@beej777
February 11th, 2010
Corporate solicitor, Lees Solicitors LLP
Social media enthusiast
Author of Peninsulawyer
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Today we’re tweeting with corporate solicitor, social media enthusiast & the 1st 22 Tweets interviewee from the Wirral, UK
- @beej777 thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @beej777?
My pleasure…Corporate lawyer, husband & father, Apple geek, real ale fan & outdoors enthusiast (not necc. in that order)
- - Tell us about your law practice.
I help my clients buy, sell and invest in businesses and companies and advise them on company law and commercial contracts.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
I act for a wide range of business clients from sole traders to listed companies, but mainly Wirral and Merseyside based
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Managing tension between a seller (who wants a clean break) and a buyer (who wants seller to underwrite their legal risk)
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
the exact scope of the work I will do and what it will cost them. Sounds obvious, but many solicitors don’t.
- - That certainly makes sense. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
To me they are all significant – for the clients I represent their deal is usually a huge (or once in a lifetime) event
- - Good point…. Why do your clients hire you?
According to their feedback because I am “personable, trustworthy and cost effective” & give “professional, creative” advice
- - You spent several years at a top global firm before joining a small regional firm. What led you to make that change?
At @LeesLLP we focus on <£5m transactions so my clients are owner managers, not acquisitions directors. It’s more rewarding…
… and it is easier as a smaller firm to embrace social media & web 2.0. The big firms over here frankly don’t understand it.
- - Interesting. How is the economy affecting your clients? Are you seeing any signs of recovery?
Instructions are up, but lack of credit from banks is stifling transaction volumes and forcing more creative deal structures
- - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Web 2.0 st/ups (Wirral = silicon peninsula?!) and businesses sold 2 management instd of trade buyer. V diff fr 24 months ago
- - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I usually say that I am a corporate solicitor. Most people don’t know what I mean and we move on to something more exciting!
- - Another good point…. You blog at Peninsulawyer (http://bit.ly/cbqPp). Who do you write it for? Why should they read it?
Hopefully not just lawyers! For inside view of how social media & tech are changing legal practice (& my sparkling prose!)
- - Besides Twitter and your blogs, what other Web 2.0 tools do you regularly use?
LinkedIn, Facebook, FourSquare, StumbleUpon and Delicious mainly. Can’t see Google Buzz making the list at the moment!
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
We have gained new clients from Twitter and LinkedIn, but the biggest benefit is in relationships, authority and reputation
- - Indeed. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
At least an hour, but much of it slots into spare moments throughout the day and evening. More than that today!
- - And we greatly appreciate that! What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
in UK, a perfect storm:- recession, 2012 deregulation under LSA (http://bit.ly/bzHg2X (expand)) and enterprise 2.0 / legal tech
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
To answer that I will (loosely) paraphrase Bill Gates:- …
in 10 yrs the way solicitors work now will be obsolete. Only question is whether we make it obsolete or if someone else will
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I nearly became a soil scientist b4 I chose law, but if money was no object ski bum in winter, liveaboard sailor in summer!
- - How do you want to be remembered?
Not necessarily for my legal career or as first Wirral solicitor on Twitter! Hopefully as a good father
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
Try and spend time with Leo (our little boy), run & sail when I can (but promised my wife no marathons this year!)
- - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Focus on relationships w/ clients and other lawyers – when the market improves those networks will be critical
- - And our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
You have to call where the profession will be in 10 years and how you will fit. Focus on this as much as your law books.
Very valuable advice. Thanks very much for tweeting with me today.
thank you – it’s been great fun. First interview I have done with a beer in one hand!
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@London_Law_Firm
July 21st, 2009
Founding Partner of Silverman Sherliker LLP
Fly fisherman and one of the “coolest lawyers on Twitter”
Today we’re tweeting with @London_Law_Firm aka Chris Sherliker, fly fisherman and one of the “coolest lawyers in London”
- @London_Law_Firm thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @London_Law_Firm?
Hi, Lance! I am the ‘voice’ of our firm on T. Lawyer, Husband, Father, Web Marketer, Dog Owner, Fisherman, Artist. Renaissance Man!
