation and grading by developer.
- - Why do your clients hire you?
I am known in my community as a business, construction lawyer and neutral. I am responsive to clients and mindful of their budgets.
- - All very good reasons! What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Both homeowners and contractors/construction companies call about disputes that are too small to handle. It’s the bad economy
- - How do you help your clients to decide the best way to resolve a construction dispute?
It’s simple: likelihood of success on the merits combined with ability to collect on a judgment and the amount of potential damages
- - You weren’t always a solo practitioner. Why did you make the leap? How long did it take to feel established?
I had the opportunity to form a partnership. It dissolved and I had already established a practice. It took 18 months from scratch.
- - That’s quite impressive. How do you market your practice?
I run lawyer dinners, network, write two blogs, write articles, give presentations, belong to a builders’ association and web 2.0.
- - Busy. You blog on contractor disputes (http://bit.ly/wIPUD) & MA builders (http://bit.ly/16pcIX) Who reads them? Why?
Contractors, builders, construction firms, lawyers and consumers. They are intended to be the “’go to” sites for construction in MA.
- - Besides Twitter and your blog, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use?
Well, I have two websites, one of which is a consortium of construction lawyers that I am developing. LinkedIn, Facebook, etc
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you seen from your Web 2.0 activities?
I get about 40% of my clients from the Internet, so the impact is huge. More people are finding their service providers on the web.
- - Wow – that IS huge. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand then?
Too much time! I need to find more balance because I need to write more blogs posts, make a Facebook fan page and write articles.
- - Seems to be a widespread problem…. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Changing our billing practices. I believe that hourly billing is unproductive. Clients prefer value billing and knowing fees.
- - Indeed. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
People will continue to specialize. There will be fewer lawyers but they will be happier because they want to be in the profession.
- - Interesting perspective. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I would open a dessert and dancing café and make all of the desserts. Would showcase local talent and offer games, puzzles for use.
- - That sounds like fun! How do you want to be remembered?
As a genuinely caring person who helped a lot of people, raised fabulous kids and was really fun to be around.
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
I exercise every day, which takes a lot of time. I hang out with my kids, read, love to cook and sew. I also love movies /theater.
- - What advice would you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Keep your hand in the profession by volunteering. Learn new skills. Stay up on new developments in your field. Network like crazy.
- - And our last question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
A law school education teaches you a new way to think. Make sure you love it. Law is a business, learn how to run a business .
This was a great twitterview; thank you very much for answering our questions!
Thank you Lance! This was really fun and forced me to think more about my practice.
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