Experienced chief legal officers & law firm partners from Forbes Legal Council offer firsthand insights on legal issues.
Attorneys have a wealth of knowledge under their belt, but how much do you really know about the matters they’re experts in? From tips that can improve your business to how you can form a better relationship with them, lawyers have plenty of advice they want business owners to hear.
Below, six experienced chief legal officers and law firm partners from Forbes Legal Council discuss the top things they wish business owners would know about them or their industry.
From top left to right: Jeff Coppaken, Linda R. Evers, Dan Hussain, Anthony Johnson, Victor Cardona, David Nied. All photos courtesy of the individual member.
1. Not All Attorneys Are Created Equal
Attorneys are a diverse group. When a client is choosing an attorney, personality fit is just as important as expertise level. Clients should have an open line of communication with their attorney to ensure a good relationship. Ask for a free consultation prior to signing an engagement agreement and make sure it’s a proper fit. – Jeff Coppaken, The Coppaken Law Firm
2. You Can Always Be More Active In Managing Your Utility Spend
Between electric, gas and water, utility bills are one of businesses’ top five expenses. Yet, as an attorney in the utility industry, I find many businesses don’t take an active role in managing this spend beyond paying their monthly bills. The utility industry is rapidly changing; businesses should pay attention to policy discussions and rate cases occurring at their state public utility commissions. – Linda R. Evers, Stevens & Lee
3. Patents Move Faster Than You Think
Unfortunately, patents are too frequently associated with lengthy reviews by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. With proper representation, a patent can be issued in as little as three to nine months, especially when the agent is familiar with the field the intellectual property is in. An open-source machine learning tool, for example, would require the agent to understand how to apply patents to the platform’s user base. – Dan Hussain, American Patent Agency
4. Not All Attorneys Can Handle All Legal Matters
Despite popular belief, most lawyers are only experienced in handling a small subset of the law. Many people come to our firm and ask us to handle things outside of our scope of practice, and we just refer them to others who do handle those things. Be wary of lawyers who claim they can handle all things under the law — they most likely can’t. – Anthony Johnson, Johnson & Vines, PLLC