- - Tell us about your law practice.
Silverman Sherliker is a full-service law firm in the City of London. Founded 1980.Now 30 lawyers strong and growing fast.
- - Congrats on nearly 30 years of success. What type of clients do you represent?
Our client base is very diverse.Many US and EU clients.A huge range of SME’s.We have all kinds of clients all over the globe
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Diverse issues!The world is changing fast affecting clients in different ways.The need for effective legal services endures
- - Indeed. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
“What are you trying to achieve?” – Until you know the answer to that one you cannot hope to give an effective service.
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
We broke the UK Opticians Cartel for US client, changing UK law on eye prescriptions opening up a new multi-million $ market.
- - That *is* significant…. Why do your clients hire you?
We are a down-to-earth, no-nonsense, entrepreneurial firm. WYSIWYG. No pomposity. No surprises.(Well…only good ones!)
- - Good surprises = the best kind. What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Very busy in IP-Just been accepted for Chambers Directory for IP work(hooray!) also litigation, labo(u)r ;-) and family law
- - Your firm also provides services in Mallorca as Mallorca UK Legal. How does it differ from Silverman Sherliker?
Mallorca UK is srvce fr expats who move to the Balearics but still have assets in the UK needing mngemt- its a service brand
- - How will the reforms of the Legal Services Act affect your practice and firm?
The LSA = deregulation and intense competition in the UK legal market.Big & ‘High St’ firms will suffer bt gd 4 niche firms
- - From this side of the world the changes appear revolutionary. How do you market your practice?
Politically motivated! Best ad is a happy client! Also client seminars, e-wire newsletters, speaking engagements, networking..prayer
- - How does Twitter fit into the traditional BD / mktg you’ve done since you founded your firm nearly 30 years ago?
..(these lights are killing me…my face needs powder…also a drink would be nice..Oh! how kind :-)
We were 1st UK law firm to do TV marketing (horror ;) We are No 1 London firm to TWEET. It pays to be first and its huge fun
- - Perhaps we’ll see those TV adverts on YouTube one day…? Besides Twitter, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use?
LOL Hope not! We hve a rolling website dev program. We hve about 12 micro-sites now ..3 more in development..also a new blog
- - Interesting. What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
Web is the single biggest source of new clients and new work. No question. The web referral model is also growing fast in UK
- - Nice validation of your efforts. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
I spend 110% (or more) of my time enhancing the business( hot under these lights, isn’t it? Hi Mom! … Hi Dad! :). )
- - Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
The Legal Services Act will kill off 50% of trad UK law firms. Significant enough? Many ‘000’s of new niche firms will arise instead
- - So what will the legal landscape look like in 10 years, then?
Total sea chng in the next 2 yrs.Institutions will tk much of market from trad law firms.Niche firms and brands will be born
…any chance of a drink …its 9.25pm here..Mrs London_Law_Firm is on the prowl :-(
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We’ll have you out of here and on your way soon….
…no problem….I enjoy a good game of tennis! :-)
- - Sounds like significant opportunities for many…. How do you want to be remembered?
He was a brilliant lawyer and a good guy ..and he could mix a really mean Vesper Martini #twepitaphs (I invented this, BTW)
- - More cutting-edge stuff on 22 Tweets…. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I wld write, fish, TWEET, spend more time with Mrs London_Law_Firm. Maybe a real estate developer or travel writer or both.
- - That reminds me – still waiting on that report from the Dordogne… What do you do when you’re not working?
You will *not* believe that Report! I spend time with my wife, family and my dogs. I fish. I paint in oils and watercolors. I tweet.
- - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Recgnse the legal world has chngd forever. Its not you. Its progress.Find the need. Meet it. Become a referrer of legal work
- - That’s a positive message. What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Learn web marketing skills. Do your own thing. Do something different.Take joy in service. Love your clients, (even the mad ones!)
Useful advice to close this great twitterview. Thank you very much for answering our questions today
C’etait un vrai plaisir!…Vive le .!.. goodbye Legal Tweeps….see you on the other side! Have a great evening, one and all!
