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Event Spotlight:
October 20 - 22, 2022
Primerus Contact
Chris Dawe | cdawe@primerus.com
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Bre Judkins | bjudkins@primerus.com
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Chris Dawe | cdawe@primerus.com
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Katie Bundyra | kbundyra@primerus.com
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April 2, 2020Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 2020 – Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, the International Society of Primerus Law Firms is operating at full capacity in these very unusual times. (more)
November 26, 2019Primerus was recognized and honored with the highly coveted “Network Sponsor of the Year” award, for the work done with the ACC International Legal Affairs Network (ILAN). (more)
August 29, 2018The International Society of Primerus Law Firms’ staff spent the morning volunteering at a Feeding America facility in West Michigan.The Primerus team worked together to label, scoop, seal, pack and box 3,500 lbs. of sweet potatoes – 2 lbs. per bag! (more)
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Disclaimer: +Primerus and our member law firms welcome your emails, contact forms, phone calls and written letters. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to Primerus or its member law firms until an attorney-client relationship has been established. Thank you and we look forward to serving you.
September 26, 2022
- Managing partner of Nashville firm juggles demands of leadership role
It seems fitting that Brian Holmes had early designs on becoming an architect, particularly in light of the fact that he has built a successful legal career as the managing partner of Cornelius & Collins, LLP in Nashville, Tennessee over the past seven years. – Brian Holmes, Cornelius & Collins, LLP, Nashville, Tennessee
September 19, 2022
- East Coast attorney moves to the beat of midsize firm
Rich Cohn first picked up a guitar when he was 10, and he will tell you that playing music most of his life has fundamentally influenced how he thinks as an attorney. – Rich Cohn, Earp Cohn P.C., Cherry Hill, New Jersey
September 12, 2022
- Military service set the stage for Maine attorney’s career in labor and employment law
At three critical junctures in attorney Pawel Binczyk’s career, he has found himself in the midst of dramatic, large-scale change: The first influenced his election to go to law school; the second directed his decision to commission as a military officer… – Pawel Binczyk, The Bennett Law Firm, P.A., Portland, Maine
September 6, 2022
- Washington law firm responds to remote work challenges
Flexible, deliberate, and intentional. Those are three words attorneys John Graffe and Chris Keay use often when talking about how their law firm is responding to the new world of remote work… – Chris Keay and John Graffe, Johnson Graffe Keay Moniz & Wick, LLP, Seattle, Washington
August 29, 2022
- Small town upbringing suited South Dakota lawyer to a tee
When attorney Kraig Kronaizl tells you he grew up in a small town, odds are very good it’s even smaller than you think. – Kraig Kronaizl, Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun, P.C., Sioux Falls, South Dakota
August 22, 2022
- Los Angeles attorney among pioneers in cannabis law field
Los Angeles attorney Michelle Mabugat occasionally jokes about burying a time capsule filled with items reflecting the recent state of cannabis law in the U.S. and imagines opening it in 20 years to marvel at how much has changed. – Michelle Mabugat, Greenberg Glusker, Los Angeles, California
August 15, 2022
- Former sports talk show host now holds court as a litigator
When attorney Robert Ashley was a junior in high school, he once had a Coke with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist in a courtyard of the “Marble Palace.” – Robert Ashley, Coleman & Horowitt, LLP, Fresno, California
August 8, 2022
- Difficult upbringing helped shape mindset of attorney
Rodolfo Rivera remembers the moment the course of his life turned toward a more promising future. He woke up on the day he was to begin seventh grade with the realization that he wanted to be a lawyer and that to become one he would have to study harder in school. – Rodolfo Rivera, Fidelity National Financial
August 1, 2022
- Role models help steer career of transportation law attorney
There are two strong women who are the seeds of Emily Chiarizia’s legal career. – Emily Chiarizia, Armstrong Transport Group, LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina
July 25, 2022
