@DavidMorganLLB
June 23rd, 2011
Employment Lawyer and Accredited Mediator
Partner, Burness LLP
- @DavidMorganLLB, thank you for joining us on Twitter. Tell us, who is @DavidMorganLLB?
Hi. I’m an employment law partner and head of the dispute resolution department @BurnessLLP. I’m an accredited mediator too.
– - Tell us about your law practice.
@BurnessLLP is a full service commercial law firm with offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland
– - What type of clients do you represent?
Mainly large employers UK-wide. Commercial and public sectors. We’re big in media, retail and leisure
– - And what would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
Challenge of keeping up-to-date with developments in a fast-moving field: Age discrimination and retirement are hot topics
– - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I ask to visit their workplace for a tour. It’s so important to understand how their staff work, so I can shape my advice
– - That makes a lot of sense. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
I defended an employer from protective award claims following redundancies. Value circa £1M (Big for #ukemplaw!) 1/2
2/2 There were multiple union-backed claims. High stakes. We successfully resolved them at judicial mediation in London
– - Why do your clients hire you?
I’m told responsiveness and client focus sets us apart @BurnessEmplaw. Relationships are important to #HR professionals
– - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
2 years ago – redundancies. Last year – Tribunal claim surge. This year – more positive: projects, training and deal support
– - How is social media affecting employer / employee relations in the UK? Is the law evolving in response?
Most clients now embrace it. But, for some, still a fear-factor as #HR see how it can go wrong by employee misuse at work
– - Indeed. Your firm is part of the Employment Law Alliance. What does that mean for your clients? For your firm?
Hugely important. ELA gives us a global reach to ‘best in breed’ employment lawyers around the world ~ http://t.co/6uA2D8K
– - How has the economic crisis “changed the game” with respect to employment law? Is it changed for good?
Redundancies etc. raised the profile/ importance of our practice area. UK Govt now proposing employment law reform 1/2
2/2 Flipside is (as in other practice areas) economics mean that clients are managing legal spend and doing more themselves
– - How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
“I’m a job law expert”… That usually gets the party started! *sarcastic tabloid face*
– - :-)You recently began blogging @ Defero Blog (http://bit.ly/kwo8Ye).
Why did you start? Are you meeting your goals?
Yes. I find the style of blogging liberating: colloquial and great way to get your personality across in opinion pieces
– - Besides blogging and Twitter, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use to market your practice? How effective are they?
I’m a major proponent of LinkedIn. I run a LI Group for #HR professionals ~ http://t.co/JY48bYm >400 members and rising!
– - Congrats! Have your Web 2.0 activities led to any additional referrals or client engagements?
Yes. My team and I have picked up 5 new client instructions thru LinkedIn. @BurnessLLP uses Twitter to recruit too 1/2
2/2 And we launched a free Social Media Policy initiative thru the LI Group. Sent this to >100 new contacts/ target clients
– - Innovative use of LI. Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Thanks. Tackling the competing interests of a diverse age demographic and addressing work/life balance and flexible working
– - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Competition from external investment in BigLaw via ABS. More knowledge sharing amongst profession & clients. Virtual offices
– - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
I grew up in Bermuda, so maybe something in shipping or insurance. Oh … or a superstar DJ 😉
– - 🙂 How do you want to be remembered?
“Scotland’s leading employment lawyer” #noplaceformodesty #RIP
– - What do you do when you’re not working?
My 2 young kids keep me on my toes most of the time! + I’m a huge reggae fan (esp. 70’s/80’s roots, dub and early dancehall)
– - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Keep your skills fresh with research and pro bono. Train in mediation and negotiation skills.
– - That brings us to our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Law isn’t everything. Learn about business and soft skills – presentation, negotiation (& sales!)… Enjoy being a student!
That’s useful advice. Thanks very much for the interview today. I enjoyed learning more about you and your practice
Thanks Lance. I enjoyed it too. Great format. Thanks for giving me the platform.
