Law And More

Peter Thiel, No Longer New Shiny Toy

In the influential New York Magazine, Brian Feldman headlines his article with the possibility that Peter Thiel might just a crank. Here you can read it.

As many in the legal sector know, Thiel funded "Hogan v. Gawker." And, as many in the political sector know, he is one of the few in Silicon Valley who is supporting Donald Trump. Recently, Thiel, a wealthy innovator and venture capitalist, donated $1 million to the Trump campaign.

Thiel is also the author of best-seller "Zero to One." Some consider it a must-read for entrepreneurs. A bit of advice in the book is not to create a new wrinkle on a social network like Facebook but go after something authentically innovative.

Indeed, Theil has had his finger in many pies, to use that cliché. And that might be why he is no longer the new shiny toy which dazzles media and other watchers.

His talk at the National Press Club Feldman seemed, well, odd. At best it presented platitudes. At worse, it seemed devoid of deep knowledge of subjects such as politics. And, although he has a law degree from Stanford, he doesn't seem to understand the implications of his funding what some view as a weak case. Had it not been argued in a state court which was the home base of the plaintiff, the jury might have acquitted.

If Thiel wants to preserve his brand, he might stick with tech and venture capitalism. By stepping out into areas of expertise he does not seem to truly get, he could wind up being positioned and packaged as, yes, a crank. Steve Jobs didn't stray far from the business of Apple.

It would be sad to observe Thiel embarking on a downward trajectory in the court of public opinion.

It’s a dog fight out there. Contact Jane Genova for complimentary consultation on getting the results you need in your marketing communications (janegenova374@gmail.com).

Capital Law (serves legal industry), Palo, Alto, CA - Legal Assistant, Must Know Both Chinese/English

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Karina Pulse, HoganLovells Associate, Dead in Hit and Run

Karina Pulse is remembered by her superiors and colleagues at Hogan Lovells as a promising lawyer. She had lateralled to its Denver office after doing work at Wilson Sonsini. She had graduated from Columbia Law School in 2013.

On Abvoethelaw, lawyer-journalist, Kathryn Rubino, reports that Pulse died last weekend in a hit and run incident. Her boyfriend remains hospitalized. Here is Rubino's coverage.

This blog extends sympathy to the loved ones of Karina Pulse.

Law Firm, Annapolis, MD - Marketing Specialist

Here are details and how to apply.

James Gilliland Jr. Murdered Outside His Home - Motive Not Yet Known

James Gilliland, partner at Kilpatrick Townsend, was murdered outside his home.

His special area of expertise had been Intellectual Property. His clients ranged from Apple to Oracle. Here is the coverage on Abovethelaw by lawyer-journalist, Kathryn Rubino.

As yet, the motive is unknown. The speculation runs from a plain-vanilla robbery to bad blood among people who knew each other.

Those of us who understand the high stakes in business, especially technology, might add the motive of halting his investigation of a dark corner of a firm's business. He might have had a hunch. The miscreants might have feared what could be turned up.

Although murder might shock, it's been an efficient tool since the beginning of the human race for getting what the bad guys want. Cain murdered Able. So common it has been that it is banned in the Ten Commandments.

This blog extends deep sympathy to James' loved ones.

Lawyers, Legal Staff - Shortcut for Starting Over

"How can I start over?"

That's what an over-50 colleague asked his network last week. He had lasted longer than most of his generation in traditional jobs. Then he had hit a wall. For 13 months he has been hunting for yet another old-time job. No, he didn't land work going that route.

With the legal sector not bouncing back to Pre-Crash of 2007 manpower demands, some lawyers and legal staff are facing the same challenge: the need to start over.

All types of displaced professionals can cut through the complexity and pain of starting over by focusing on the cover letter. It's there that we define our professional self through how and what we pitch to employers, temp agencies, organizations looking for contact help, and prospects for our products and services.

Yes, this might be thought of as "working backward."

The conventional way is to consult with an executive coach or career/outplacement counselor. The objective is to identify our skills and talents. Then we research if they align with the marketplace. Then, based on all that we re-do our marketing materials such as cover letters and resumes. You bet, there will be a considerable time lag before we bring in income again.

The cover letter route entails reading the help-wanted or looking into organizations we can do something for. Then we put together the presentation why we are the perfect fit to accomplish the outcomes they need. Such a tool allows us to sell ourselves as not only the full-time employee but also the part-timer, the freelancer, and business owner.

We do that and then create the resume to match up with it.

Soon enough we get responses. If not, we keep modifying the cover letters. Usually there will be several of them.

Once we hit it right, we then figure out how to do the interview for that new professional space. That is, it's new for us. That colleague no longer so marketable for full-time jobs with benefits gets to sample other ways of working.

And, we are not starting over. Instead, we are already on the fresh career path. It's a done deed. We go on from there. For example, we hunt for better kinds of work with better compensation.

I pulled that off about 20 months ago when I focused on doing cover letters to answer help-wanted notices for marketing communications on a contract basis. With that I made the transition from the executive communications box to wider opportunities.

But, simultaneously, I held on to what work could still come my way in executives communications. Starting over can mean adding to our menu of what we can provide in exchange for income. We don't have to eliminate other sources of earning money.

