May 11, 2006
Ernie the Attorney Gets More Famous - and for Good Reasons.
Athough I failed to find a free on-line version of the article, Monica Bay has written a fine feature spread about Ernest Svenson in the March/April edition of the ALM publication Small Firm Business. Called "There's No Place Like Home", it chronicles Ernie's decision after years at Gordon Arata, a relatively large New Orleans law firm, to launch his own firm--and how Hurricane Katrina was the catalyst in his decision. Ernie is a respected pioneer in legal blogging with an impeccable reputation as a person, lawyer, and IP litigator. We have corresponded a bit but have never met. Aside from both having parts of our lives below the Mason-Dixon Line, Ernie and I have 3 other things in common: (1) federal courts, (2) the occasional use of profanity in precisely the same way, (3) and admiration for the work and personhood of I [Heart] Tech diva Adriana Linares, who once jilted me in favor of Ernie. Still, the ALM article on Ernie is one which everyone should read.
Posted by JD Hull at 02:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 28, 2006
Vital Voices, Improbability--and Julie Meets Hillary.
Last night my law partner and respected corporate tax attorney, Julie McGuire, an alleged Republican, was unexpectedly introduced to Hillary Rodham Clinton, certainly a Democrat, by Paula Stern, a very accomplished human and "known" Democrat, at the annual Global Leadership Awards and Benefit of Vital Voices in D.C. at the Kennedy Center. No conversions occurred--but Hillary was "very nice!" and it was an honor for Julie to meet her. A good start.
Apart from name dropping, implying that our firm can effortlessly work both sides of the aisle in our lobbying practice, and proving that life is strange, I mention this as a plug for Vital Voices, an innovative bi-partisan non-profit which invests in and honors women worldwide--often unsung and especially in the human rights area--who have undertaken key leadership roles in their countries. More information about Vital Voices Programs is here.
Posted by JD Hull at 10:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 17, 2006
Do What You Love: Hero 4 - Julie Elizabeth McGuire
Even serial over-achievers are impressed with a person who was graduated first in her class from both college and law school. In this case, our subject Julie Elizabeth McGuire has raving fans, most of them accomplished themselves, all over--in Fortune 500 companies, giant firms based abroad (especially in western Europe) and business lawyers worldwide. A multi-talented corporate tax and transactions lawyer, and CPA as well, Julie can land a job tomorrow morning at any in-house counsel shop or law firm she wants. A former in-house lawyer at Alcoa, she knows how General Counsels and CFOs think and what they worry about. She's what clients want in deals: a savvy business person and a tough, shrewd negotiator. At the same time, Julie McGuire has few if any enemies--just people who want to be more like her. It's not just the resume. She's serene, kind and genuinely friendly. She focuses on others. In a phrase, she's as nice as she is brilliant.
So what's Julie McGuire doing with me? In fact, people never politely or in passing ask "So, how did you two become partners and form Hull McGuire PC anyway?" Instead, they ask, in an intrigued, puzzled and slightly embarrassed tone: "Uh, how did you two even meet, anyway"? It's just difficult to believe that a Universe with any order or compassion would put Julie--with her no-nonsense Carnegie-Mellon Mathematics and Business Management double majors (try to be first in your class in that stuff!), her Midwestern values and charm, conservative political views, Yoda-like serenity and kindness, and real appreciation for the mysteries of Pittsburgh--in the path of a litigator and lobbyist with a liberal arts background and an enemy here and there, who loves Washington, D.C., old books, and old Europe, once wrote a senior History paper on "How the Shi-shi Got the Chutzpah to Overthrow the Bakufu", and prefers to serve subpoenas on Friday afternoons.
An American professional odd couple--but we are fast friends. We do have something else besides friendship and a law firm in common, and we are obsessive about it: Julie and I (1) both love practicing law, our clients, and traveling all over the U.S. and the world to act for them; (2) both think corporate clients are getting a raw deal on both quality and service at many large and traditional law firms; and (3) both are convinced that nimble, aggressive law boutiques with the right talent can do 85% of the legal work done for Fortune 500 companies, keep those clients safe and happy and have fun doing it.
Posted by JD Hull at 03:49 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 17, 2006
"The purpose of the Irish guy is to drink and wear trousers."
A passion for excellence, indeed. The Official Irish Guy Webpage--from where this wisdom comes--is not for everyone. But as a partly Irish guy, I couldn't have said it better myself; nothing like a line from another Irish overachiever to put things in perspective on St. Patrick's Day. This day is actually in honor of a religious Brit captured and sold into slavery by "Irish marauders" to the chieftain Milchu in the year 403 to work in what is now the County of Antrim. SP died on March 17, in either 493 or 460 (drink, wear pants and argue). We tried but we can't find any news items on marketing, serving Fortune 500 clients or providing better client services on any of the Irish wire services today. So instead we have, from the SP poem/prayer "St. Patrick's Breast Plate":
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
Don't underestimate Irish guys.
Posted by JD Hull at 04:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 14, 2006
Do What You Love: Hero 3 - Mark Del Bianco
Speaking of our nation's capitol, I've posted about D.C.-based telecom and lawyer's lawyer Mark C. Del Bianco before, including here a couple of weeks ago. And see this article on "The Law of Telecom" which Mark and I wrote for The Pennsylvania Lawyer. Mark's another Renaissance guy and person-who-gets-it. I've known him for about 20 years, and he loves what he does for clients with legal tech issues.