- ‘Team’ approach proves pivotal to the success of Kentucky firm
The word “group” in the name Eddins Domine Law Group, PLLC, might just as readily be “team,” according to founder Kevin Eddins’ view of how the Louisville firm operates. – Kevin Eddins, Eddins Domine Law Group, PLLC, Louisville, Kentucky
July 18, 2022
- South African attorney sets sights high in law and in life
At the core of Jack Phalane’s ambitions is a personal quest to be a better human being. – Jack Phalane, Fluxmans Attorneys Incorporated, Johannesburg, South Africa
July 11, 2022
- Desire to stand up for the ‘little guy’ inspires work of Colorado attorney
In her mid-20s, Kylie Schmidt asked herself hard questions: Who am I? What am I all about? What kind of person am I? – Kylie Schmidt, Ogborn Mihm LLP, Denver, Colorado
July 5, 2022
- A return to her roots pays dividends for N.Y. attorney
If someone had told Alexandra Becker when she headed off to college in Baltimore that she’d ever move back to her small hometown in upstate New York, she’d have called that person crazy. – Alexandra Becker, Nolan Heller Kauffman LLP, Albany, New York
June 27, 2022
- Equestrienne finds that the law requires similar grit and skillset
Sacramento attorney Kathryne Baldwin was born a self-proclaimed “horse girl,” and was able to start living the passion of her life at the age of 9 when she first sat astride a horse in an arena. – Kathryne Baldwin, Wilke Fleury LLP, Sacramento, California
June 20, 2022
- California attorney helped take on the tall order of reshaping law firm
Attorney Courtney Hylton was only 19 when she sat beside her father, Mike, as he boldly testified before the National Institute of Health in 1994 about his experience with hemophilia and contaminated blood products. – Courtney Hylton, Lynberg & Watkins, APC, Orange, California
June 13, 2022
- California lawyer still feels thrill of closing a major business deal
The framed print prominently displayed on the wall in attorney Roger Brothers’ office was a birthday gift from his wife Angela. Aptly titled “The Closing,” the painting by Texas artist Jimmy Dyer… – Roger Brothers, Brothers Smith LLP, Walnut Creek, California
June 6, 2022
- Tampa area attorney found his footing on Florida ranch
The double wooden gate marking the entrance to attorney Bob Bivins’s home in West Central Florida is embellished with an elegant “B” and “W” and the name “Bivinswood” in wrought iron lettering. – Bob Bivins, Bivins & Hemenway, P.A., Valrico, Florida
May 30, 2022
- Chair of PDI Convocation relished the opportunity to reconnect again
There is a singular moment during the Primerus Defense Institute Convocation earlier this month that stands out in the mind of Texas attorney Mary Strauss, who chaired the executive committee that organized the annual event – the first in-person PDI conference since 2019. – Mary Strauss, Thornton, Biechlin, Reynolds & Guerra, L.C., San Antonio, Texas
May 23, 2022
- ‘Forever Young’ epitomizes attorney’s outlook on life
A strong thread of tradition acting as a bond across generations in both his community and his family runs through Jim Rudolph’s life.The office wall behind the Boston attorney is covered in framed awards and honors — an impressive visual testament to his extensive involvement over the years in causes and organizations for which he has a passion. – Jim Rudolph, Rudolph Friedmann LLP, Boston, Massachusetts
May 16, 2022
- Family, Navy service are ties that bind for Oklahoma firm
Fletcher Handley is right at home in a family law practice. As a newly minted lawyer in 1979, Handley joined an Oklahoma family law firm with deep roots in the town of El Reno, where he quickly proved himself and became a partner. – Fletcher D. Handley, Jr., The Handley Law Center, El Reno, Oklahoma
May 9, 2022
- On the job learning helped spark her desire for creating pathways
Muliha Khan is candid about her journey to becoming the managing partner and sole owner of the Denver law firm Zupkus & Angell, P.C. – it started out on an errant path. – Muliha Khan, Zupkus & Angell, P.C., Denver, Colorado
May 2, 2022
- Founder of New York firm built its presence with the right hiring ‘fit’
Roger E. Barton, managing partner of Barton LLP in New York, often describes himself as the “concierge at the Ritz Carlton” for the lawyers in the business law firm he founded. – Roger E. Barton, Barton LLP, New York, New York
Sidebar
September 26, 2022
- Winning at all costs is no kind of victory at all
Baseball may lay claim to the title of our “national pastime,” but there can be little doubt that football wears the crown of kings in terms of national popularity if TV ratings serve as the barometer.
