Law And More

Shannon Who? Joe, You're Becoming a Public Nuisance - The Great Unpredictability

In Massachusetts, U.S. Senate incumbent Ed Markey could be in for the fight of his life.

Or, maybe not.

Markey, in his 70s, is already opposed by labor-lawyer hero Shannon Liss-Riordan. Her signature is representing contract drivers against Uber to obtain the legal classification as "employee."

But, that grand mission became accomplished when California AB-5 was signed into law by the Governor Gavin Newsom. Usually what happens in CA spreads throughout the nation. So much for Liss-Riordan's branding as lawyer friend of the gig worker. The CA legislature and executive branch took care of that, thank you.

Obviously, that particular political force is somewhat neutralized.

The meme of high uncertainty in today's world washes across the consciousness of the watchers of the MA U.S. Senate race.

Another supposed threat to Markey has been U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy III. Although he filed to run, he continues to do a Hamlet. Obviously, before declaring himself a candidate, Kennedy is analyzing his chances of winning against Markey.

What Kennedy would have going for him could be two things.

One is the Kennedy branding in MA, along with its fundraising force field.

The other is his age. Come on, admit it, there is age bias in America. That stink follows Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders around. It surfaced in the last Democratic debate. 

But, not so fast about the Kennedy edges. They could be neutralized by the ability of Markey to obtain the endorsements of two high-profile influential politicos. 

As Boston Magazine reports, AOC announced she is supporting Markey. They're allies in championing the Green New Deal. With Dorian and more there had been more attention to the impacts of climate change. AOC has gained new credibility. You bet, residents of the U.S. are getting it that they have to factor climate change into everything from where to live (maybe not coastal Florida) to where to invest (maybe not fossil fuels).

Also, Elizabeth Warren is for Markey. She is navigating the early campaign better than expected. And she could be the last one standing. Since she's a woman that could make her a publicity magnet.

It could be said that what is going on in MA mirrors the Uncertainty as Standard that dominates global, national, state, and local matters. 

Consequently, those who decide to take a certain course of action can't predict how that will play out in their careers and long-term branding. Liss-Riordan can look naive for taking on Markey. Kennedy's Hamlet act can irritate voters in MA. The residue could be: Another Kennedy manipulating us.

Not getting results from your marketing communications? Complimentary consultation – janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

September 16, 2019 in Branding, careers, Current A

In Massachusetts, U.S. Senate incumbent Ed Markey could be in for the fight of his life.

Or, maybe not.

Markey, in his 70s, is already opposed by labor-lawyer hero Shannon Liss-Riordan. Her signature is representing contract drivers against Uber to obtain the legal classification as "employee."

But, that grand mission became accomplished when California AB-5 was signed into law by the Governor Gavin Newsom. Usually what happens in CA spreads throughout the nation. So much for Liss-Riordan's branding as lawyer friend of the gig worker. The CA legislature and executive branch took care of that, thank you.

Obviously, that particular political force is somewhat neutralized.

The meme of high uncertainty in today's world washes across the consciousness of the watchers of the MA U.S. Senate race.

Another supposed threat to Markey has been U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy III. Although he filed to run, he continues to do a Hamlet. Obviously, before declaring himself a candidate, Kennedy is analyzing his chances of winning against Markey.

What Kennedy would have going for him could be two things.

One is the Kennedy branding in MA, along with its fundraising force field.

The other is his age. Come on, admit it, there is age bias in America. That stink follows Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders around. It surfaced in the last Democratic debate. 

But, not so fast about the Kennedy edges. They could be neutralized by the ability of Markey to obtain the endorsements of two high-profile influential politicos. 

As Boston Magazine reports, AOC announced she is supporting Markey. They're allies in championing the Green New Deal. With Dorian and more there had been more attention to the impacts of climate change. AOC has gained new credibility. You bet, residents of the U.S. are getting it that they have to factor climate change into everything from where to live (maybe not coastal Florida) to where to invest (maybe not fossil fuels).

Also, Elizabeth Warren is for Markey. She is navigating the early campaign better than expected. And she could be the last one standing. Since she's a woman that could make her a publicity magnet.

It could be said that what is going on in MA mirrors the Uncertainty as Standard that dominates global, national, state, and local matters. 

Consequently, those who decide to take a certain course of action can't predict how that will play out in their careers and long-term branding. Liss-Riordan can look naive for taking on Markey. Kennedy's Hamlet act can irritate voters in MA. The residue could be: Another Kennedy manipulating us.

Not getting results from your marketing communications? Complimentary consultation – janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Reputation Laundering - The Genius, Money, and Morality

Despite the Sixth Amendment - the right to a defense - superlawyers such as David Boies have been criticized for pulling out all stops assisting their clients.