@MShermanEsq
June 16th, 2011
White Collar and Social Media Law Attorney
Special Counsel, Sheppard Mullin
Author at Social Media Law Update blog
Former Los Angeles County Assistant Public Defender
Today we’re tweeting with BigLaw trial / social media attorney and former LA Country Ass’t Public Defender @mshermanesq
- @mshermanesq Welcome to 22 Tweets and thank you for joining us today. Tell us, who is @mshermanesq?
A Calif. native, Smith College undergrad, UCLA law grad, litigation atty, writer and speaker on social media legal issues
– - Tell us about your law practice.
Complex business litigation, and social media legal consulting to businesses – if they are on Facebook, they want to talk to me
– - What type of clients do you represent?
Mostly medium size to large businesses, including government contractors
– - And what would you say is the single most important legal issue on the minds of those clients?
Resolving business disputes cost efficiently w/a great result for the co. & its shareholders. No one benefits from long litigation
– - Indeed. What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I am always available to them, don’t hesitate to call me w/any question, concern. My job is to take most of the worry off of them
– - Am sure they appreciate. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Getting a criminal case dismissed 4 an innocent man who had gone thru the Midnight Mission rehab/job program http://t.co/MZ48sfG
– - Why do your clients hire you?
They know I am smart, will work tirelessly 4 them, get good results, and be invested in their companies like they are
– - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Litigation – it is generally the most active practice area in a firm especially in slower economic periods like we are in right now
– - How does your experience as Assistant Public Defender early in your career help your clients today?
Being a public defender sharpens trial skills. Dealing w/bad facts often & winning, only sharpens outside the box litigation skills
– - What will be the next battleground in social media law? Who should be concerned?
Privacy and whether companies r following their terms of use, and protecting the private info that they gather from their users
– - That’s definitely an issue of concern…. How do you describe what you do to people you meet at a cocktail party?
“Have u heard of Facebook? I am the person who helps businesses w/the legal issues for being on FB & having employees who r on it”
– - When did you become active on Twitter? What were your objectives then? Have they changed?
About 8 mos ago, providing useful info, staying more current w/news & legal developments, & connecting 2 people w/related interests
My objectives have stayed pretty much the same once I became active. I received great advice 4 my Twitter activity from @changesq
– - You blog at Social Media Law Update (http://t.co/Alfp0TG). Who do your write it for? Why should they read it?
Target audience is businesses who want a non-legalese discussion of social media legal issues & practical suggest’ns from a SM user
– - Have your Web 2.0 activities led to any additional referrals or client engagements?
Biggest benefit has been people finding me = invitations 2 speak, journalists quoting me, a book in the works & a monthly column
– - Pretty big benefits indeed. What does your firm leadership think about your active online presence?
They are very supportive of my online presence, & w/out my social media blog at the firm, I would not have made it this far
– - That’s great. Let’s switch gears a bit now. What is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
The shrinking of the legal market, less jobs & opportunities for new attorneys. I don’t see this as a temporary state of affairs
– - What then will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
That is one crystal ball that is very foggy to me. My hope is that alternative dispute resolution will be used more, and early on.
– - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
A career counselor, social worker, journalist, chef, food writer – I am doing what I love and dabbling in all of the above
– - How do you want to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as a great tennis player, but since that is not likely to happen, I will settle 4 being a nice person
– - 🙂 What do you do when you’re not working?
See movies, visit w/friends, cook, hike w/my dogs, go to the theater, try a new restaurant, take a spinning or pilates class, blog
– - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
Use social media to network with as many people as possible, become involved in bar association and legal groups, and don’t give up
– - And the final question of today’s interview: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Use social media to network w/as many people as possible, become involved in bar assn & legal groups, and find time for internships
ABA sections and other legal groups are very receptive to law students who want to get involved early.
Good, consistent advice. 🙂 Thanks very much for tweeting with me today; I enjoyed getting to know you better
Thank you! I enjoyed myself and appreciated the thought you put into your questions.
Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Blawger, Los Angeles, Social Media Law, Trial | Comments Off on @MShermanEsq
