Contributors « Small Firm Innovation

Contributors

Small Firm Innovation: First-person accounts of small-firm success. Our Contributors run the gauntlet of season practitioners to the newly solo, and areas in between. No one person is the same, and no one law practice is run the same way. If you’d like to contribute, drop us an email.

We’re pleased to present our (growing) list of Contributors:

	In 1993, Russell Alexander graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts. Russ then obtained a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Russ was called to the Bar by the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1998 and commenced his practice in Lindsay, Ontario. Russ now has offices in Lindsay, Brooklin and Markham Ontario. His professional memberships include: Advocates Society, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Canadian Bar Association, Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario Bar Association, Victoria Haliburton Law Association and the Durham Law Association. Russ enjoys litigation and helping clients solve their problems. When he is not practicing law Russ enjoys spending his time with his family skiing, snowboarding, playing hockey on the backyard rink, golfing and boating.
	Robert J. Ambrogi is a Massachusetts lawyer, writer and media consultant. He is author of the book, The Essential Guide to the Best (and Worst) Legal Sites on the Web. He also writes the blog Media Law and cohosts the legal affairs podcast Lawyer2Lawyer.
	After several years in Queens County District Attorney’s Office, Andrew Barovick worked for several years defending physicians and hospitals, and interfacing with the medical malpractice insurance companies that paid for the defense of the physicians and hospitals that they insured. While those years enabled Mr. Barovick to gain a thorough knowledge of medical malpractice litigation, he ultimately came to feel that he was on the wrong side, and wanted to once again be fighting to bring justice to victims. This time, though, the victims he had in mind had been hurt by medical malpractice and other forms of negligence. He started his own firm, devoting his practice to plaintiff’s medical malpractice, and other catastrophic personal injury cases. He also researches and writes appeals and substantial motions in his practice areas.
	Nicole Black is of counsel to Fiandach and Fiandach, in Rochester, New York. She co-authors “Social Media: The Next Frontier,” a book published by the American Bar Association. She also co-authors “Criminal Law in New York," a Thomson West treatise, and is currently working on a book about cloud computing for lawyers that will be published by the American Bar Association in the spring of 2011. She also writes a weekly column for The Daily Record and has authored numerous articles and spoken at many conferences regarding the intersection of law, technology and social media. She publishes three legal blogs.
	Chad Burton is the founder of Burton Law LLC, a virtual law firm based in Ohio. His practice focuses on business law and litigation, with an emphasis on franchise-related issues. Chad also serves as a consultant for lawyers on practice management and technology issues.
	Colin Cameron is the President of Profits for Partners, Management Consulting Inc. He provides strategic profit-focused advice based on over 25 years of executive management and consulting experience with professional service firms. Colin advises law and professional service firms in the following key areas related to profitability: Profitability improvement, strategic planning, firm governance, partner compensation, financial management and operations management.
	After more than a decade working with high powered solos and equity level partners at some of the largest firms in and around NYC, Andrea Cannavina founded her virtual legal assistant practice, LegalTypist, Inc. With her team of Digital Assistants and carefully selected technology, Andrea and LegalTypist service over 40 small firms and process the initial drafts transcription of firms of 60+ attorneys. Andrea also frequently lectures on technology, security and confidentiality concerns which any business working on or through the Internet needs to address.
	Jared D. Correia, Esq., is Law Practice Management Advisor at LOMAP. Prior to joining LOMAP, he was the Publications Attorney for the Massachusetts Bar Association (“MBA”), where he established the continuing legal education publication protocols and standards. Prior to joining the MBA, Mr. Correia was a private practice attorney, working in the areas of general practice and disability law, in small firms on the Southcoast, North of Boston and just outside of Boston.
	Carolyn Elefant, creator of MyShingle.com, is the founder and principal attorney with the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant (LOCE) in Washington D.C. Carolyn’s practice focuses on energy regulatory matters with heavy emphasis on FERC practice and policy, emerging renewables, appeals and select federal litigation matters.
	David Gulbransen is an attorney in the Chicagoland area, focusing on business law and intellectual property law, with additional practice areas in entertainment and arts law. He handles a wide range of matters for small and medium sized businesses, as well as services related to the business of the arts. His practice is focused on client service.
	Tom Haren is a Cleveland-area attorney and principal member of Haren Law, LLC. Tom practices in the areas of criminal defense and estate planning, devoting much of his practice to defending individuals charged with marijuana-related offenses. His firm is also developing a First Amendment practice area. He is an active member of the Cleveland legal community, sitting on various committees with the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association as well as with his alma mater, the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University. You can follow Tom on Twitter: @ThomasGHaren.
