Zen & The Art of Legal Networking : Lawyers & Attorneys in an International Legal Network for Relationships & Referrals

Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network.

For our latest interview, we chose ILN member, Santiago Mejia Ortiz of Mejia-Armenteros & Abreu in the Dominican Republic.

In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?
As a small "family comprised" law firm trying to position itself internationally without losing the small firm approach.

Who would be your typical client?
Individuals and medium sized companies doing business in the Dominican Republic, although we've served big companies as well.

What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
That despite being a young lawyer in a young firm, clients can be sure they'll be getting top class legal services from me and my firm.

What has been your most challenging case? Why?
I think it was representing a big client in a substantial concession contract with a multinational company in a cross border transaction, because I was the counterpart for very experienced and well-known old lawyers, looking down to me because I was younger than all of them.  It was challenging and rewarding at the same time.

What has been your proudest moment as a lawyer?
Every time I make my client feel satisfied with the result of my work.

What do you do when you're not practicing law?
Mostly, I love spending time with my family and especially with my soon-to-be 5 year old son.  Also, I am an Amateur Radio Operator as well.  Ah, I've opened a coffee shop business too!

What would surprise people most about you?
That although I can seem shy sometimes, I tend to have a great sense of humor...(everyone reading this must be thinking "What?! Really?? Wouldn't think so!").

What has been your most memorable ILN experience?
Without any doubt, my first meeting in the Bahamas presenting our firm!  And the immediate acceptance and friendship I've received from everybody, making me feel welcome right away. Regional and Annual Meetings are such a great experience - in each of them I've been given the chance to know great people and really initiate friendships that hopefully will remain. 

What career would you have chosen if you weren't a lawyer?
Maybe an entrepreneur or an industrial engineer.

If a movie were made out of your life, who would you want to play you?
If it was my call...Al Pacino. But probably the casting crew will pick Jim Carrey.

How would you like to be remembered?
By everybody: as an honest man with a good heart and a good sense of humor. By my family: as a worthy role model.

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Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network.

For our latest interview, we chose ILN member, Scott Guan of Jade & Fountain PRC Lawyers in Shanghai.

In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?
An international practice with a focus on cross-border business transactions.

Who would be your typical client?
International companies and entrepreneurs doing business in China and/or with Chinese partners, and Chinese companies and entrepreneurs doing business outside of China and/or with foreign partners.

What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
That I am a devoted transactional lawyer, who is a bi-lingual, bi-legal, and bi-cultural deal maker.

What has been your most challenging case? Why?
To assist foreign clients in understanding and navigating through the legal system and business environment in China.  The fundamentals of business transactions are all similar in different places around the world, but the ways that they are presented and understood can be very different.  A truly effective and efficient legal advisor must be able to thoroughly understand the needs and challenges of their clients and act not only as their legal advisor, but also as their business partner and cultural consultant. 

What has been your proudest moment as a lawyer?
When a deal is closed and a sustainable win-win situation is created.

What do you do when you're not practicing law?
Playing soccer with friends and now with my 5-year-old son as well.

What would surprise people most about you?
My personal experience of growing up with China in a rather dramatic way...China has changed so rapidly over the past 30 years and so have been our lives.  When I was in high school 20 years ago, I was on a boarding program.  All my expenses at the time paid by my parents were RMB70 (US$11 approximately) per month. Now, an ILN conference can easily cost much more for just 3 or 4 days.

What has been your most memorable ILN experience?
Visiting ILN member firms and making friends around the world.

What career would you have chosen if you weren't a lawyer?
Part-time professor & freelance literature translator & part-time government think-tank consultant.

If a movie were made out of your life, who would you want to play you?
This person has not been born or made known to me yet.

How would you like to be remembered?
A proud Chinese, where the East meets the West.

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Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network.

For our latest interview, we chose ILN member, Philip Dimitriou of D. & F. Dimitriou Law Firm in Athens, Greece. Philip and his colleagues at the firm recently hosted the 2009 European Regional Meeting in Athens, but his ILN-terview still gives undiscovered insights into who he is.

In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?
Versatile and...addictive!

Who would be your typical client?
Small and medium sized businesses.

What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
That no matter the issue to be resolved, they are dealing with a highly trustworthy, flexible and efficient law firm.