September 19, 2022
- A trip to the polls can make lasting impact for the good
Here’s a story about a friend of a friend that underscores the importance of voting. The story involved a man who at the time was building a reputation as a top trial lawyer and correspondingly soon discovered that the price of success can be high.
September 12, 2022
- An unprecedented talk raises the stakes in deepening battle
Let’s face it, talk of democracy is something most of us thought would never cross our lips once we finished that high school civics class years ago.
September 6, 2022
- Two tales can serve as our inspiration to do far better
Some 12 years apart, two Hollywood movies can offer some important lessons about the perils of human hubris while also providing a measure of hope that positive change is within reach.
August 29, 2022
- ‘Changing the world’ begins by taking a few steps at home
The book is called “The Big Sort” and it goes a long way in explaining the “how” and “why” of political polarization. The authors of the 2008 book, Bill Bishop and Robert Cushing, believe that over the past three decades Americans are increasingly living in politically like-minded communities.
August 22, 2022
- Assorted news stories tell of legal system’s strength
For those who consume legal news, the past month has supplied an embarrassment of riches when it comes to headline-grabbing stories. Of particular note, each story has converged on the vitality of the American legal system – and the starring role that lawyers play in the part of peacemaker, problem-solver, and guardians of democracy.
August 15, 2022
- Truth makes a long overdue stand for good of our nation
August 5, 2022 may be remembered as a day when “truth” had its rightful day in court, taking lies, misinformation, baseless conspiracy theories, and hate speech to the legal woodshed.
August 8, 2022
- Author offers his insight on state of polarization
Much has been made in recent years of the great political divide in the U.S. and how that perceived polarization threatens the very existence of our democracy.
August 1, 2022
- Differing opinions can help keep our democracy strong
Renowned British playwright Noel Coward was fond of saying, “I can take any amount of criticism, as long as it is unqualified praise.”
July 25, 2022
- It’s a short checklist for helping contain the spread of autocracies
It’s a time-honored axiom that winners write the history books.
July 18, 2022
- Is our democracy sliding toward minority rule?
Majority rule – one of the bedrock principles of a democracy – may soon find its place on the endangered species list.
July 11, 2022
- Voters need to step up to the plate to keep democracies ever strong
Six years ago, on a baseball field in Detroit, a federal jurist made a plea to a group of men and women of various nationalities who were about to become U.S. citizens, urging “each and every one of you to register to vote as soon as possible” for the upcoming elections.
July 5, 2022
- January 6th hearings reveal unsavory side of our country
Much like the Watergate hearings of 1973, the current House Committee investigation into the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol has made for compelling television, a must-watch type of program that is as gripping as it is disturbing.
June 27, 2022
- A Lord’s insight is being put to supreme test in every way
His name was a mouthful – John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton. Lord Acton, as he was known, was a 19th century English historian who penned the quote, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
June 20, 2022
- Familiar words of yesteryear ring ever loud and clear today
“For Whom the Bell Tolls” is arguably Ernest Hemingway’s greatest novel, although the title of the 1940 book about the travails of an American munitions expert during the Spanish Civil War actually dates to 17th century England.
June 13, 2022
- A company’s rise can teach us much about problem-solving
It’s been said, by legendary poet Robert Frost no less, that “Good fences make good neighbors.”
June 6, 2022
- A yearly observance that serves as a reminder of freedom’s cost
Today – June 6, 2022 – marks the 78th year since the Allied invasion at Normandy in what would come to be known as D-Day, the massive amphibious and airborne assault that literally and figuratively turned the tide against Nazi Germany during World War II.
May 30, 2022
- A foundation that aims to spread a positive form of global influence
Over the past few years there has been a new term that has cropped up in this social media driven world of ours.Influencers.Many of the major brand-name companies use influencer marketing to reach their target audience, especially on such social media platforms as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Snapchat where younger consumers tend to hang out.
