An Insider's Guide on Hiring a Business Attorney: And How to Make the Relationship Work

Most business owners and executives know they should have a regular business attorney, but know little about how to find a good one. How can you tell whether that lawyer your neighbor recommended or that lawyer you met at a cocktail party is really any good? Drawing on over twenty-five years of experience in large and small firms and from working with lawyers across the country and internationally, author John L. Watkins demystifies the process. He shatters the myth that lawyers are all the same. John then provides an easy to understand, step-by-step guide for locating, researching, evaluating and interviewing business attorneys. He explains how law firms work and key questions to ask in the process. He also covers the often touchy subject of legal fees, including alternative fee arrangements. Finally, John provides key tips on how to work effectively with your business attorney, so that the attorney may serve as a trusted adviser for many years to come. This book is an indispensable guide for any business owner or executive considering hiring counsel.