Managing Partner, Hoffmann & Baron, LLP Guests On Legal Business Show
Daniel A. Scola, Jr., Managing Partner, Hoffmann & Baron, LLP, was recently a guest on ‘Be That Lawyer’. The topic was ‘Developing Business in Law.’
In a wide-ranging conversation with Host Steve Fretzin, Scola discussed balancing legal expertise with emotional intelligence, developing business skills as a lawyer, competing with larger firms for corporate clients and transitioning from in-house counsel to a law firm partner.
According to Scola on obtaining new work, simply offering a cheaper price without offering more is not enough. “You have to emphasize that an experienced person will do the work… not a first-year associate with three others reviewing it.”
Scola emphasized that one useful approach is to share helpful advice before actually landing the client. For example, recently he reviewed the work done by an attorney with whom a prospective client was not satisfied. After reviewing the work, Scola offered some suggestions as to how better progress might have been made. “Their approach was not aggressive enough. Why wasn’t it aggressive enough? It was done by a lower-level associate, who was likely too nervous or did not have the authority to be aggressive.”
Scola continued, “To compete with larger firms, smaller firms can emphasize personal attention from experienced attorneys, offering more direct and hands-on service.” Scola emphasized that clients should feel that it is better to have you on their side, than against you.
Lastly, Fretzin and Scola discussed various strategies to connect with clients.
To listen to the interview, please click here: https://bit.ly/4hxOWpO
ABOUT DAN SCOLA:
Daniel A. Scola, Jr. is the managing partner of Hoffmann & Baron, LLP, and also manages the chemical, pharmaceutical/biochemical and medical device practice group in the New Jersey office. He has extensive experience in polymers, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. He specializes in building IP portfolios and designing strategies to protect and enhance company value. He also practices extensively in Post Grant Proceedings at the USPTO and has argued Post Grant Proceedings at the appellate level, before the CAFC. Previously, he was Counsel, patents, and trademarks as well as Assistant Corporate Secretary at The Warner-Lambert Co. and Intellectual Property Attorney at Loctite Corporation.
Prior to earning his law degree, Scola was a chemist with particular experience in material science including polymers, adhesives and biodegradable approaches to material engineering. He was a scientist at the Pratt & Whitney Division of United Technologies.