@agrilawyer
November 24th, 2009
Agricultural and Food Lawyer in the Metropolitan Memphis Area
Attorney at Gillon & Associates, PLLC
Author of legal blog Seed Law
Today we’re tweeting with Memphis-based agriculture and food lawyer @agrilawyer
- @agrilawyer thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @agrilawyer?
Thank you for having me,I would say I am a good Southern Gentleman that enjoys the good life overall,no matter how tough the times.
– - Tell us about your law practice.
I mainly focus on representing agriculture and food clients in corporate, political, regulatory and international trade matters.
– - What type of agriculture and food clients do you represent?
Anybody from individual clients that need a will or a pot-bellied pig saved to start-ups to large national trade associations.
– - That’s a broad range…. What would you say is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
For the larger clients , it would be Lobbying or preparatory work for various governmental programs, as well as interpreting regs.
– - What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I just tell them that we need to keep open communication both ways, and never hesitate to call or stop by.
– - Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
I assisted in getting the govt to overturn a reg that would have taken payments from land that was taken from and leased back . . .
. . . to farmers throughout the nation by the govt. We did some client meetings with entire rural communities at their fairgrounds.
– - Quite different from the conference room…. Why do your clients hire you?
Specialization, accessibility, and honesty. I’m a lawyer because I want to be a part of a community, not to take from it.
– - What’s the most active area of your practice at the current time? Is that typical?
Oddly its commercial litigation, and no, not really. The volatility in the cotton market left many ginner clients needing a lawyer.
– - What is the principal business issue your clients face? How do you help them resolve it?
Like most, its what to do with scarce resources. Connect them to money or help with ways to keep costs low, preferably the former.
– - That makes sense. In what other ways has the ongoing economic crisis affected your clients?
It has definitely taken a hit, many sources of funds for our start-up bioenergy clients has dried up, so we have to become creative.
– - What would you say is the next big frontier in agricultural law and policy?
Bridging the gap between consumer and the agricultural/food industry. This will change the policy decisions re: commodities & trade.
– - How do you market your practice?
Through twitter, the website, farm trade groups, and good ol’ word of mouth (which I value the most). .
– - Besides Twitter, do you use other Web 2.0 tools to market your practice?
blog at www.seedlaw.blogspot.com, I tooled with FB, but feel its too cluttered for bus. I have been on FB personally for a few yrs
– - What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements have you realized from Web 2.0 activities?
I have not gained a terrible amount of clients yet, but I have connected very well with potential clients and journalists.
– - That alone is very valuable…. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
You are dead on. Any moment that I am not focusing directly on a paid client matter. Branding is huge concern for a small niche firm
– - Indeed. Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
A big problem I have noticed is a disconnect between the newer generation lawyers and older gen. lawyers . . .
. . . I have been fortunate to have great mentors, but many other young lawyers have not. Requires work from both ends.
– - What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Unfortunately, I think it will circle back to what we were, we will dumb back down from lessons we learned in this turbulent market.
I’m obviously speaking in generalities.
– - What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
A chocolatier – me and a candy oven with hard rock playing on the radio making specialty chocolate footballs.
– - Sweet! (no, I really couldn’t resist…). How do you want to be remembered?
Haha, I understand. Hopefully as an awesome Chocolatier/ Ag Attorney that was a caring husband and father when that time comes.
– - What do you do when you’re not working?
I spend time running, weightlifting, reading history books, watching my wife at roller derby. I want to get back into Rugby soon.
– - What advice can you pass along to lawyers currently under- or unemployed due to the economic crisis?
You are a walking business, and your integrity and competence is your brand. Go sell it even if you are looking for another job.
– - And our last question for you: What advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Law School Students -Take advantage of the ability to “free”-think b/c most of ur law prac, ur thinking is paid for by someone else.
Very valuable advice. Thank you for tweeting with me today; I enjoyed learning more about you and your practice
Thanks a lot Lance, I enjoyed the interview and I look forward to seeing the other ones with lawyers in the near future.
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