Forever will resonate Jason Farrow's outing of this in The New Yorker. However, the reality is this: Boies' law firm continues to be in demand. Unlike the warrior in the film "John Wick 3," Boies has not had imposed on him an "excommunicado."

But the legal defense is only a part, perhaps a relatively small one, in the parallel universe that those with significant resources can operate. 

Before, during, and after that win in the court of law could come what John Naughton The Guardian essentially labels as "reputation laundering." The analysis fingers the MIT Media Lab as the platform for the attempt to restore Jeffrey Epstein's brand. 

Rebranding, just like many defenses in the court of law, requires strategic genius, money, and its own kind of morality. The latter mirrors capitalism's notion of paying for a service.

In reputation laundering that payment is usually high. Over the years, Epstein donated large sums to the MIT Media Lab and motivated those on his global network to also contribute.

According to current norms, society now demands that process be transparent.

Had the MIT Lab disclosed in detail those financial windfalls, perhaps members of the media, including Ronan Farrow again in The New Yorker, wouldn't have this issue to cover.

Actually, it's an ideal one for the ambitious media. More recently, Harvard has also been outed as accepting Epstein's contributions and appointing him as a "fellow" (a kind of professor) in the psychology department. At a time when many have become weary of national politics, this particular story has legs.

The U.S. Constitution guarantees the defense.

But there is no constitutional guarantee that the influential institutions in society will continue to allow reputation laundering. Businesses, such as public relations firms, could be, yes, be stamped with an "excommunicado" decree if they accept a rebranding assignment for what is perceived as a questionable cause or an enemy of the people. 

The Verge is among the communications sources which reported that disgraced media tycoon Roger Ailes was planning a comeback. After his non-compete provision with Fox News ended, he, assisted with venture capitalist Peter Thiel's funding, was envisioning a rival to Fox. That would be another kind of conservative cable network. 

Likely, a moving part in that would have had to be reputation restoration. Could Ailes' long-time personal public relations representative Bob Dilenschneider been assigned that project? Could that mission of reinvention be pulled off?

Many Ailes watchers never counted him out to time travel to an undiscovered planet of accomplishment. What seems unthinkable simply might be conceived within a framework lacking imagination and push.

It was before prison that the Nixon Administration lawyer Chuck Colson seemed to begin to self-launder his reputation. He found and shared spirituality. When he died the obituaries hailed his contribution to humanity. 

What could be crossing the minds of those not perched on the top rungs of the socio-economic ladder in America is deep resentment. They assume that they are locked out of the shot at reputation laundering. On the agenda for ending inequality could be tutorials on the art of rebranding.

But that hostility may arise from a lack of a capacity to envision what's possible. In reality, nobodies pull off every day overcoming how they initially are perceived and treated.

The warm and fuzzy term for that is "The American Dream." Like Colson, it was in prison that Malcom X laundered his reputation. The transition was from street thug to respected leader.

Not getting results from your marketing communications? Complimentary consultation – janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Felicity Huffman - Jail Time Lite, But Rest of Sentence Heavy

Today, Judge Indria Talwani imposed a multi-faceted sentence on actress Felicity Huffman. The latter has been fading from her glam self since her arrest in the college admission cheating scandal.

The actual jail time was lite: 14 days. Huffman has to report to do that time in six weeks.

In addition, the sentence entails:

$30,000 fine

250 hours of community service

A year of supervision after release from jail.

Judge Talwani also delivered a stern lecture to Huffman.

The prosecution wanted more jail time. However, in terms of long-term humiliation, Huffman has already suffered plenty.

Will this send a message to the players of the current gilded age that the rules apply to them too?

Not getting results from your marketing communications? Complimentary consultation – janegenova374@gmail.com.

The Career Wisdom of Becoming Guest of the State - Felicity Huffman et al.

For seasoned players in the branding game, a prison stay can kick off reputation restoration.

Examples of that range from jailbirds Watergate lawyer Chuck Colson to private school head Jean Harris.

So, Felicity Huffman could be making a public relations wrong move in trying to duck being a guest of the state. Instead of an all-out high profile campaign for no prison time (which ordinary people would turn on her for) she should request a stiff sentence. Immediately the career magic would begin blossoming again. The sound of her name will cast spells. 

A seemingly nice human being, Huffman could thrive in prison. One-on-one she could help fellow inmates with everything from advice (learned the hard way) about parenting to genius makeup tricks. On a macro level, she could launch a new program tutoring about transforming pain into game-changers. 

Upon release (probably with reduction of the sentence for good behavior) Huffman can start a foundation for mothers in prison. For the rest of her life she could be its chief fundraiser. Then her family can take over.

