Since 2019, I have had the pleasure of being involved in the Empowered Women’s Event series as a committee member, with our organization as an in-kind sponsor. The event focuses on storytelling and according to event founder and host, Susan Freeman,

Stories have a transformative power to allow us to see the world in a different way than we do if we just encounter it on our own. Stories are an entry point to understanding a different experience of the world. Storytelling, presenting a different perspective of the world, is important when it comes to connecting with each other. It gives us an opportunity to learn from another person’s experience and it can shape, strengthen, or challenge our opinions and values. When a story catches our attention and engages us, we are more likely to absorb the message and meaning within it than if the same message was presented simply in facts and figures. When someone tells their own personal story, we catch a glimpse of a view of the world that may be slightly or radically different from our own. When we see the world as they see it, or walk in their shoes, the experience can inspire empathy.”

Continue Reading Why Attend an Event Solely for Women?

I wrote a version of this post a few weeks ago when the Supreme Court draft was leaked and I was thinking about it again this morning as I was having trouble concentrating because of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. I know I’m not unique in feeling this way – I’ve talked with friends and other professionals here in the US who are having a really hard time this week, those who are parents and teachers especially. I am neither, but I do have a ten-year-old niece, whose face I can’t help but superimpose over all the victims as I consider the goofy and earnest conversations we have over FaceTime each weekend, how much she loves her stuffies and her family, how hard it was for her mom, my sister, to send her and her older sister to school yesterday morning. Continue Reading Human Connection: The Most Important Role We’ll Ever Have

Ágnes Bejó is the head of corporate and M&A at Jalsovszky, the ILN’s member for Hungary. In this episode, Lindsay and Ágnes explore the role of women and the impact of the pandemic, how a lawyer’s practice area impacts their desire to work remotely, and the way in which the pandemic shined an even brighter light on mental health in the legal profession.

You can listen to the podcast here, or we’ve provided a transcript of the highlights below.

Continue Reading Law Firm ILN-telligence Podcast | Ágnes Bejó | Jalsovszky

My title today comes from Luvvie Ajayi Jones, whose new book Rising Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighter Manual for Teens, comes out today (yes, my copy for my oldest niece arrives today too). Luvvie is one of my favorite authors, speakers, self-professed “troublemakers,” and the reason I’m mentioning her today is that the book I’m currently reading has me all fired up and her words this morning brought me some comfort (more on that shortly).

I’m reading The Future of the Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts by Richard and Daniel Susskind. And if you know me at all and follow this blog, I’m sure you’re wondering how such a book has got me in a lather – truthfully, I agree with almost all of the predictions in the book, which is unfortunately terribly dry and academic (Richard already has me blocked on Twitter for some unknown reason, so this post won’t fix our relationship). I’ve read his other tomes in earnest and enjoyed his previous speeches, but I am trudging my way through this manual from 2015 like I’m wading through oatmeal. Continue Reading What Makes You Different is Your Superpower

Many of you who read this blog will know that last week, there was a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion on Roe v. Wade that indicated that the Court plans to overturn it.

I have a lot of feelings about this leaked draft, as a woman, as an American, as more information continues to come out from states around my country. Those feelings have often made it difficult to concentrate and focus on the things I would like to, to be as driven as I normally would be as my very rights are in question. Continue Reading Lessons in Leadership: Supporting Real Humans

The short answer? Both!

After two-plus years of being limited to almost entirely virtual meetings, we’ve learned that there are huge benefits to doing things online. But many people were also chomping at the bit to get back to seeing each other in the flesh. So that begs the question – which is better? It turns out that we need both and for different reasons. So while you may be tempted to toss your ring light forever in favor of jumping back onto planes…not so fast. Let’s look at the pros of both types of meetings and see why you need to keep them all in your diary. Continue Reading The Battle of the Meetings: Virtual vs. In-Person – Which is Better?

Also known as “How to Translate Content Marketing into Relationship Marketing” without using the big scary words that will make you run away from this post before you read it.

Remember the good old days when we just did a bunch of things and didn’t have specialized terms for them? Yep, these aren’t them.

There are a lot of things that you do or may have done for a while, that now have terms associated with them. You may hear those terms bandied about and get turned off by them, but my belief is that if you knew what they were really talking about, you’d realize that they refer to things you’re already doing and feel a lot more comfortable a) using them and b) maybe even exploring some of the other areas that they refer to more. Continue Reading Turning “What You Say About What You Do” Into Connections

We are thrilled to welcome a new member firm, BNM Advocates, Kampala, Uganda.

BNM Advocates is a full-service firm, positioned in the market to provide corporate legal advisory services to businesses. They guarantee that their clients will save money, grow revenues, protect and grow their assets, minimize legal and business risk exposure. The firm values integrity and professionalism, and endeavors to provide quick, tailored, pragmatic, and relevant solutions.

We are so excited to welcome BNM Advocates to the ILN’s membership. As the top corporate law firm in Kampala, they will be an excellent addition to the ILN.

For more information about BNM Advocates, visit the firm’s website at https://bnmlaw.org/ or their ILN profile at https://iln.com/Firm_Detail_1639.htm. Also, the ILN has an international directory available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry smartphones. To access it, log on to ILNmobile.com from your smartphone.

We are delighted to welcome a new member firm, & DE BANDT, Brussels, Belgium.

& DE BANDT is a multidisciplinary law firm dedicated to helping its clients meet the legal challenges posed in the European economy by digital innovation, new business models, energy transition, and other game-changing developments. They not only specialize in the fields of law that are at the core of these challenges (including EU Law, Competition Law, Regulatory, Public Procurement, Intellectual Property, Technology, and Data Protection), but they also focus on the most innovative, flexible and creative solutions that provide added value to their clients’ activities.

We are so pleased to welcome the lawyers of & DE BANDT into the ILN. We know that their unique blend of innovation and agility will make them a strong asset to our Network.

For more information about & DE BANDT, visit the firm’s website at https://www.debandt.eu/en or their ILN profile at https://iln.com/Firm_Detail_1638.htm. Also, the ILN has an international directory available for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry smartphones. To access it, log on to ILNmobile.com from your smartphone.

Christos Ioannides is a founding partner of LLPO Law Firm in Nicosia, Cyprus, and a member of the ILN. In this episode, Lindsay and Christos consider what it means to manage a law firm, the challenges of adapting to change, and what is essential for the practice of law.

You can listen to the podcast here, or we’ve provided a transcript of the highlights below. Continue Reading Law Firm ILN-telligence Podcast | Christos Ioannides, LLPO Law Firm