You’ve probably heard a lot of chatter about “big data,” “data,” “metrics,” and other buzzwords, which can sound like a lot of fancy talk about things you can’t be bothered with (Spoiler alert: in general, it’s not).

While I’m not going to get into a big discussion about data and all the ways you can use it, I AM going to talk about two practical things you can use today in order to support and improve your content marketing efforts. If you’re thinking “hey, ‘content marketing’ sounds like something for other people to do, and not me!” ask yourself – do you write articles or blog posts? Do you participate in speaking engagements? Do you write memos that you send to your clients and prospects? Do you want more people to know about the kind of law you practice, and how you can help them? If the answer to any of those questions is “yes” then content marketing IS for people like you, too. And for our purposes, when I use the phrase “content marketing” I’m talking about the actions that we undertake to promote the written and oral work  you do as a lawyer to a wider audience – it’s likely something you’ve done all your career, but it just may not have been how you referred to it.  Continue Reading “Metrics” is Not a Dirty Word

Change can be intimidating.

Whether you find it exciting or not, even those of us who are the most adept at it can find it daunting and exhausting. In the legal industry, where change is historically slow, when it happens at all, it can be even more overwhelming. We hear an awful lot about it, but it can be challenging to know where to start.

There are companies jumping into the space from other industries, disrupting the status quo and throwing out the old ways of doing things. Clients like them, and they should. They’re more efficient, they bring fresh ideas, and they force those of us who’ve been here a while to sit up and pay attention. But obviously, there’s room for us too. We know this place the best, after all. Some argue that the more things change, the more they stay the same, and in many ways that will be true (client service, good solid legal advice, etc.). But let’s not let that argument be an excuse to avoid taking a hard look at ourselves and the ways that we can do better (remember the Stockdale Paradox?).  Continue Reading Practical Steps for Undertaking Change in Legal

The ILN is proud to announce our latest firm of the month, A. & K. Metaxopoulos and Partners Law Firm, Greece!
The firm, founded in Athens in 1955 by Agis Metaxopoulos, was known as A. Metaxopoulos Law Offices until 2005 when it took its current form. From the very outset A. Metaxopoulos Law Offices began to grow and soon became established as one of the most highly specialised law firms in Greece in matters of Intellectual and Industrial Property, Entertainment, Advertising and Mass Media law. Since 2000 the firm has grown and is considered (by expert publications in these fields) as one of the leading practices in Greece in the areas of: Litigation & Arbitration, Media & Entertainment law, Corporate & Commercial, Employment, Taxation, Civil law, Real property, Competition law. The firm is also active in the fields of White Collar Crime, International Arbitration, Assets Recovery, Civil Law, Public Procurement, Mergers and Acquisitions.

Continue Reading ILN Firm of the Month – A. & K. Metaxopoulos and Partners Law Firm, Greece!

I am thrilled to announce the fourth release of our Corporate Group’s International Guide, Establishing a Business Entity. This collaborative electronic guide offers a summary of key corporate law principles in 31 countries across the globe, serving as a quick, practical reference for those establishing an entity in these jurisdictions. In 2017, we have added ten new jurisdictions, which includes Australia, Brazil, Colombia, France, Greece, India, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and Sweden. The group continues to work collaboratively to update the guide with the latest figures and regulations for their countries, and we’re really excited to provide this valuable resource for firms and companies with multinational business needs.

To view the guide, please click here: http://bit.ly/ILNCorporate4th

About the ILN Corporate Specialty Group
Co-Chaired by Charles Wander of Fladgate LLP in London and Mitch Karsch of Davis & Gilbert LLP in New York, the Corporate Group provides a platform for discussion among ILN members of Corporate Law matters in an international context, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts and corporate governance, for a range of clients. The Corporate Group meets regularly at all ILN Annual and Regional Meetings and discusses issues of interest.

 

We’ve talked extensively on Zen about how to make the most out of conference attendance and networking. But with the ILN’s European Regional Conference coming up next week, it’s at the forefront of my mind! Before we jump in, I’d like to point out that I think the word “networking” can get a bit of a bad rap. But in my mind, it’s really exchangeable with “business development.” While it doesn’t represent the entire sphere of activities that business development can encompass, when you’re effectively networking, you’re engaging in activities that can bring you more business, either now or in the future. So it’s worth investing your time and energy in.