Telecom issues are Everywhere and in Every Deal these days--and Mark figured that out long before it happened. So Del Bianco became a telecommunications law brand--and yet people want to work with him in other areas where his experience and expertise is both broad and deep. If you practice law long enough, and love it the way he does, that will happen: antitrust law (he's also Vice Chair of the Computers and Internet Committee of the ABA's Antitrust Section), foreign trade law (he used to edit the Yale Journal of International Law) and even litigation (DOJ trained him a long time ago). And anything to do with that exciting yet inscrutable new point where the law intersects with the Internet, Technology and All Things Digital. SuperDad, athlete, well-read, well-traveled, and the guy other lawyers go to first for advice on the hard stuff, Mark is the first person you hire when you get elected President. Some say way too many Yale people have been working in or sniffing around the White House these days. I disagree.
Posted by JD Hull at 08:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 07, 2006
My New Hero U.S. District Judge Clark..."Attaboy!"
See yesterday's WSJ Law Blog at "Judge Rejects Inscrutable Motion, Cites Adam Sandler’s 'Billy Madison'".
Posted by JD Hull at 01:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 05, 2006
Do What You Love: Hero 2 - Ellen Bry Masius
Ellen Bry, an actress you've been seeing for 20 years on everything from St. Elsewhere, Dallas and Star Trek to The Practice and The Closer, is the most un-LA woman I know: beauty, brains, taste, real class, classically-educated, Renaissance girl, person-who-gets-it, producer, advocate for autistic kids, ex-stunt girl (see first Superman movie), SuperMom, Tufts grad and a passion for Nantucket over Rodeo Drive. She can go from grieving to alluring in 2 seconds and then explain why Bill Shakespeare is even funnier than Howard Stern. She's got business sense, and knows what sells. She's here.
Posted by JD Hull at 08:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Do What You Love: Hero 1 - Chris Abraham
From D.C.-based Chris Abraham--friend, marketing consultant, inspirer, writer, Renaissance dude, interpreter, learner-teacher, person-who-gets-it, and the guy to spend time with when I want new ideas. And he's got the best laugh. I talk to him and read him to get back on track. He actually likes lawyers, and helps them. Those of us who consult him worry he'll go to law school. "Do What You Love", which he's covered better than anyone, is here.
Posted by JD Hull at 06:31 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 21, 2006
Abraham & Del Bianco--Two People You Should Get To Know.
No--this is not a multicultural-sounding law firm. It's two very different Washington, D.C. people I know who are both "digitally-advanced", and who I urge everyone to get to know personally and professionaly. Since more than 10 people a day (still mostly relatives and associates paid to view it but it's getting there) finally are visiting and really reading this site, I thought, why not briefly sing Chris's and Mark's praises in a post? I met DC-based Chris Abraham, an expert on corporate blogging and building on-line communities, and a very interesting human (likely because he's not a lawyer), at a Renaissance Weekend a few years back in California. His blog is at www.ChrisAbraham.com .
Another Washingtonian, and a D.C. native, Mark Del Bianco is an uncommonly talented telecom lawyer, lawyer's lawyer and friend who I have known most of my professional life. Mark is also an invitee to Renaissance but is always too busy to go. See Mark's main site at www.MarkDelBianco.com. Both Mark and Chris are in demand these days. Visit their sites and you can quickly figure out why. Very good people to know. And Mark and Chris--whether they know it or not--in different conversations two years ago got me interested in blogging. In fact, both had to explain to me the meaning of "blog". Neither Mark or Chris know about this post and both of them would be embarrassed by it. Well, maybe not Chris--he's got that Steve Jobs thing going.
Posted by JD Hull at 07:06 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 19, 2006
Thanks to Jim Calloway.
Last week Oklahoma-based Jim Calloway at Jim Calloway's Law Practice Tips Blog paid our blog--"our" because associate Tom Welshonce in Pittsburgh helps me with technical stuff, ideas and judgment calls--the distinction of being "Site of the Week", and I really appreciate it. Given Jim's reputation for substance and his much-visited and respected blog (always long on solid content and devoid of vanity and b.s.), that meant a lot to me. I feel like a freshman in high school who one of the admired upperclassmen noticed and took under his wing. Thanks, Jim.
Posted by JD Hull at 01:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 27, 2006
Wanted: Natural Born Marketer From Hope, Arkansas.
First, I noticed this blurb in Peter Lattman's new Wall Street Journal Law Blog about Bill Clinton's possible return to the profession. I like Bill Clinton. Face it--even a lot of Republicans like Bill Clinton. The guy's smart, knowledgable, charming and connects with people. Second, earlier this week Larry Bodine and others reported on Dr. Larry Richard's assertions in a speech to the Marketing Partners Forum in Florida that only 1 out of 5 lawyers are natural born marketers. That troubled my partner Julie McGuire, allegedly a Republican, and me. So here's our new ad:
WANTED: Of counsel for growing Pittsburgh-based boutique business law firm. Must have at least 8 years of highest level federal Exec. Branch experience, world-wide connections, Yale Law degree, one year at Oxford, own money and people skills. Crowd-pleaser. Must be able to sell anything to anyone. And be originally from Hope, Arkansas. State government experience preferred but not required. Same for participation in Renaissance weekends, and fund-raising. United Nations experience also a big plus. You don't need to re-locate. Happy to set up the office for you. Wherever you want. Harlem or Chappaqua, New York are okay. Or DC. You decide. You can work out of your house. Whatever. NOTE: No previous private law practice experience necessary. Not a problem--no problem at all. Excellent benefits package.
Posted by JD Hull at 09:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack