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, Erik Bettin of Michel LLP in Berlin, Germany.

In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?
We are a Berlin based mid-size law firm offering high quality services for companies, especially in the real-estate-business or in real-estate related matters.

Who would be your typical client?
Our typical client is a national or international company or individual investing in the German real-estate-market and asking for advice in such transactions.

What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
That we try to make a difference by being creative, knowing about our clients’ business and offering a very personal approach.

What has been your most challenging case? Why?
Several years ago a big commercial German bank was sued for a very large amount and the in-house counsel gave me the case, remarking that he saw no chance of avoiding payment for his bank. I disagreed and in the end, the German federal court dismissed all claims. It was my first case for this bank and surely it wasn’t the last one.

What has been your proudest moment as a lawyer?
Every time clients realize that it was the right decision to take our advice.

What do you do when you’re not practicing law?
Enjoying time with my wife and kids and practicing all sorts of sports.

What would surprise people most about you?
That as a kid, I lived in Peru for five years.

What has been your most memorable ILN experience)?
Dining in Castel Sant´Angelo on a very lovely night at our meeting in Rome.

What career would you have chosen if you weren’t a lawyer?
I was always dreaming about being a professional in sports, but I wasn´t talented enough.

If a movie were made of your life, who would you want to play you?
Daniel Craig

How would you like to be remembered?
I hope life gives me some more time to think about that.

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Photo of Lindsay Griffiths Lindsay Griffiths

Lindsay Griffiths is the International Lawyers Network’s Executive Director. She is a dynamic, influential international executive and marketing thought leader with a passion for relationship development and authoring impactful content. Griffiths is a driven, strategic leader who implements creative initiatives to achieve the…

Lindsay Griffiths is the International Lawyers Network’s Executive Director. She is a dynamic, influential international executive and marketing thought leader with a passion for relationship development and authoring impactful content. Griffiths is a driven, strategic leader who implements creative initiatives to achieve the goals of a global professional services network. She manages all major aspects of the Network, including recruitment, member retention, and providing exceptional client service to an international membership base.

In her role as Executive Director, Griffiths manages a mix of international programs, engages a diverse global community, and develops an international membership base. She leads the development and successful implementation of major organizational initiatives, manages interpersonal relationships, and possesses executive presence with audiences of internal and external stakeholders. Griffiths excels at project management, organization, and planning, writes and speaks with influence and authority, and works independently while demonstrating flexibility in thinking, especially in challenging situations. She also adapts to diverse and dynamic environments with constant assessment and recalibration.

JD Supra Readers Choice Top Author 2019

In 2021, the ILN was honored as Global Law Firm Network of the Year by The Lawyer European Awards, and in 2016, 2017, and 2022, they were shortlisted as Global Law Firm Network of the Year. Since 2011, the Network has been listed as a Chambers & Partners Leading Law Firm Network, recently increasing this ranking to be included in the top two percent of law firm networks globally, as well as adding two regional rankings. She was awarded “Thought Leader of the Year” by the Legal Marketing Association’s New York chapter in 2014 for her substantive contributions to the industry and was included in Clio’s list of “34 People in Legal You Should Follow on Twitter.” She was also chosen for the American Bar Association Journal’s inaugural Web 100‘s Best Law Blogs, where judge Ivy Grey said “This blog is outstanding, thoughtful, and useful.” Ms. Griffiths was chosen as a Top Author by JD Supra in their 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards, for the level of engagement and visibility she attained with readers on the topic of marketing & business development. She has been the author of Zen & the Art of Legal Networking since February 2009.