@glennm

November 11th, 2009

glenn_soccomm09Glenn Manishin

Competition, intellectual property and policy advocacy lawyer

Partner, Duane Morris LLP

Author of Glenn’s Web and LexDigerati

Web pioneer and Web 2.0 legal guru

Today we’re tweeting with @glennm, biglaw antitrust / telecom / technology litigator turned Web 2.0 legal guru

  1. @glennm thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @glennm?
    Good morning . Thanks for inviting me.
    A tech atty. focused on comp. policy, IP & complex litigation. I help to shape the rules for new technologies, like social media.
    -
  2. Tell us about your law practice.
    My practice has broadened over the years as technology developed, from telecom to software and Internet to mobility and content….
    It all started at DOJ during the US v. AT&T divestiture case, where I 1st combined antitrust with telecom regulation.
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  3. That’s quite a resume! What type of clients do you represent?
    Clients who can pay their bills. ;-) Seriously, my clients range from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. Hard 2 generalize.
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  4. I can imagine…. What would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
    “What am I?” Meaning, how will legislators, courts and regulators classify and treat our products and services. That affects…
    …business Qs like CRM, IP protection/licensing and relations with both partners and competitors.
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  5. Sounds like fascinating work. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
    “It’s better 2 be the windshield than the bug.” Be proactive in managing the development of law & policy affecting ur space.
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  6. Am sure you’ve got some great success stories: tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
    My fave is representing Netscape in 1995-96, when the FCC faced the Q of what was this new animal of the Net…
    …Netscape WAS the Internet and we inaugurated a federal policy of minimal regulation that survives (in large part) today.
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  7. Wow. And we all thank you for that…. Why do your clients hire you?
    I’m smart, fast and strategic. I would rather solve a problem with a conf. call than write a research memo. And I try to craft…
    …legal strategies for clients that further their long-term bus. plan rather than just dispose of “one off” disputes.
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  8. What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
     Over the past 2-3 years it’s been litigation. But the law moves in cycles, sometimes regulatory agencies r where the action is….
    …and at other times firms must act to resolve issues by taking them to the courts. We’re in the latter phase in tech now.
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  9. What have been the biggest changes in your practice over the past few years? Clients? Technology? The Law?
     A move away from private antitrust litigation to intellectual property, as competition issues have become dominated by disputes…
    …over ownership of the underlying tech methods and assets. Take VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) for one example.
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  10. What will be the next great legal battle of Web 2.0? Why should we pay attention to it?
     Who owns user-generated content is the big unsettled Q. It will impact users, social network providers and content creators…
    …If most or all digital content can b “shared,” how do older rules re proprietary rights apply in the new environment.
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  11. You’re at an AmLaw 100 firm. How does your firm’s leadership view your active Web 2.0 presence?
     Mgmt. is supportive & has tasked me several times w/teaching our lawyers how to utilize and interact w/social media.
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  12. That’s great. What do you say to lawyers who thumb their noses at social media and social networking?
     Hope they don’t thumb noses. But lawyers are conservative creatures and thus tend not to embrace change quickly…
    …I’d say that if attys. do not “get it,” they probably won’t get as many clients and work as new modes of communication develop.
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  13. Your Web 2.0 presence is a mash-up of personal & professional. What are your SocMed objectives? Are you achieving them?
    I’m more concerned with satisfying a passion for early adoption than forming concrete objectives from social media. My philosophy…
    …has always been to find industries, partners and clients that excite me, so work is satisfying instead of a burden. The rest..
    …typically follows, namely success, profit and (we hope) happiness.
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  14. Nice. What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
     I’ve been approached and retained by about 1/2 dozen clients in the past 12-18 months from social media contacts. The familiarity…
    …created by a user’s “social stream” tends 2 build closer relationships from the start than cold calls either way.
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  15. Indeed. Can be a significant competitive advantage. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    Discipline is key, else social media addiction can consume one’s life. I dedicate 30 mins, in the morning and then periodically…
    …review/post stories re current events (emphasizing law/policy, of course) of interest. Content is the best promotion.
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  16. Seems to be working well…. Let’s switch gears. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    It’s clear that Big Law is facing its most challenging bus. environment in decades. Pressures to reduce and make fees predictable…
    …r sending shock waves of RIFs throughout the field. What will the bus. model be 4 legal servs. in the 21st century?
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  17. What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
     Ah, if I could predict that, I’d be able to retire now. ;-) 20 yrs. ago I never imagined 3000+ lawyer firms, so I don’t…
    ..pretend to have a crystal ball on the legal landscape. Change can b both exhilarating and frightening, however.
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  18. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
     Photographer or ski bum. Maybe there’s still time left? I could take a bluetooth headset 2 the slopes & do bus. in powder. .
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  19. How do you want to be remembered?
     Unless a person becomes historically famous, legacy is all about the memories one leaves with family, colleagues and friends….
    …So while I am not especially religious, I believe in “from dust to dust.”
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  20. What do you do when you’re not working?
     Law is a jealous mistress as the old saying goes. Time is a precious commodity in short supply. So on off hours I recharge my…
    …batteries, enjoy time with wife/friends and try to beat my freshman-year son in fantasy football (he’s going down!).
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  21. What advice can you pass along to the increasing # of lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
    Quoting Jim Carville, it’s the economy, stupid. Do not equate self-worth with job prospects. Keep faith in urself & ur innate value.
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  22. And our final question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    Enjoy being an atty., but remember most of lawyering is in small details. Master craft first before trying 2b creative.