Prison time can be the unique opportunity to reconfigure career strategies. It took a stay behind bars for the Malcolm X to emerge. Previously, that unchanneled force of rage had been a street thug. 

Not getting results from your marketing communications? Complimentary consultation – janegenova374@gmail.com.

David Drummond's Matters of the Heart - Straight from a Shakespearean Comedy

There are two usuals in the comedies of William Shakespeare.

One is the meme that things aren't what they seem. (Incidentally, "Dateline" plays that theme out every night on television.)

And, two, at the end there tends to be a marriage, which is a joyous occasion. In Shakespeare, joy frequently comes before a major tragedy.

The recent media coverage of Alphabet's chief legal officer David Drummond captures the Shakespearean ethos.

No, things aren't what they seemed with Drummond when it came to matters of the heart.

After his former subordinate, romantic partner,and mother of his child Jennifer Blakely outed the details of their long-over relationship on Medium, Drummnond contended he never had another such connection at the corporation again. 

Well, that isn't what CNBC reports.

Drummond, it seems, had been involved with Google employee Corinne Dixon. She was not a direct report and worked at Google, not parent Alphabet. According to CNBC, the two got married last weekend. So, yes, like a Shakespearean comedy this saga ends with a marriage.

But, is there tragedy, maybe the micro kind, ahead? Will both Durmmond's and his employer's brand be tarnished for being caught up in an alleged lie?  

So many matters of the heart steal away brand equity, both individual and organizational. That goes back to the outing of the romance at Bendix between chief executive officer William Agee and top executive Mary Cunningham. When Agee died at age 79, the media made that romance his legacy. Here is coverage from The New York Times.

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The Strange Voodoo of Shut-Down Males in TV Law Enforcement - Jack Malone, et al.

Those shut-down law enforcement characters on television grab and hold onto audiences.

At the top of the list is Jack Malone, who heads an FBI unit on "Without a Trace." His mirror image is Aaron Hotchner in charge of the BAU on "Criminal Minds."

There are no new episodes of "Without a Trace." But the series is still in reruns. Here, in the Midwest, they are scheduled on Escape.

One of the most intriguing attributes of Malone's character is his self-awareness. He knows exactly who he is but he can't change - even though he tries, over and over again.

For instance, he tells a subordinate facing serious medical problems he realizes he hadn't been there for her in the past but will be there for her in the present. She gets it that's impossible and that's that. 

Another episode has him on the roof, as an old man. That man is contemplating suicide. Malone decides to save himself by changing. However, the audience wonders if he is capable of any psychic reorganization. So wounded he had been by his father.

As for his relationship with subordinate Sam, he both tries to let her free to live a life with someone else and struggles in subtle ways to hold on. Another relationship with a woman more his age collapses when she miscarries their child.

He also can't relate to the family he already produced.

Because he is onto himself, Malone's suffering is profound. What's amazing is that he can leave that in some kind of box when he is working a case. Everyone respects his investigative genius and how he connects the dots. 

The filming of new episodes ended with Malone's and Sam's relationship still up in the air. She was building a connection with the father of her baby. Malone is sending off a message of non-acceptance. What the audience is left with is the question: Did Sam have the strength to break free of Malone? Those following the reruns look for clues to answer that question. Malone possesses the unique voodoo of being able to cast romantic spells. 

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Will Gardner Got Off Easy, Compared to What Could Have Happened to Lawyer Mike McCulloch

It was the iconic scene from "The Good Wife." Law partner Will Gardner gets fatally gunned down by a client in the courtroom.

Well, that represented a fast way to die compared to what Daniel Schwarz allegedly planned for attorney Mike McCulloch. The latter had represented a condo association which won a $60,000 judgment against Schwarz.

In retaliation, Schwarz allegedly hatched a plan to off McCulloch, after he was tortured via the template in Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs." The COD would be an overdose of fentanyl. 

As Law and Crime reports, the middleperson in all this alleged murder for hire scheme was a meth addict who had become a confidential informer for the FBI. She snitched. The plan got derailed.

Also, it was contended that Schwarz intended to frame his own lawyer Robert Meiser for the crime.

Right now Schwarz is accused of conspiracy and the attempt to possess/distribute a controlled substance. But those could be upgraded.

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Prominent Canadian Defense Lawyer Brian Greenspan Answering "Shark Tank" Kevin O'Leary's Legal Questions

The fatal boat accident occurred on Lake Joseph, Ontario, Canada. Currently, members of law enforcement there have questions about the statement "Shark Tank" Kevin O'Leary initially had given about that tragedy. Two people had lost their lives. So, O'Leary had to turn to a lawyer in Canada to help him answer those questions. 

