Commentary

Mar 1, 2017

Court makes life worse for patent holders

By Noah Feldman The Supreme Court made it easier on Wednesday for U.S. manufacturers to infringe patents held by competitors by manufacturing all but one of the infringing components abroad. The practical consequences could be significant, as coul[...]

Feb 22, 2017

What ‘Billions’ gets right about insider trading

“Billions” is back on Showtime — Season 2 began on Sunday — and aren’t you glad? From the start, “Billions” has been a guilty pleasure, a drama about Wall Street that may lack the highbrow seriousness of, say, the Sopranos, but more tha[...]

Jan 25, 2017

Constitutional suit against Trump faces hurdles

The headline issue in the first lawsuit against President Donald Trump is whether it is a violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution for his hotels and properties to be paid by foreign governments. But if a court actually decides this tou[...]

Jan 19, 2017

Good things happen past the end of your rope

Perhaps someone has told you: “I am at the end of my rope.” Or perhaps you’ve said this about yourself. The expression is often said with a sense of exasperation and without a hint of hope or optimism. In hearing this said, we may offer words o[...]

Dec 1, 2016

For a good fit, ask for what you really want

Lawyers seeking coaching are talented people, challenged by life and asking big questions. They typically aren’t satisfied with where they find themselves. They don’t know what their next move might be. Some are early in their careers, others not[...]

Nov 3, 2016

Observe lessons from our toddler years

As a parent, I found the first year of parenthood to be pretty easy. For the first few months, I could put my daughter down on the floor and she pretty much stayed put, almost like a potted plant. Then there came crawling and walking and the requirem[...]

Oct 6, 2016

Cultivating courage and facing challenge

From time to time, in your life and mine, we have been daunted by some challenge. Sometimes we have invited the challenge — learning a new sport, competing in an event, seeking a promotion or appointment. Other times, we’d rather have run from th[...]

Sep 8, 2016

Finding a position that suits you well

Each workday morning, “Mary” goes to the second of the two closets in her bedroom, finds something “tailored,” puts it on, and goes to work. In the legal department where she works, all the attorneys are expected to wear tailored clothing. In[...]

Aug 4, 2016

Remember, you are what you practice

The office receptionist called to say that my client, Max, had arrived for his appointment. He also said Max was carrying a baseball bat. When I met the client in the reception area, I reassured the receptionist that Max and I were simply doing batti[...]

Jun 30, 2016

Solo Practice: Are alternative fee arrangements right for your practice?

St. Paul business and health care solo David J. Holt wanted to strike a balance between offering his clients value and promising himself a certain level of relatively certain income each month. So after doing some research he came up with a “genera[...]

Jun 23, 2016

Keeping your eye on the (other) prize

Last month, we considered how to best keep an eye on the prize sought by the client. After all, each of us wants to accomplish what the client seeks. Toward that end, I suggested that you listen deeply to the client and stay connected to the client a[...]

Jun 9, 2016

Perspectives: School’s out: Appeals address education cases

“A teacher affects eternity” Henry Adams, “The Education of Henry Adams” (1907) As teachers join students, administrators and other school personnel in concluding the 2015-16 school year, they head into the summer vacation with a pair o[...]