Martino Canal is a labor partner at Ferrari Pedeferri Boni Studio Legale Associato in Milan, Italy, which is also a member of the International Lawyers Network. In this episode, Lindsay and Martino cover the importance of adaptability and communication, the balance between innovation and privacy, and the value of humanity mixed with professionalism. And don’t miss finding out Martino’s secret identity!
We all know the adorable adage about lawyers that they don’t want to be first, but they want to be first to be second.
Having worked in legal for almost 18 years, I’ve seen this proven to be true over and over again. And as a result, it means that we can learn a lot from what our competitors are doing. It doesn’t mean that we copy them, by any means, but it does mean that when we ask ourselves some challenging questions in the context of our own firm or business activities, we can improve our own goals and focus.
I’ve found there are four key questions that we can ask about our competitors that help us identify what we could be strengthening in our own firms and businesses, and when we review these regularly, we can stay ahead of the marketplace. As a note, when you’re reviewing your competitors, you want to limit this to 3-5 of them, since these are in-depth tactics. Continue Reading Four Key Questions to Ask About Your Competitors
Can Natan is a founding partner of Özcan & Natan Attorney Partnership in Istanbul, Turkey, which is also a member of the International Lawyers Network. In this episode, Lindsay and Can discuss the challenges of the last year, what most people misunderstand about the practice of law, and what has been most valuable about the firm’s membership in the ILN.
You can listen to the podcast here, or we’ve provided a transcript of the highlights below. Continue Reading Law Firm ILN-telligence Podcast | Özcan & Natan Attorney Partnership
It’s the dregs of August. It’s hot and humid. You may be in the office or you may not be. But if you are, this may be the time of year when you start to feel…stuck.
August is like the 4 pm of the day, the Sunday of the week, and while there are beautiful descriptions of how to languish in a porch rocker, listening to the crickets and cicadas while sipping a cool drink as you watch the condensation slowly make its way down the glass…I am not an August person.
Also, some of us may be stuck in the frozen tundra of an air-conditioned office and not sitting languorously anywhere and so the need to feel “unstuck” is a very real one – alas, for me, my home office is the hottest room in my house, so that’s not me either. I’m more like an office hobbit, hunched in front of my laptop, dreaming of crisp fall days and pumpkin-spiced lattes (only a week away!).
But, I digress. Continue Reading Two Ways to Become Unstuck
Bas Ebels is a partner at UdinkSchepel in The Hague, Netherlands, where he focuses on insolvency & restructuring law. In this episode, Lindsay and Bas (who share a birthday!) discuss work/life balance, misconceptions about restructuring law, and how a good mentor can really impact your career.
Continue Reading Law Firm ILN-telligence Podcast | Bas Ebels, UdinkSchepel
I know, it’s summer and we’re trying to relax.
But just in case you find yourself at a networking event in the next few weeks (or plan to be at one this fall), there are a few key ways you can add value to your attendance in addition to your presence at the event. Of course, when you choose the right one, the networking alone provides a return on your investment.
But we’re often so eager for our actual attendance to equal business that we forget that as with any business development opportunity, it’s not one-and-done. In the dating game, while it might be possible for you to meet someone and marry them the same night, and find lasting happiness, it’s much more likely that you spend time getting to know each other before making a commitment. Your business relationships are much the same. Continue Reading 3 Tips to Translate Networking into Business Opportunities
Summer is often a time that we naturally slow down – the weather is warmer, we feel lazier, more people are out on vacation and we may be out ourselves.
You may be expecting me to suggest a litany of ways you can supercharge the time you have in the office or on your vacation to make the most of it, but I’m not going to do either of those things. First, I’m going to tell you – if you’re taking time away from the office this summer, take it. Delegate your workload as best as you can except for TRUE EMERGENCIES (and be honest with yourself about what those are) and don’t check your emails. Try turning your work email off your phone for the period that you’ll be out of the office. It sounds anxiety-producing, but I promise you that once you do it, it’s really quite freeing. If it feels like you’re neglecting your work, the truth is that we’re all better humans AND better at our jobs when we take a genuine break from our work and come back to it refreshed. Your clients want that for you too. Continue Reading Five Tips to Turn Hot Summer Days into Hot Fall Ideas
Raise your hand if you hate the word “authenticity.”
It’s right up there with some of the other most hated buzzwords and phrases – “at the end of the day,” “thinking outside of the box,” “synergy,” “value add,” “circle back,” “bandwidth.”
Are you cringing yet?
But even though the word “authenticity” might make your skin crawl, it’s actually a pretty important concept – it’s a buzzword for a reason. And actually, I don’t hate it, but I know a lot of people who do!
One of the most often shared tips for networking is that being authentic is key – whether you’re networking in person or virtually. Continue Reading Authenticity: It’s a Buzzword, but Also the Key to Successful Networking
We are delighted to welcome a new member firm, Akerman, in Texas (Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio). The firm will also represent the ILN in New Orleans, Louisiana, Atlanta, Georgia, and Denver, Colorado.
Akerman is a full-service firm known for delivering results across the full scope of their practice areas, including Litigation and Arbitration, Bankruptcy and Reorganization, Consumer Financial Services, Construction, Data and Technology (CFS+); Corporate; Government Affairs and Public Policy; Healthcare; Intellectual Property; Labor and Employment; Real Estate; and Tax. Continue Reading International Lawyers Network Welcomes New Member, Akerman LLP
Tiago Dias José is a partner at MGRA & Associados in Lisbon, Portugal, where he focuses on public law. In this episode, Lindsay and Tiago delve into the ways in which the pandemic and the war in Ukraine continue to impact the legal profession and how lawyers can equally impact these global crises, and managing a law firm in modern times.
You can listen to the podcast here, or we’ve provided a transcript of the highlights below. Continue Reading Law Firm ILN-telligence Podcast | Tiago Dias José | MGRA