What has been your most challenging case? Why?
My very first case as an attorney - which is still the biggest case I have ever handled!  It started as a complex inheritance issue and ended up being an all-inclusive tough litigation issue, involving four countries, over 25 different lawsuits with even more trials, all types of law, a few deaths in between...and some parts still go on.

What has been your proudest moment as a lawyer?
When I solved, in an amazing way, a complex corporate case in two months, when a previous (bigger) law firm couldn't do it for five years.

What do you do when you're not practicing law?
Studying law!

What would surprise people most about you?
 The fact that, using imagination and a non-ordinary way of approaching the case, you can end up "getting the job done" efficiently.

What has been your most memorable ILN experience?
Our gala dinner in the Madame Tussauds' waxworks attraction in 2004. I have a great photo of the ILN team in my office since, only to discover a few months ago...a very funny scene in the background (no more comments)!

What career would you have chosen if you weren't a lawyer?
Can't remember anymore!

If a movie were made out of your life, who would you want to play you?
Robert De Niro maybe?

How would you like to be remembered?
As a guy that did something good for this world.

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Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network.

For our latest interview, we chose ILN member, Antonello Corrado of Corrado Ferrari Mainieri Pedeferri e soci Law Firm in Italy.

In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?
Thirty years of practice and few boring days.

Who would be your typical client?
Medium and large corporations, 50% Italian and 50% international.

What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
That with me, they will always find a dedicated team of lawyers and staff sharing friendship and mutual understanding, and having a pleasure working together.

What has been your most challenging case? Why?
Many years ago, my first assistance as the client partner for a US multinational company in the acquisition of an Italian company.  It makes a lot of difference to be the first or second pilot, especially if you want to have a safe flight, a soft landing, and be retained as the Italian pilot for the client in the future. 

What has been your proudest moment as a lawyer?
When we incorporated our new law firm in 2005, in partnership with colleagues with whom we had been sharing 10-15 years of practice in other law firms.

What do you do when you're not practicing law?
Often sailing and rowing, for fun and for competitions.

What would surprise people most about you?
My teaching activity for the education of lawyers and judges, in under-developed and developing countries. In 1992, I was one of the first Italian instructors in Albania after the fall of the communist regime in 1990.

What has been your most memorable ILN experience?
The contribution given by our firm to the European Meeting in Rome in 2008.

What career would you have chosen if you weren't a lawyer?
Explorer/teacher

If a movie were made out of your life, who would you want to play you?
Marcello Mastroianni

How would you like to be remembered?
For my capability to contribute to the growth of the team spirit of lawyers and staff that form a law firm.

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Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network.

For our latest interview, we chose ILN member, Luis Lavalle Moreno of Martínez, Algaba, De Haro, Curiel & Galván-Duque, S.C. in Mexico. Luis has been a valuable member of the ILN for many years, and embodies not only the excellence that the ILN requires of its members, but also the spirit of friendship that bonds the Network together.

In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?
We are a medium size law firm (in terms of Mexican size), providing litigation and corporate services for our clients.

Who would be your typical client?
Our typical client ranges from a major bank or insurance company or a high tier company to an individual or medium size company searching for high quality legal services for ordinary or complex transactions.

What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
That we are one of the few law firms in Mexico combining litigation and consultation services, giving our clients a unique service in terms of quality and attention.

What has been your most challenging case? Why?
One of the most challenging cases probably was advising Citibank (together with several other members of the firm) in the acquisition of Banamex.

What has been your proudest moment as a lawyer?
There isn't a particular one, but my proudest moments as a lawyer are when clients and counterparts publicly acknowledge and recognize our job in closing dinners or parties of closed transactions.

What do you do when you're not practicing law?
I try to spend time with my family or also I try to play golf with friends or do exercise.

What would surprise people most about you?
I have no idea what would surprise people about me...

What has been your most memorable ILN experience?
There is not one memorable ILN experience, but a conjunction of several moments.  For me, it is the particular group that has been formed and the relationship you have with each and all the members, which is particularly enriched through the meetings organized (trips).  This relationship goes beyond referrals or meeting colleagues - it is a true friendship.

What career would you have chosen if you weren't a lawyer?
If I wasn't a lawyer, I probably would have become an oceanographer or a doctor.

If a movie were made out of your life, who would you want to play you?
Robert De Niro

How would you like to be remembered?
As someone trying to do good on each and all of the activities performed.

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