That defense lawyer is Brian Greenspan. Previously he had assisted U.S.-based celebrities such as Justin Bieber when they had legal problems in Canada.

As the New York Post reports, at the front end O'Leary contended that the larger boat in the collision didn't have its lights on and had fled the scene of the accident. Law enforcement claims that the lights were on and that both boats fled the scene of the accident.

Will this accident now turned scandal derail O'Leary's television career? Only time will tell.

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Lawyers/Law Students: The Role of Book Publishing in the Marketing Mix

The advice book "Decisions" will be published by Citadel Press January 1, 2020.

The meme is that the decisions made now shape the future. The format for delivering that guidance is practical advice by 23 leaders.

So far, pre-publication sales aren't brisk. On Amazon, the book ranks 2,267,262. As yet, there are no customer reviews.

The author is public affairs player Bob Dilenschneider.

Unfortunately, Dilenschneider's book branding is associated with the attempt to distract attention from Gabriel Sherman's "The Loudest Voice in the Room." He tried that by placing an ad in The New York Times Book Review section for a vanity biography of Ailes. Some assumed the placement of the ad by a publisher. 

But not for long.

The media noticed that the book promoted "Roger Ailes: Off Camera" had already been on the market a year. Journalists thought that weird. They investigated. Then they outed Dilenschneider as the party who had placed the ad. No the marketing tactic hadn't been orchestrated by the publisher. Dilenschneider had been Ailes' personal public relations representative. 

With so many recent creative interpretations of what Ailes had been about, the story of the NYT Book Review stunt hasn't gone away. Ailes is dead. The shelf life of the ad placement just keeps getting extended. 

Dilenschneider is no newbie in the book publishing game. He had leveraged book publishing for his branding and new business development since the early 1990s. That, of course, was a different time. For those in professional services, publishing a book had been the price of entry. 

That was then.

Now, lawyers and law students who recognize the importance of establishing a brand currently wonder: Should we invest our resources in publishing a book. Or, if that had already been done, should publishing additional books be part of the marketing mix?

So much more can be accomplished through doing what it takes to become a social network influencer, developing a podcast series with reach, and, hopefully, being invited to give a talk on TED. 

Yes, a book still can be a promotional tool. I research and ghostwrite about two annually. Books, print and e-, are a major niche for my communications boutique. Yes, most of that is done on a 100% confidential basis.

However, in this digital era, it can no longer be a stand-alone. Instead it is only one part of dynamic marketing package that keeps reconfiguring in response to what's going on in the external environment (including weather and sea level) and within the thinking of the author. The world keeps changing. The audience keeps changing. The author keeps changing. 

The model for that is the unique success of New York University professor and internet expert Scott Galloway. His book "The Four" has served as a platform for his comprehensive guidance about Everything Ecommerce. Yes, Galloway has plenty of followers on social networks, does podcasts, and deliver talks on TED. 

Another shift in the book market is that e-books can also perform plenty heavy lifting. As free downloads on websites they not only send the expertise message. They also create an ethos of generous sharing. 

Given so much disruption in The Book As Marketing Tool, it will be useful to observe how Dilenschneider manages "Decisions," its sales, and its influence.

All marketers, not only those in professional services, are operating on a fast-shifting playing field. It's all too easy to start running in the wrong direction.

In addition, law students have to get it that they can both launch their brand and derive insight into the legal sector by publishing a book. That can be a 40-pager knocked out on Word or PowerPoint. Then they can do extreme distribution on social networks and through podcasting. Could law students receive an invitation to address TED? Sure. 

Complimentary consultation on how to put your book together, have it ghostwritten affordably, and leverage that platform for extreme marketing success. Please contact janegenova374@gmail.com.

Charles Harder 1, Lawrence O'Donnell 0 (for now)

Media law superlawyer of "Hogan v. Gawker" Charles Harder has done it again. At least for now.

He motivated MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell to apologize and retract a story.

As Law.com reports that was a commentary, that is not fact-based news, that Russians close to Vladimir Putin co-signed a loan to Donald Trump by Deutsche Bank. 

After that MSNBC story was aired, Harder, representing Trump, sent a demand letter. Here is a copy of it.

Essentially, he asserts that the statements were made with actual malice and reckless disregard for the truth. 

But the story is not dead.

O'Donnell conceded it just wasn't ready for air time. Also it relied on only one source. He didn't go as far as declaring it inaccurate.

O'Donnell could revisit it, solidly backed up with facts. That would be a smart move to remove some tarnish from his own and MSNBC's branding. Obviously, this victory for Harder has thrown shade on both.

A lot of the back and forth on this happened via Twitter.

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