@paulrubell
December 16th, 2010
Business and Technology Lawyer
Partner, Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP
Special Professor of Law, Hofstra Law School
Today we’re tweeting with Long Island business and technology lawyer @paulrubell, former attorney to Dr Robert Atkins
- @paulrubell thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @paulrubell?
Well, I’m a lawyer in New York, which I hope you won’t hold against me. I’m also a prof at Hofstra Law School.
– - Tell us about your law practice.
I focus on the #technology space – software developers, mergers/acquisitions, tech transfer, privacy.
– - What type of clients do you represent?
Mid-cap and emerging #growth #companies; designers and customers of #software; #businesses and their owners.
– - And what is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
The #cloud + its attendant #security and #privacy concerns. Also the #economic #climate (ok that’s 2 issues).
– - Two big issues…. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
“This meeting is #confidential, whether you engage me as your #lawyer or we shake hands and say good bye.”
– - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Cant breach client #privileged, #confidential. More than 1: many, where people’s lives, #careers,, families are at stake.
– - Why do your clients hire you?
Recommendations, mostly. My holistic approach to personal & business – and I hope, my intelligence & experience.
– - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
A lot of M+A deals. Licensing #software. Business advice of all kinds. Growth strategies.Typical? My firm & I are fortunate.
– - You work with a lot of entrepreneurs. How have they fared in the economic crisis? Any signs of improvement?
#Business in mandate industries (#healthcare, #financial) is booming. Service industries are slow.
– - Let’s talk about your work with Dr Atkins. There must have been some unique challenges…. What did you do for him?
I was Dr A’s personal & corporate lawyer from 1997 to his passing in 2003. I productized his nutriceutical company, grew it.
– - In addition to your law practice, you teach at Hofstra Law. Why do you teach? How does it make you a better lawyer?
I teach to give back to the bar and the community. I want to train young #lawyers for the real world of #business….(more)
….. Writing with clarity is an essential, scarce skill. I learn from students, and getting back to basics is key.
– - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I listen. I try to understand their interests, aspirations. Make #eye contact. Use #body #language. It’s just like #dating.
– - Good analogy….. When did you become active on Twitter? What were your objectives then? Have they changed?
I joined #Twitter in late 2008/early 2009 (thereabouts) as a way of learning from others…. (more)
….& sharing information.I have to understand client’s needs re social media, law. My goals haven’t changed since then.
– - What does your firm’s leadership think of your Twitter presence? Was it difficult to get their buy-in?
Social media is an emerging world, esp in business. Buy-in was easy once it’s explained/understood ….(more)
..…Media’s use in my firm dove-tails advice I give to clients.
– - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements, if any, have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
I use #Web 2.0 as a tool to facilitate communication & collaboration; board meetings, overseas. I haven’t used it to market.
– - Interesting approach. Let’s switch gears now: What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
As always, quality #advice is hard to find. And today – so are jobs. …..(more)
…..As #clients’ businesses meet obstacles, their need/ability to pay for #lawyers diminishes.
– - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Old/new. America is litigious; that won’t change. Emerging areas of law such as #robotics, #free #software will flourish….
More #tech tools (who knows what?!) will be at lawyers’ disposal, and more concerns about #safeguarding #client data.
– - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I would design software applications, as I’ve been doing since 1969…..(more)
And my son @brentrubell wants to hire me as his general #counsel.
– - How do you want to be remembered?
That is a scary question. Family member, friend, kind, caring.
– - What do you do when you’re not working?
Enjoy my #kids and #wife, #friends. #Bike ride, going to the local #beach, read #science #fiction, #sleep.
– - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Don’t give up. The economy will turn. Take any job in any area of law that opens up. Don’t be picky.
– - And our final question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Get A’s. #Network. And get A’s. #Learn as much as you can, about anything / everything. And get A’s.
Good solid advice! Thanks for your time today; I enjoyed learning more about you and your practice.
Thank you so much, Lance. Your questions were well conceived, as is this forum. I am grateful to have participated.
Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Business Law, Long Island, Technology | Comments Off on @paulrubell@liquidluncher
December 7th, 2010
Today we’re tweeting w/Massachusetts family, estate planning and real estate lawyer who enjoys running, food and beer @Liquidluncher
- @Liquidluncher, thank you for joining us on Twitter. Tell us, who is @Liquidluncher?
I am a western MA native. I love eating. I am a beer snob. I run a lot of charity races to burn the calories from both.
– - Tell us about your law practice.
I am in Holyoke, MA. I have a general civil practice. Mostly family, guardianship, estate planning, probate & real estate
– - What type of clients do you represent?
I have mostly private clients with divorce/custody cases. I represent a lot of guardians. I love solving probate disputes
– - What would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
No one single issue but most have concerns for safety and well-being of loved ones. Many clients are in financial distress
– - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I tell them I will do the best I can. They make all the final decisions. I will fight hard for them to achieve fair and just
– - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
There are two (1) Iranian woman with custody dispute. If lost her son would return to Iran and she would never see him (2)…
…(2) I worked on a MA Supreme Judicial Court case regarding child support with same sex couple who had child together
– - That sounds like challenging work. Why do your clients hire you?
I have a good reputation for honesty and integrity. I have been described as a diplomatic bulldog. I truly look for fair
– - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Guardianship, estate admins and real estate. kind of typical. New Probate Code in MA. I am a bit of an authority on it
– - How has the economic crisis affected your clients? Are you beginning to see signs of recovery?
It has. I do limited representation b/c people cannot afford me to handle their entire case. Not sure about recovery signs
– - Tell us about the Pro Bono Publico Award you received in 2009. What was it for?
I received award from Bar for commitment to providing access to justice to low income people. I volunteer a lot at the Court
– - Clearly you take pro bono very seriously. What types of pro bono do you do? How does it make you a better lawyer?
I volunteer to represent people. Provide free info seminars. I review Guardian reports for Court. I chair vol. lawyer group
– - That must be very satisfying…. How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
I usually tell people I am a problem solver and that I take care of people who need help before I tell them I am a lawyer!
– - 🙂 How do you generally market your practice? Does social media play a big part in your marketing efforts?
most marketing is word of mouth. I use online marketing including social media to market. I do very little print advertising
– - How long have you been active on Twitter? Has your Twitter strategy changed over that time?
About 6 mths. It has changed. Less direct marketing. It is more about maintaining presence and building relationships
– - Makes sense. Have your Web 2.0 activities led to any referrals or client engagements?
I have had several clients inquire about hiring me through Facebook. At least 1 from twitter. It is hard to track sometimes.
– - That’s a great result for your efforts. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
The intermingling of politics in election of Judges. No elections in MA. Can’t make tough decision when job is on the line
– - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Probably pretty similar to now, except more online legal filing like in Fed Court. Probably many issues with privacy rights
– - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I can’t imagine doing anything else. I would probably move to Maine and become a lobster fisherman or start a brewery
– - How do you want to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as someone who was honest and always helped the less fortunate
– - What do you do when you’re not working?
I run longer distances working up to ½ marathon. Usually 6-10 miles. I like trying beer I have never had and new restaurants
– - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
If you can afford to, keep working, even if you have to do more pro bono. There is a lot of Ct appointed work out there too
– - And our last question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
It is obvious that you need to work hard but equally important to learn how to market yourself and build relationships
That’s all very good advice. Thanks for tweeting with us today; was great to learn about you and your practice
No problem. This was a lot of fun! Thanks
Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Estate Planning, Family Law, Holyoke MA, Real Estate | Comments Off on @liquidluncher