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@venturelawyer
June 23rd, 2009
M&A, corporate transactions and corporate finance lawyer
Counsel at Sands Anderson Marks & Miller, PC
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Today we’re tweeting with @VentureLawyer, cyclist and business, finance and real estate lawyer in Richmond, Virginia
- @VentureLawyer, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @VentureLawyer?
Thomas L. Bowden, Sr., Counsel at Sands Anderson Marks & Miller, in the Business Transactions Team
- - Tell us about your law practice.
It is mostly a mix of transactions and general legal counseling – some Venture deals, angel deals, private M&A
- - What type of clients do you represent?
I represent entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses – people with drive and vision, and who interest me
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
Capital – finding it, attracting it, closing the deal, prtecting it and investing it
- - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
I helped a company grow from $3 million in sales to $4 billion. I helped buld a company that won a $400MM contract
- - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
Clients should expect me to share my experience as an entrepreneur in addition to my legal counsel
- - Why do your clients hire you?
Easy to deal with, not just a technician. I get on their side of the table and think like an owner/general counsel
- - How are you and your firm responding to financial difficulties your clients may be experiencing?
We help them find funding, work with their struggling customers, make adjustments & tough choices
- - Your career has been split between in-house and private practice. How does this help you better advise your clients?
It’s invaluable. I have walked in their shoes, experienced the challenges, frustrations, joys and pains of entrepreneurship
- - That’s valuable experience. 15 yrs ago you were Racing Across America on a bike. How did that impact your practice?
I learned that I could accomplish what at first seemed impossible, and not to see limits as absolutes – to never give up
- - It’s a tremendous accomplishment! What would you say has been the most satisfying aspect of being a lawyer?
Seeing a client succeed in their business, achieve their dream, or survive a threat to their existence
- - How do you market your practice?
Word of mouth, networking, and increasingly, social media. And we have a terrific marketing team!
- - I read a few years ago that “cycling is the new golf” for biz dev. Do you cycle with your clients?
–Yes! in fact one of my clients is building a velodrome! He is faster for now, but not for long..
- - Now THAT’S dedication to the sport! Besides Twitter, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use?
LinkedIn mostly – just started a Facebook page. Some blogging starting discussions in LinkedIn groups.
- - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have your Web 2.0 activities provided?
It’s really to early to tell – I am fairly new at this. But I am adding followers even as we are doing this! Cool!
- - How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
.5 to 2 hours, depending on events, my reactions to them and whatever is on my mind
- - Let’s switch gears: what’s the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
We must align our interests more with clients needs and goals Clients want results, they don’t care about our timesheets
- - Indeed. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Flatter – technology will continue to level the playing field and larger firms will have to adjust or die
- - Interesting perspective. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Start another company, maybe technology related, maybe not. Probably less about an invention, more about service
- - You’ll keep us posted if you do that in your spare time, won’t you? How do you want to be remembered?
As a good husband, father, friend and counselor, both professionally and on a personal level
- - What do you do when you’re not working?
Cycling, photography, kayaking, boatbuilding, a little inventing here and there
- - Perhaps we can have you back to talk about your inventions… What advice do you have for people in law school today?
Decide what you want to be, not what Biglaw wants you to be. Then make it happen.
That’s useful advice. This was a great twitterview; thank you very much for answering our questions today
You are most welcome!
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@tommclain
June 11th, 2009
Corporate, M&A and International Attorney
Shareholder at Chorey, Taylor & Feil
Secretary and Executive Committee member of the Board of Directors of the World Chamber of Commerce
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Today we’re pleased to be tweeting with Atlanta-based international corporate / M&A lawyer @tommclain
- @tommclain Thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @tommclain?
Recovering litigator now focused on helping businesses succeed. In August, I will complete my 25th year of practice.
- - Congratulations. Tell us about your law practice.
Basically 3 overlapping areas – corporate/M&A/international. In better times, I’d have at least 1 M&A deal going always.
My international is mostly “inbound” and is deals + corporate. As for corporate, I essentially act as a general counsel.
- - What type of clients do you represent?