Making a good living is becoming multi-dimensional. The trick is to keep our brands separate. Buyers for our skills don't like to be confused in trying to figure out what they are purchasing.

Want better results? Contact Jane Genova for complimentary consultation on making all your marketing communications effective (janegenova374@gmail.com).

 

 

Twitter Layoff - Aiman-Smith & Marcy Hunts Possible Plaintiffs Via Facebook Targeted Ad

Trolling for possible plaintiffs has become a little easier. The question is: Will it be as effective as law firms hope?

Recode reports that Aiman-Smith & Marcy is leveraging a targeted Facebook ad to reach the 350 laid off from Twitter. The message, of course, is that those terminated may have a case against their former employer. So, you bet, come talk to us.

Other kinds of trolling have been more tedious.

For example, there would be a hunt on LinkedIn to identify former or current employees of X organization.

Another way has been to send out snail mail informing potential plaintiffs that they may have a shot at litigation.

The Aiman-Smith approach will be closely watched.

It’s a dog fight out there. Contact Jane Genova for complimentary consultation on getting the results you need in your marketing communications (janegenova374@gmail.com).

Drudge Report - If It Looks, Walks, Talks, Smells, and Imprisons Like Watergate ...

In case it didn't dawn on us that Emailgate could become another Watergate, the Drudge Report puts it out there.

On this Halloween before the election, the Drudge Report tells us that 45% fear that Hillary is in worse trouble than Richard Nixon et al. had been. That's the findings of a Morning Consult poll. Here is the link to the coverage by the Washington Examiner.

The implications of a Hillary kind of Watergate are massive.

For example, just consider how the Clinton Inc. legacy would go down in history. Would Bill's brand be spared? That depends on what is in the email. Chelsea's promising career path toward her own power and wealth could blow up. The former First Daughter could wind up Little Girl Lost.

Like all the king's men in the Nixon Administration, close aide Huma Abedin could wind up in prison. No fool, she has lawyered-up. Of course, in another prison could be her estranged husband, Anthony Weiner. He is being investigated for sexing a minor.

The big question is: Will Hillary herself  wind up in prison?

Meanwhile, the world is watching Campaign 2016 become total infotainment. Members of the media, including this blog, are experiencing amazing traffic numbers. Another play out of a Watergate, which is a long process, could keep those numbers up.

It’s a dog fight out there. Contact Jane Genova for complimentary consultation on getting the results you need in your marketing communications (janegenova374@gmail.com).

Certainty Gives Way to Lawyerly Phrase "That Depends"

America has been humbled.

We were certain the way to beat average returns was through hedge funds.

We knew who was going to win this election.

Hollywood Golden Couple Angelina and Brad would grow old together like Bogie and Bacall. 

That kind of absolute certainty gives way to the lawyerly phrase "That Depends." Ask four lawyers if Nick Denton's appeal of "Hogan v Gawker" will work. If they are worth their salt, they will answer, "That depends."

Ask a less grandiose question such as will the jury verdict of $140 million in that litigation be reduced and each will still answer, "That Depends."

The flight away from certainty even has affected the occult. I asked my psychic, usually a yes or no kind of guy, if I would get the ghostwriting contract for a book about X. There was a nanosecond of silence. Then, he answered, "That Depends." He and I then sorted through several variables. 

If the current volatility becomes the new usual, "That Depends" could evolve into "I Don't Know." In a school of zen headquartered in Rhode Island, the meditation mantra is: Clear Thinking, Don't Know. 

 

Want better results? Contact Jane Genova for complimentary consultation on making all your marketing communications effective (janegenova374@gmail.com).

Drudge Report - Is Hillary-Huma Power Partnership Headed for Splitsville?

The Drudge Report headlines with what is the media meme of this wild weekend in Campaign 2016.

That's the possibility that Hillary will have to "divorce" her long-time aide Huma.

The Hillary-Huma team has been iconic for more than a decade. The Drudge Report links is to The New York Times article analyzing what might be a necessary political move. Other brandname media, such as the Daily Mail, have also presented the splitsville scenario.

Yes, politics makes for strange bedfellows.

But it also mandates distancing from other players, even if they are based in the inner circle.

Most recently, Donald Trump and Chris Christie have done that kind of splitsville. Who was the prime mover on that? Trump or Christie? In the legacy of both politicos that will be irrelevant. It will just be recorded as one of the many developments during Campaign 2016.

The Hillary-Huma divorce seems like a must-do.

In the court of public opinion, Huma has become the fall-girl. Did she go home to now-estranged husband, Anthony Weiner, and share classified secrets? And what was she doing getting married to Weiner, anyway?

In the court of law, Huma testified under oath that she turned over all devices containing official emails to the federal powers that be.

But that turns out not to be true. There have been emails discovered on the computer used by both Weiner and herself. Let's never forget, Hillary is a lawyer. If Huma is convicted of or pleads guilty to perjury, she faces up to five years in prison

Therefore, Hillary-Huma watchers have to be prepared for the once-unthinkable: divorce. Can they anticipate an announcement that Huma has resigned her position in order to focus on her new legal challenges and her personal problems (she has separated from Weiner)? The odds favor that.

Want better results? Contact Jane Genova for complimentary consultation on making all your marketing communications effective (janegenova374@gmail.com).