May 23, 2022
- Country needs to take a unified approach to problems of today
For those who study constitutional law, a fascinating subject too often draped in writings seemingly designed to confuse and obscure the issues, there was an early ray of legal light in the form of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., particularly when it came to First Amendment freedoms.
May 16, 2022
- The world longs to learn the lessons history teaches
For students of history, May 8 should be framed in the context of a joyous occasion, commemorating the 77th anniversary of the fall of Nazi Germany, bringing an end to a war in Europe that cost tens of millions of lives.
May 9, 2022
- Volunteers pitch in to provide lift to Capital Area Food Bank
The Primerus Business Institute’s 2022 International Summit in Washington, D.C., promised to deliver high-level, relevant programming, a special discussion panel featuring counsels to former U.S. presidents, and an evening dinner cruise on the historic Potomac River, but before all of that on the agenda came an opportunity for attendees to spend an afternoon volunteering at the Capital Area Food Bank.
May 2, 2022
- A Change of Direction for Weekly NewsletterIn concert with the sweeping changes to the April issue of the Paradigm magazine, this edition of the Primerus Weekly newsletter will take on a decidedly new look of its own.
Beginning this week, the newsletter will be anchored by the first in a series of feature profiles of Primerus attorneys, highlighting their achievements on the path to professional prominence while also focusing on the impact they’ve made in the legal community and beyond.Additionally, the revamped Weekly will include a Question & Answer look into the personal and professional life of various Primerus members, offering an opportunity to “get to know” each individual on an altogether different level.The Weekly, of course, will remain the home for accessing the popular Monday morning “Coffee and Conversation” get-togethers, and also will contain the traditional listing of upcoming Primerus events and programs to keep members fully abreast of our range of offerings.In short, this new version of the Primerus Weekly is designed to blend the best of the present and the past, while also casting an eye to a future that we believe is filled with promise. We hope you agree!Best regards, Jack Buchanan, President
September 26, 2022
- Q & A with Kylie Schmidt
- Kylie Schmidt, Ogborn Mihm LLP, Denver, Colorado
September 19, 2022
- Q & A with Iker Dieguez
- Iker Dieguez, Cacheaux Cavazos & Newton, Mexico City, Mexico
September 12, 2022
- Q & A with Michael Weinstein
- Michael R. Weinstein, Ferris & Britton, A Professional Corporation, San Diego, California
September 6, 2022
- Q & A with Carrie Ward
- Carrie A. Ward, Earp Cohn P.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
August 29, 2022
- Q & A with Sheila Buchanan
- Sheila Buchanan, International Society of Primerus Law Firms, Ada, Michigan
August 22, 2022
- Q & A with Mariano Carricart
- Mariano E. Carricart, Badeni, Cantilo, Carricart & Bilbao, Buenos Aires, Argentina
August 15, 2022
- Q & A with Kelly Swartz
- Kelly G. Swartz, Widerman Malek, P.L., Melbourne, Florida
August 8, 2022
- Q & A with Joyce Gist Lewis
- Joyce Gist Lewis, Krevolin & Horst, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia
August 1, 2022
- Q & A with Martin George
- Martin A. George, Martin George & Co., Bacolet, Trinidad and Tobago
July 25, 2022
- Q & A with Melissa Demorest LeDuc
- Melissa L. Demorest LeDuc, Demorest Law Firm, PLLC, Detroit, Michigan
July 18, 2022
- Q & A with Juli Fournier
- Juli Fournier, Stephenson Fournier, Houston, Texas
July 11, 2022
- Q & A with Thomas Wang
- Thomas V. Wang, Ashburn & Mason P.C., Anchorage, Alaska
July 5, 2022
- Q & A with Dan Pierron
