@cstegmaier
May 28th, 2009
Retail/Hospitality and Appellate Lawyer based in Columbia, South Carolina
Shareholder and Marketing Partner at Collins and Lacy
Today, we’re tweeting with @cstegmaier, a retail/hospitality and appellate lawyer who also tweets for his firm, @collinsandlacy
- @cstegmaier, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @cstegmaier?
I am a partner @ Collins & Lacy, an SC business litigation firm. I am also the marketing partner. http://tinyurl.com/l3h9w2
- Tell us about your law practice.
I do 2 things: appellate & represent retailers and hospitality-related entities doing business in SC in lit matters.
- Tell us a little more about the clients you represent
On the lit side, I represent hotels, restaurants, live music venues/promoters, food service providers, & retailers.
- What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
Getting a handle on the new electronic disco rules. SC is 2 steps from adopting the federal rules…
… Also, Medicare Set Asides. What a jungle that is going to be.
- What then would you say is the most important business issue facing your clients?
Retail & hospitality have taken tremendous hits in revenues this last year…
… A main job of ours is to work hard to reduce defense & indemnity costs b/c they affect the bottom line.
- What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
My mission/promise is this: I am going to be diligent, deliberate, decisive, responsive, & reliable.
- You said the economy is hitting your clients pretty hard. Just how bad is it for them right now?
Everybody is watching their pennies. I do the same. We spend our clients’ money like it’s ours.
- Am sure they appreciate it (I know I would). Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had
We rep the world’s largest music promoter, the nation’s largest private depart store retailer & the world’s leading hotel brand …
… Protecting these brands is an awesome responsibility (and a lot of fun).
- That’s a great client list! Why do your clients hire you?
We know our stuff. We are proactive. We are responsive. We are genuine. We tell the truth. Our bills are fair.
- How do you help your clients meet their business and strategic objectives?
We get immersed in our clients’ businesses. We spend a lot time w/ them. We read everything about them. We know them …
… Getting that kind of understanding of our clients’ businesses helps us help them.
- That must make a big difference in your ability to represent them…. How do you market your practice?
Delivering great outcomes. Exceeding expectations. As well, we blog & Twitter. We do a weekly email update to clients …
… We are more focused on satisfying existing clients that always being on the hunt for new ones. We’ve got a great book …
… Clients get tired of being repped by “the finders.” … Our current clients are our priorities.
… Our firm has also developed a Facebook page. It’s a nice compliment to our existing website. http://tinyurl.com/lktalf
- Impressive mktg program! You blog at South Carolina Retail & Hospitality Law (http://bit.ly/g8G4D). Who should read it?
Everybody! I love the traffic …
…Seriously, if you do business in SC as a retailer/hospitality co., we keep you apprised of legal issues that arise here.
- You also tweet as @collinsandlacy. What is the difference in the two feeds?
@cstegmaier relates to my personal brand/practice. @collinsandlacy is our firm wide message.
- Why did you opt for separate feed from your firm rather posting the same tweets under your own name?
We have 30 lawyers in 3 cities across the state. We use the @collinsandlacy platform to promote all of our practice areas.
- Have your Web 2.0 activities had an impact on referrals or client engagements?
We are primarily interested about getting the word out about our firm & its capabilities …
Our social media activities have noticeably increased our brand identity. A lot more folks know about us.
- With two Twitter feeds, the blog, etc., how much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Approx 1-2 hours re: direct activities. Of course, it can be said that everything you do relates to your brand identity.
- Agreed. Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
For younger attys, managing their debt. I feel for those folks…
… For mid-levels and partners, maintaining the pace & staying fresh. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
- What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
For firms repping institutional clients, you better have substantive content available digitally for free…
Additionally, ADR (including appellate ADR) will become a larger presence …
Also, the full serv. firm will become a thing of the past. Sophisticated clients want specialists at the top of their game.
- Those are some significant changes for the profession…. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I would trade places with a younger Greg Maddux in a second …
… In real life: a hotel gm, restaurant owner, or in-house firm marketing coordinator.
- How do you want to be remembered?
One of the best things that can be said about you is that you were good & reliable …
… I’d like to be remembered as being both.
- What do you do when you’re not working?
South Carolina is a wonderful state. Our family loves to hit the road and discover SC from the mountains to the sea …
I’ve also been teaching as an adjunct in hotel & restaurant law at the Univ. of S. C. That’s been a great experience.
- Our last question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Borrow the minimal amt you can get away with. Consider taking time off between undergrad & law sch. Get some $$$ together.
That’s useful advice. Thank you very much for answering our questions and giving us a great twitterview today
Thanks so much. It was a pleasure!
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| Tags: Appellate, Blawger, Columbia SC, Litigation, Retail and Hospitality |
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