Relevant advice Indeed. Thanks so much for tweeting with me today; I really enjoyed learning more about you & your practice.

And thanks much 4 the Twitterview, Lance. I’m honored to be your guest. Very early here (Calif.), so hope I was coherent.

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@chrischeatham

May 12th, 2009

c-cheathamChris Cheatham

Construction attorney

LEED Accredited Professional (AP)

Associate, Crowell & Moring

Author of the Green Building Law Update blog

Today, we’re tweeting with @chrischeatham: construction attorney, LEED AP, author of the Green Building Law Update blog, and more

  1. @Chrischeatham, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Who is the person behind @Chrischeatham?
    I’m a construction attorney concerned about green building legal issues on the horizon.
  2. Tell us about your law practice.
    I do construction litigation primarily. We handle big and small construction delay cases.
  3. What type of clients do you represent?
    Contractors, sureties, owners. Often against federal or state govts.
  4. What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
    Responsibility for LEED certification. Or at least it will be…
  5. Sounds like you’ll be busy for a while…. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
    You have to understand the owner’s expectations og a green building project to manage risk.
    I also tell clients you have to understand the owner’s expectations OF a green building project to manage risk.
  6. :-) What was the most significant client representation you’ve had?
    Easy. We represented numerous insurers in the Katrina litigation. Would’ve been largest construction litigation case ever.
  7. I can only imagine…. Why do your clients hire you?
    I can handle very complicated construction delay cases efficiently. And low rates!
  8. Good reasons indeed. How are you and your firm responding to financial difficulties your clients may be experiencing?
    Our rates are low so we can litigate for clients who have a tight budget.
  9. You are certified as LEED AP (the 2nd to be interviewed on 22 Tweets!). How does that help your clients?
    I understand legal risks that arise from LEED process. And I can properly draft LEED project contracts
  10. Why aren’t more traditional construction firms embracing green building, particularly given the economy?
    Initial costs to learn green construction is a barrier. And green still not in demand in majority of country.
  11. Is that changing? Will green building ever have a meaningful impact on the country’s energy requirements? When?
    Absolutely. Absolutely. The stimulus includes $25B for green building. Will have big impact and market will shift.
  12. That’s welcome news… How do you market your practice?
    My blog is my homebase. I use it to generate leads, speaking and writing opportunities. @lexblog is the best!
  13. How much time would you say you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
    Maybe an hour? I lost track a long time ago.
  14. Bet it’s more than that… You mentioned your blog (http://bit.ly/GhOE). Why do you write it and who should read it?
    I write it because I’m concerned about legal issues facing green building industry.
    Green building industry professionals who recognize risk should read it.
  15. Has blogging made you a better lawyer? How?
    Definitely. I look for issues that could harm my clients before they happen.
  16. A nice value-add for them. What impact have your Web 2.0 activities had on referrals and client engagements?
    My best green building contacts are direct result of my blog and twitter. And more diversified contacts.
  17. Nice value-add for you…. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
    The entire legal landscape has shifted. Firms got too big. I am very concerned for young associates.
  18. Perhaps trend changing:could argue that firms are shrinking… What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
    Firms shrinking means associates fired. 10 years: smaller, regional firms. Lower rates or even flat rates.
  19. Interesting perspective re fees. What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
    I think I would be a novelist, like Hemingway. I would go crazy like him too.
  20. Phew. Good thing you got into law school…. How do you want to be remembered?
    Professionally: dedicated and fair. Personally: good husband.
  21. What do you do when you’re not working?
    Watch Kansas Jayhawks sporting events. Some might say I am a bit obsessed with Kansas basketball.
  22. Last question for you today: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
    Recognize that things have changed. Figure out your passion and write and talk about it all the time.

Thanks for the interview today. It was fun!

Thank you very much for tweeting with 22 Tweets and answering our questions. This was a great twitterview.

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