With that in mind, I’d like to offer you five easy tips for conference networking that you can implement at your next event!  Continue Reading Five Easy Tips to Network Like a Boss

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 EXP Legal – Italian & International Law Firm in Italy.

In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?
A reliable medium-sized corporate and commercial Italian firm, with broad expertise in key areas of the Italian and International transaction.

Who would be your typical client?
Italian foreign and  multinational medium and large-sized corporations; financial institutions; wealthy individuals.

What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
That besides being a legal advisor and consultant, I can be the legal member of the clients’ teams that design, implement, develop and grow projects and ventures. Continue Reading ILN-terviews: Antonello Corrado, EXP Legal – Italian & International Law Firm

We’re so excited to announce that we’ve welcomed a new member firm – Torres Law, a United States-based firm with a focus on international trade and customs law. Torres Law has offices in Dallas, Texas and Washington, DC.

The firm serves clients ranging from large, multi-national corporations to small importers and exporters. Torres Law also represents government agencies and assists larger law firms with complex trade matters.

In the area of U.S. export controls, the law firm advises clients on compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and the various embargo and sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC). In the area of customs, Torres Law advises clients on import compliance matters, including customs rulings, classification, country of origin, special duty programs such as NAFTA, focused assessments, C-TPAT, and seizures of goods by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. With respect to industrial security matters, the law firm represents companies in transactions subject to review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and advises on measures to mitigate Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI). Continue Reading International Lawyers Network Welcomes New Firm – Torres Law – Customs & Global Trade

Today, I’m excited to bring you a guest post from my friend, Jennifer Simpson Carr. Jenn joined Lowenstein Sandler as a Business Development Manager in 2013. With 10 years of experience working in law firms across the US, she has worked extensively to help firms and attorneys engage target audiences and win new business in competitive markets. She recently attended and presented at the Legal Marketing Association’s Southeast Conference, where she gained some excellent, actionable advice that firms can implement immediately. Below, you’ll see her five takeaways from the conference, which range from client service to analytics to succession, and her advice for what action firms can take to implement them.

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Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in the LMA Southeast Conference (LMASE17), which I found to be one of the most inspiring and thought-provoking conferences in my 10+ years in the legal marketing profession.

I find conferences energizing. They offer the opportunity to connect with the legal marketing community, share ideas and strategies, and gain new perspectives. This conference was no different and set new standards of excellence.

LMASE17 offered three days packed with educational programming, many sessions addressing the topics that are top of mind for in-house business development and marketing professionals as well as the agencies that support them.

As I reviewed pages of notes and contemplated how to use some of this newly-acquired wisdom to make an impact, five themes stood out to me as strategic and actionable, and yet easy opportunities for any professional to affect change. Continue Reading 5 Actionable Takeaways from LMASE17 to Make an Immediate Impact at Your Firm

Recently, I was asked to appear as a guest on a new podcast with Louise Kulbicki, which focuses on teaching non-native English-speaking lawyers “Legal English.” Paid members can also get access to further learning materials, including quizzes and transcripts. Our conversation centered on the importance of social media, and LinkedIn in particular, for making and maintaining networking relationships. For the full podcast interview, head to this link here.

Louise has generously offered a 50% discount to Zen readers for Podcast Pro Membership, for a limited time – use the coupon code “Launch” when registering to benefit from this discount!

Although Louise also provides a transcript, I wanted to highlight below some of what we discussed and why I feel social media and LinkedIn are excellent tools for lawyers.  Continue Reading Networking with LinkedIn for Lawyers

The ILN is proud to announce our latest firm of the month, Connolly Gallagher LLP, Delaware!

Connolly Gallagher LLP is a law firm in Delaware, U.S.A., an important center for corporate law, alternative entity law, intellectual property litigation, bankruptcy, trust law, and more. From its offices in Wilmington and Newark, Delaware, Connolly Gallagher serves the needs of businesses and individuals in Delaware, the region and beyond.

Continue Reading ILN Firm of the Month – Connolly Gallagher LLP, Delaware!