@russellbesq

September 17th, 2009

Russell Beck

Partner and Head of Trade Secret/Noncompete Task Force, Foley & Lardner LLP

Co-author of Trade Secret / Noncompete Blog

Today we’re tweeting with lawyer @russellbesq who heads up the Trade Secret / Noncompete practice of a global firm

  1. @russellbesq thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @russellbesq?
    Thank you. Pleasure to be here. The answer is: Father, husband, lawyer, photographer, law school lecturer, author.
  2. Tell us about your law practice.
    20 years as commercial litigator, w/focus on soft IP (copyright, trademark, trade secret), especially, noncompete agreements
  3. What type of clients do you represent?
    I represent clients of all sizes in all industries. Mostly companies, but sometimes individuals, esp. in noncompete cases.
  4. What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
    Hard to say; law is developing in many areas, but…changes to Computer Fraud & Abuse Act and poss change in MA noncomp law
  5. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
    Despite being a litigator, I tell new clients that litig is last resort. It’s costly, stressful & long. R u sure u need it?
  6. That’s a useful perspective. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
    Over 20 years, there have been lots; 4 me, signif derives frm meaningfulness 2 client. Eg, 2 clients accused of fraud. …
    There had been a related case w/their company, represented by other lawyers and lost. Individuals came 2 me 4 their case. …
    My clients hadn’t done wrong, but co. had lost & these cases r rarely won b/f trial. But, we won w/o trial. …
    It was very emotional for them; I will never forget their joy and thankfulness.
  7. That’s a great story! Why do your clients hire you?
    I like 2 think that it’s b/c I work to understand the case from their perspective, take a practical approach & hate to lose!
  8. All good qualities in a lawyer… What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
    Trade secret/noncomps (counseling and litigation). Yes typical, but times when more copyright, trademark & commercial lit.
  9. You drafted the current bill pending before MA House to define & codify MA noncompetition law. How did that come about?
    MA high ct issued decision, after which a state rep, Lori Ehrlich, asked me if I would help to advise on and revise the law
  10. That’s a great recognition of your work and experience. How do you market your practice?
    Traditional marketing (wrote the book on MA noncompetes, lecture, happy clients, etc) & new media: Twitter, LinkedIn, Blog.
  11. How do you describe what you do to people you meet at networking events?
    I try to avoid pitch, instead have fun. If asked, I say that I am a litigator who fixes problems, but prefer to prevent them
  12. What led a 20-year partner at a global law firm to embrace non-traditional marketing as aggressively as you have done?
    I have a computer science background, and have always been very tech savvy. It’s purely b/c I enjoy it.
  13. You write Trade Secret/Noncompete Blog jointly w/4 others (http://bit.ly/12VjKM). Do you recommend that approach? Why?
    TSN Blog is new; I started it for F&L’s trade secret/noncomp group (which I run). There r 50+ lawyrs, so more will write. …
    I recommend it – more/diverse content & I believe people shld do as much or as little as they wish. I enjoy it, so I do it.
  14. What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
    We r more visible. So, new clients r more likely 2 have heard of us when they r referred by other clients or lawyers. …
    For example, just today, someone saw on Twitter that we were doing the web seminar and contacted us to attend.
  15. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    Not to be glib, but as much as I have! I do a lot of writing and speaking, and then use new media when I can slip it in.
  16. Let’s switch gears a bit. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    Cost. Legal services, esp litig, r costly. Lawyers, clients, law makers & courts must wk together 2 make it more practical.
  17. That makes sense. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    If I only knew! 🙂 I suspect more small firms & fewer – but larger – big firms. Conflict of interest rules will b relaxed.
  18. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    I do love what I do, but… (and don’t laugh!) race car driver (but my wife would kill me), so, photographer or astronomer.
  19. One of the earlier twitterviewees said he’d race motorcycles…. How do you want to be remembered?
    (Hmm… shld add motorcycles!) Loving father, husband, brother, and son. Good friend.
  20. What have I started… What advice do you have for lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
    (No worries, my wife wld kill me more for that!) Times r really tough. They must market. …
    … Market, market, market. After that, market more. But, focus on types of mkting u enjoy. Ask 4 help & find mentors.
  21. What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    Focus on areas of interest and practical skills. You can learn the rest when needed – and you will for the bar.
  22. That’s good advice. Our final question for your today: What do you do when you’re not working?
    Is there a time I’m not working?! 🙂 #1 priority: time w/kids & wife (& dog). Then, photog, computer, garden, music, driving

Well, thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions today: this was a great twitterview!

It was my pleasure. Thank you for the thoughtful questions and taking the time to twitterview me!

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