@TradeSecretLaw

May 21st, 2009

3Dgibson__scott_f=20 Scott = F.=20 Gibson

Trade Secrets, Employment = Law, Biotechnology, Commercial=20 Litigation Lawyer

Author of the BiziBoom=20 blog

Today, we=E2=80=99re tweeting with = @TradeSecretLaw: business=20 lawyer, counselor, adviser, adjunct professor of law and wannabe chef = and baker=20

@TradeSecretLaw, thank you for joining us today on = Twitter. Tell=20 us: who is @TradeSecretLaw?
Husband (22 years on 5/22), = father to=20 four great young people, son, brother, uncle, friend. Oh, and I = practice law=20 for a living.
=20
22 yrs on May 22? Revealed in a 22 Tweets interview? Wow! = OK, tell=20 us about your law practice.
Intangible assets are 75% + of = the=20 value of a business. I protect those assets from employee disloyalty, = theft,=20 unfair competition.
=20
What type of clients do you represent?
My Firm = represents growing businesses & their owners. We help them = preserve,=20 protect, & promote their business and personal needs.
=20
What would you say is the single most important legal = issue=20 affecting your clients?
Failure to plan. Many problems we = see=20 could have been avoided by implementing prudent legal and business=20 practices.
=20
What do you tell every new client before you start working = for=20 them?
I will always shoot straight with you, even when you = would=20 rather hear something else. We want to be your attorneys for = life.
=20
What was the most significant client representation = you=E2=80=99ve=20 had?
In my first solo trial, I defended the Arizona = Supreme Court=20 on a claim of wrongful termination. Defense verdict.
=20
No pressure there=E2=80=A6. Why do your clients hire = you?
We=20 focus on building our credibility and perceived expertise. Clients = feel=20 comfortable that we know how to fix their problems.
=20
How are you and your firm responding to financial = difficulties=20 your clients may be experiencing?
We teach correct = principles,=20 help clients learn new skills, and make introductions. We help clients = implement needed changes.
=20
What led you to return to school for an LL.M. in = Biotechnology and=20 Genomics?
When I read about the program, I had a strong=20 impression, =E2=80=9CYou need to do this.=E2=80=9D My wife, partners, = & friends supported=20 my decision.
=20
Go with your gut, I always say=E2=80=A6 How do you help = your clients meet=20 their business and strategic objectives?
We take a = long-term view:=20 understand the business, learn their personal objectives, & plan = for the=20 future.Then implement the plan.
=20
I=E2=80=99m sure they find that very valuable. How do you = market your=20 practice?
Primarily referrals. We are moving into Web 2.0=20 marketing =E2=80=94 press releases, blogs, websites, e-books, = newsletters, e-mail,=20 etc.
=20
You=E2=80=99ve begun to blog at BiziBoom (http://bit.ly/WEgBZ). Who is it written for? Why = should they=20 read it?
BiziBoom is for people who want to build their = business,=20 but are caught up in the everyday routine. It helps them = focus.
=20
What was your objective when you started blogging? Has it=20 changed?
Three-fold objective is unchanged: (1) provide = useful=20 info, (2) differentiate from competitors, and (3) satisfy my urge to=20 write.
=20
Has blogging made you a better lawyer? = How?
Blogging=20 helps crystallize my thinking, so yes it makes me a better lawyer. It = also=20 helps clients perceive me as a better lawyer.
=20
That makes sense. How much time do you spend each day = developing /=20 enhancing your brand?
Difficult to say. Usually about two = hours=20 per day, sometimes more
=20
Have your Web 2.0 activities had an impact on referrals or = client=20 engagements?
Web 2.0 has helped us think differently about = how we=20 represent clients. It helps us focus on client needs and on=20 cross-marketing.
=20
Interesting observation. Let=E2=80=99s switch gears: = what=E2=80=99s the most=20 significant issue facing the legal profession = today?
Lawyers need=20 to think differently about how we serve clients. Focus on client = needs, solve=20 their problems, and provide value.
=20
What will the legal landscape look like in 10=20 years?
Those who differentiate will prosper. Services are=20 intangible and difficult to value. Give clients a reason to value your = services.
=20
That=E2=80=99s great advice. We may already know the = answer to this, but=20 what would you do if you weren=E2=80=99t a = lawyer?
Business fascinates me.=20 I love learning, writing, and teaching.
=20
How do you want to be remembered?
A man who = lived his=20 religion, loved his wife and children, and treated everyone honorably = and with=20 kindness.
=20
What do you do when you=E2=80=99re not = working?
Time with=20 family (especially my wife) is the best. I enjoy reading, writing, = sci-fi,=20 sports, cooking, baking, and traveling.
=20
The baking intrigues me=E2=80=A6 Last question for you: = what advice do you=20 have for people going to law school today?
Focus on a = practice=20 area and become a recognized expert. Differentiate yourself to = clients,=20 referral sources. Learn how to market.

That=E2=80=99s great advice. Thank you very = much for=20 answering our questions today

Thank you for the invitation, @22twts. I have = enjoyed the=20 experience.

test Filed under Twitterviews | Tags: Biotechnology, Blawger, Employment, Mesa AZ |

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May 26: @downtownlawyer=20

May 28: @cstegmaier, who also tweets as @CollinsandLacy=20

twen=C2=B7ty-two tweets

\tw=C9=99n-t=C4=93 t=C3=BC tw=C4=93tz\=20 (noun)=20

live Twitter interviews with=20 practicing lawyers who tweet=20
a forum where lawyers tell their=20 stories, one tweet at a time=20
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22 Tweets on = Twitter

http://twitte= r.com/joneswalker/statuses/1884294330=20 joneswalker (Jones Walker)
http://tw= itter.com/constructionlaw/statuses/1881734959=20 constructionlaw (Christopher Hill)
http://twitte= r.com/lancegodard/statuses/1875056902=20 lancegodard (Lance Godard)
http://twitter.com= /22twts/statuses/1874995977=20 22twts (Lance Godard)
http://twitter.= com/tysonsnow/statuses/1874977149=20 tysonsnow (tysonsnow)

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twen=C2=B7ty-two tweets

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