Typically, businesses and business owners from startups to middle market. I’ve also done work for Fortune 500 companies.
- - What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
“Show me the money.” Ok not a legal issue, but tight credit drives all sorts of decisions which evolve into legal issues.
- - That makes sense. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
Besides that I actually expect to get paid for my work??
I’m”all-in.” I often dream up ideas for your business. The more successful you are, the more you can afford to pay me ;)
- - That too makes a lot of sense. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Picking 1 is hard. Most would point to a Fortune 500 client or their largest deal but to me significance=problem complexity.
A JV between a Canadian and Mexican company that took about 12 months to negotiate or combining 5 smaller business into 1.
- - Why do your clients hire you?
Dashing good looks? I think they discover I will invest time to understand their business & combine legal&legal common sense
- - How has the economic crisis affected your clients’ ability to do business?
Startups can’t find $. Established businesses can’t find growth capital. Customers and suppliers failing. How depressing!
- - Are you seeing a greater demand for alternative billing arrangements as the crisis continues?
Not really. But we froze our ‘09 hourly rates at ‘08 levels. + when I joined my firm a year ago, I trimmed my rates by 10%.
Still, most clients want a budget amount which more or less becomes a flat fee. Proper communication is quite critical.
- - What’s the international M&A scene going to look like over the coming 12 months?
I Keep predicting the same thing & eventually will be right. More acquisitions of US business by foreign business/investors.
- - So we’ll see an increasing number of foreign companies buying US assets, like the Chinese group that is buying Hummer?
Exactly (China now wants Volvo). But I think lots of things will be attractive. Real estate, manufacturing, you name it.
- - How do you market your practice?
Traditional ways 1st:Face2face contact,Community work (World Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee).Then Internet “stuff.”
- - Why did you decide to join Twitter? Has it proven to be a valuable effort?
I just kept reading/hearing “you have to.” I haven’t been here 2 months yet, so its too early to tell, but i think it will.
- - Perhaps you can come back in a few months and update us. Beyond Twitter, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use? Why?
Sure. I’m invested in LinkedIn & run a corporate lawyer group there, thanks to @barrettdavid. Nothing else has traction.
I tend to lump all Internet “stuff” together So blogging, SEO for our website. Avvo Lawyers.com LawLink.com RSS as resource
The point of it all is to let people learn about your skills, experience and personality.
- - Have your Web 2.0 activities had any affect on referrals or client engagements?
LinkedIn is beginning to get traction. Its hard to track: I’ve seen convergence between Web 2.0 and traditional efforts.
- - Indeed. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
My goal is meal with a client or referral source every day, but its probably 3 a week + other direct personal interactions.
Throw in my work at the World Chamber Commerce and the “Internet stuff” and its at least 10-15 hrs a week.
- - With client work makes for busy a week…. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Communicating why lawyers are valuable at whatever billing basis is used. How do you value the lawsuit not filed?
- - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
You’re kidding! A continuing tension between commoditizing legal services & recognizing a personal touch is often required.
- - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I’d love to be an entrepreneur, but I know too much about risk and am way to risk adverse. Maybe a cowboy!
- - I ask everyone this question, but know that for you it has a particular relevance: how do you want to be remembered?
I admit thinking about this lately due to recent events. A great husband/father/friend. A guy who visibly lived his faith.
I guess I should explain the “particular relevance”. On 5/28 I found I have a brain tumor. Had a biopsy last Thursday.
Anybody know any good jokes about lawyers with holes in their head?
- - See you’re keeping sense of humor…know many tweeps have you in their thoughts. What do you do when you’re not working?
Keeping up with 3 daughters (21,19&16) & 1 wife. Living, laughing & loving. Working in yard, being in the woods, praying.
- - That brings us to our last question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
DON’T DO IT!! Just kidding.
Don’t succumb to the pressure – it’s a great time to learn how to balance normal life with the demands of law practice.
This was a great twitterview, thank you so much. Know that 22 Tweets followers everywhere are sending you positive vibes
Cool. Thanks, I enjoyed it. And, it didn’t hurt one bit! Now I guess I have to go back to work.