	Christopher G. Hill, LEED AP is lawyer and owner of the Richmond, VA firm, The Law Office of Christopher G. Hill, PC. Chris has been nominated and elected by his peers to Virginia's Legal Elite in the Construction Law category on multiple occasions and is a member of the Virginia Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” for 2011. He specializes in mechanic's liens, contract review and consulting, occupational safety issues (VOSH and OSHA), and risk management for construction professionals. Chris authors the Construction Law Musings blog where he discusses legal and policy issues relevant to construction professionals. Additionally, Chris is active in the Associated General Contractors of Virginia and the Board of Governors of Construction Law and Public Contracts Section of the Virginia State Bar.
	Prior to starting Hyndman \| Law, Rob practiced in Toronto, New York and Budapest with two of Canada’s largest law firms. He also acted as VP and General Counsel to Hotline Communications, one of the original P2P software companies. Rob has counseled on a broad spectrum of mandates from complex mergers and acquisitions of technology and other companies to routine e-commerce and internet law matters and technology contracts. He has advised public and private companies, established businesses and start-ups, Canadian and foreign companies, developers and users of technology, and both old and new economy businesses.
	Mallory Lynn is the founder of The Lynn Law Firm, P.A., located in West Palm Beach, Florida. Her practice focuses exclusively on immigration and nationality law, including litigation. She also undertakes freelance writing projects and has provided technology consulting services to other attorneys. Mallory is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and the University of Minnesota Law School.
	Sapna Mahboobani is a Toronto-based lawyer focusing on business and IT law. Prior to law, she worked as an IT consultant at a multi-national company, moving through all areas of the IT development process from design, programming, maintenance and business development. Sapna has an computer engineering degree from the University of Mumbai. She graduated with a dual degree in law and masters information studies (J.D/M.I.St.) from the University of Toronto, and started her legal career at a national Bay Street law firm. Sapna currently runs her own practice counselling technology companies in business- and IT-lawrelated areas. Sapna attributes her love of Toronto and its multi-culturism to her diverse upbringing, having lived in five countries spanning three continents. Sapna is an active member of the community and is on the board of directors of Youth Without Shelter and COBA Inc., charitable organizations devoted, respectively, to ending homelessness in Toronto and the promotion of African dance in the city. She can be found on Twitter at @SapnaLawPC and blogs at Business, Technology and the Law.
	Richard Maseles teaches “Real World Legal Research” at Solo Practice University. In his day job, he’s a staff attorney for the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission. Nothing here should be construed as coming from, or approved by, the Commission.
	Mark C. Metzger is a recovering programmer who represents businesses, particularly those with needs in the area of information technology. He’s currently addicted to digital gadgets.
	Phillip Millar brings a refreshing approach to legal services. He served his country as a Combat Officer for over a decade. After his medical release he became an Assistant Crown (District) Attorney and prosecuted many high profile criminal cases. He was lured away from the Prosecutor's office for a job at a large law firm where he gained valuable experience in a the “big firm” environment. After a short duration where it became clear that the big corporate firm was not a good match Phillip opened up his own legal practice and in a short time has built a busy small law firm. Phillip lives on a hobby farm with his wife, four children and two dogs somehow managing to balance work life challenges.
	Edward Poll, J.D., M.B.A., CMC, has dedicated his career to helping others win. With over four decades of professional experience, Ed’s extensive background in business and law have made him one of the nation’s most sought-after experts in law practice management. Ed regularly shares his insights with attorneys across the United States by coaching, consulting, presenting popular workshops, creating practical DVDs and CDs and by contributing to several legal publications throughout the country.
	Donna Seyle is a blogger/writer and Founder of Law Practice Strategy, an information center on the future of law practice and legal technology, focusing on the needs of solos and small firms. She is also an Executive Committee member, California State Bar's Law Practice Management & Technology Section.
	Brian Sinclair is a Missouri felony lawyer serving Troy, Bowling Green, Warrenton, and St. Charles, MO. He is a former prosecutor with significant jury trial experience. He is husband, stepfather and father. The Sinclair Law Office, LLC is a full service law practice focusing on traffic, DWI, criminal, divorce and family law with a special emphasis on felony criminal cases.
	Ernest Svenson is a New Orleans lawyer who likes watching disruptive change. He has started several blogs, including PDFforLawyers and DigitalWorkflowCLE.