- Daniel C. Pierron, Widerman Malek, P.L., Melbourne, Florida
June 27, 2022
- Q & A with Duncan Manley
- Duncan Y. Manley, Christian & Small LLP, Birmingham, Alabama
June 20, 2022
- Q & A with Brian Davidoff
- Brian L. Davidoff, Greenberg Glusker, Los Angeles, California
June 13, 2022
- Q & A with Veronique Evans
- Veronique J.N. Evans, Evans & Co., Nassau, The Bahamas
June 6, 2022
- Q & A with John Pearce
- John Y. Pearce, Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett, New Orleans, Louisiana
May 30, 2022
- Q & A with Bernie Resser
- Bernard M. Resser, Barton LLP, New York, New York
May 23, 2022
- Q & A with Melody Lins
- Melody M. Lins, Mandelbaum Barrett, P.C., Roseland, New Jersey
May 16, 2022
- Q & A with Tina Denso
- Tina Denso, Brödermann Jahn, Hamburg, Germany
May 9, 2022
- Q & A with Connie Carrigan
- Connie Elder Carrigan, Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, LLP, Raleigh, North Carolina
May 2, 2022
- Get to Know Patricia Barcellos Madeira
- Patricia Barcellos Madeira, Terciotti Andrade Gomes Donato Advogados, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Coffee & Conversation
September 26, 2022
- Navigating remote depositions
- Adam Waskie, McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC, Wilmington, Delaware
September 19, 2022
- Policy limit demands strategies and pitfalls
- Sid Degan, Degan, Blanchard & Nash, PLC, New Orleans, Louisiana
September 12, 2022
- Succession planning – Managing the generation gap
- Aanchal Sharma & David Lenz, Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell LLP, Cleveland, Ohio
September 6, 2022
- Taming your email inbox
- Kevin Eddins, Eddins Domine Law Group PLLC, Louisville, Kentucky
August 29, 2022
- Due to the Labor Day Holiday in the United States, Primerus will not be holding Coffee & Conversation on Monday, September 5th. We will return on Monday, September 12th.
August 22, 2022
- Labour law in Canada
- Nigel McKechnie, Mann Lawyers LLP, Ottawa, Ontario
August 15, 2022
- New Faces/New Resources of Primerus
- Robin Lewis, International Society of Primerus Law Firms, Ada, Michigan
August 8, 2022
- Making effective referrals using the Primerus network
- Tom Walsh, Brody Wilkinson PC, Southport, Connecticut
August 1, 2022
- Making the most out of Primerus
- Brian Davidoff, Greenberg Glusker LLP, Los Angeles, California
July 25, 2022
- Overcoming difficulties with enforcing foreign judgements, court orders, and arbitral awards
- Joseph Tendler, Marriott Harrison LLP, London, United Kingdom
July 18, 2022
- Mental health in the legal profession
- Scott McLean, Mann Lawyers LLP, Ottawa, ON, Canada
July 11, 2022
- Differentiate your firm and mentorship
- Julio A. Quijano B., Quijano & Associates, Panama City, Panama
June 27, 2022
- Due to the Independence Day Holiday in the United States, Primerus will not be holding Coffee & Conversation on Monday, July 4th. We will return on Monday, July 11th.
June 20, 2022
- How has the legal practice changed over the last 40 years?
- Tom Frohlinger, PKF Lawyers, Winnipeg, Canada
June 13, 2022
- Maintaining Core Values
- Peter Levy and Melody Lins, Mandelbaum Barrett, Roseland, New Jersey
June 6, 2022
- Community Involvement
- Ted Mann, Mann Lawyers LLP, Ottawa, Canada
May 30, 2022
- Work Life Balance
- Iker Dieguez, Cacheaux, Cavazos & Newton, Mexico City, Mexico
May 23, 2022
- Due to the Memorial Day Holiday in the United States Primerus will not be holding Coffee & Conversation on Monday, May 30th. We will return on Monday, June 6th.
May 16, 2022
- Transitioning Your Practice
- Eric Sleeper, Barton LLP, New York, New York
May 9, 2022
- Managing Client Expectations
- Michael Weinstein, Ferris & Britton, APC, San Diego, California
May 2, 2022
- Taking the Initiative in Using Primerus to Grow Your Practice
- Brian Wagner, Mateer Harbert, Orlando, Florida