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@pgardnerii
May 5th, 2009
Corporate and Entertainment Lawyer
Managing Partner, Gardner Law Group
One of the first lawyers to network on MySpace
Today, we’re tweeting w/ @pgardnerii: corp / entertainment lawyer & only 22 Tweets interviewee to attend a Kanye West B-day party
- @Pgardnerii, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @Pgardnerii?
I am a corp. and entertainment lawyer, methodical thinker, loyal friend, chess player, serious accident survivor, shark, and 6′5″
- Wow – enough there for FIVE twitterviews! Tell us about your law practice.
My practice is never boring! Deal with celebrities almost everyday. Long nights either in office or out with clients – VIP style
- Yes, I often see your tweets from the office very late at night. What type of clients do you represent?
corporations, companies, rappers, singers, music producers, movie producers, managers, artists, models, street teams, media, etc.
- What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
What I can do, and what I cannot do for them. I manage expectations. I rather under-promise and then over-deliver.
- Why do your clients hire you?
because I deliver results, I can be reached on the phone, I manage expectations, I provide cigars, champagne and pool in my office
- You’ll probably get lots of resumes after that tweet… What was the most significant client representation you’ve had?
LOL
in my career, all of my client representation has been significant!
- Very wise answer…. What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
;-) Digital rights management and the ongoing hardcopy sales loss to digital music. I tell my clients 2 use www.gigcalculator.com
- What then is the single most important *business* issue affecting your clients?
without hesitation – the RECESSION!
- You spent several years at BigLaw before founding your own firm. What led you to strike out on your own?
I spent 4 years at DLA Piper. I struck out on my own because I figured out that I was a rainmaker and that I could keep my profits!
- Looks like you were right from here. How difficult was the transition from BigLaw to solo?
VERY difficult. I would not have done it if I knew that the first couple of years were going to be so hard.
- Would love to hear more about that – could you come back for 2nd twitterview on that? How do you market your practice?
yes, no problem – so long as you have a cigar and a game of pool on me!
I market my practice via word-of-mouth; social networking; and some very strategic marketing opportunities
- How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
At least 7 hours a day! Each decision I make on a clients’ case develops or enhances my brand. Sometimes, beyond that client.
- When and why did you become active on Twitter?
I became active on Twitter about 2-3 months ago. I became active because I know social networking sites are good for my business!
- I believe you were one of the first lawyers to network on MySpace. Are you still active there?
Yes, to both. MySpace is still VERY viable with over 110 million monthly active users around globe – (Entertainmentesq on MySpace)
- Social media / social networking clearly very important to your practice. What specific benefits have you seen from it?
SIGNIFICANT increase to my bottom line! Properly utilizing social networking tools can generate a new revenue stream for people
- Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Out of lack of minorities, age discrimination, judicial compensation, & client access to cheaper legal solutions – I say access
- Hard to argue with that. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
In my humble opinion, I think that you will see a globalization of the legal profession soon
- What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I would probably be an NBA player – blocking Shaq’s shots!
- At 6′5″, you might be able to do that! How do you want to be remembered?
LOL, I would like to be remembered as a fair, but no-nonsense lawyer, a family man, and a cool, down to earth southern gentleman
- What do you do when you’re not working?
I Twitter, play chess, exercise, watch 24 on TV, recite lines from TV commercials and movies, and play practical jokes on my kids!
- You are a busy man! What’s at the top of your iPod playlist?
I listen to a lot of client music! But mainstream stuff too like Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Asher Roth, Los, Angel Lola Luv, Baltimore Snoop, etc
did I mention that I play the trombone so I listen to classical music too? The Baroque period is my favorite! ;-)
- Hip Hop + Baroque = the new mashup? Final question: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Hey, let me work on that! My advice is to do well in law school but also learn how to get clients and build your “book of business”
Thanks for the great twitterview! When you come back you can talk about that B-day party…. http://bit.ly/ZHssP
shhhhhhhhhhh, what happens at parties – stays at the parties! ;-)
Oops…. Did I say “party”? I meant “drafting session”. Really
LOL – now you’re getting how the entertainment world REALLY works!
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