ABA TIPS Business Litigation Committee (BLC)

Word on Wednesday: Navigating Leadership with Naval Insights The best litigators don’t just react to challenges—they anticipate, adapt, and lead under pressure. Whether in the courtroom, the boardroom, or managing a legal team, success often comes down to staying calm in the storm, making tough calls, and learning from every experience. Leadership in law, much like leadership at sea, requires discipline, preparation, and the ability to steer through uncertainty with confidence. That’s why every other Wednesday, the ABA TIPS Business Litigation Committee presents a must-read that belongs in every litigator's library. Some books focus on trial tactics, others on leadership, persuasion, or business strategy—but all aim to help us become sharper advocates. This Week’s Pick: Lessons from the Admiral: Naval Wisdom and Sea Stories for Leaders by Mark C. Fava. Why It’s Admissible in Your Reading Docket: Mark C. Fava, a seasoned aviation lawyer and retired naval flight officer, shares compelling narratives from his time as an admiral's aide. Through engaging sea stories, Fava distills leadership principles that transcend the military context, offering valuable insights for legal professionals. His experiences underscore the importance of humility, preparedness, and servant leadership—traits that resonate deeply within the legal field. Navigational Beacons for Legal Leaders Exhibit A: The Power of Servant Leadership Fava emphasizes that true leaders prioritize the needs of their team and superiors. For litigators, adopting a servant leadership mindset fosters trust and collaboration, essential components for successful client relationships and effective team dynamics. Exhibit B: Mastering the Art of Preparation Attention to detail and thorough preparation are recurrent themes in Fava's anecdotes. In legal practice, meticulous case preparation and anticipating potential challenges can be the difference between success and failure. Exhibit C: Learning from Diverse Leadership Styles Through his service, Fava observed various leadership approaches, learning from both exemplary and flawed leaders. Litigators can benefit from this by reflecting on their interactions with colleagues and adversaries, continuously refining their own leadership styles. Verdict? Read it. Reflect on it. Implement these naval leadership lessons to navigate the complexities of legal practice with confidence and integrity. Got a book that should be entered into evidence for a future pick? Let us know. #WordOnWednesday #ABATIPS #LitigatorsWhoLead #ObjectionOverruled #WinningWithWisdom #BusinessLitigation #TrialTactics Mark C. Fava

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small, manageable tasks, and starting on the first one." – Mark Twain As legal professionals, we often face intricate cases and demanding deadlines. Mark Twain's insight reminds us that progress begins with a single step. To navigate complex legal challenges: Break down tasks: Divide large projects into smaller, actionable items. Prioritize effectively: Tackle the most pressing tasks first. Maintain momentum: Celebrate small victories to stay motivated. At the start of each day, identify your top three tasks and break them down into manageable steps. This focused approach can enhance productivity and reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed. Implementing effective time management strategies is crucial for lawyers to enhance productivity, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. #LegalProfession #TimeManagement #MarkTwain #ProfessionalDevelopment

Your legal mind is hereby summoned for a challenge! ???I’ve put a riddle on the docket, and the poll is open for two weeks. Will you object to the obvious or cross-examine every clue? The verdict is in your?hands! Cast your vote, present your best argument, and let’s see who can plead the right answer before time runs out! ???#LegalMind #RiddleMeThis #PollIsOpen #BusinessLitigation #ObjectionOverruled?#BLCTIPS

Our thoughts are with our members, their friends, colleagues, and families devastated by the LA Wildfires. Stay safe and please use BLC as a resource.

Congratulations to our member Christine Forsythe for her excellent work over the past four years! Keep it up!

Past BLC Chair Kristen Bush is out there making the world a better place. Great work!

https://lnkd.in/daAiddQP Please consider a small donation for ABA Giving Day to help support our legendary Trial Academy that we present with ABOTA to educate and train a new generation of stellar trial lawyers.

The American Bar Association and the ABA TIPS Section held their annual fall meeting last week. I was there with several committees and have never been to a more productive, professional, and engaging conference. Data Privacy; Cybersecurity; AI and technology; Inhouse Counsel; Media; Advertising; Business Litigation; Young Lawyer Development. These are all practice areas that I am passionate about and I'm going to have a blast collaborating on incredible content in 2025. Publications, webinars, CLEs, and Podcasts to come... Thank you Lisa Jill Dickinson for encouraging me to participate. We also had a lot of fun and played one of the greatest rounds of golf ever at The Ocean Course at Hokuala. Did I mention the ABA is the largest association of volunteer lawyers and legal professionals in the world? You should join. Find a section. Connect with other likeminded lawyers. For my IAPP colleagues, the ABA has associate memberships for other professions with committees that need your input! Join and let's work together. ABA TIPS Business Litigation Committee (BLC) ABA Young Lawyers Division IAPP Caitlin Fennessy #dataprivacylaw #cybersecuritylaw #AIandTechnologyLaw #AmericanBarAssociation #TIPS #BuehlerLawPLLC

Thank you and congratulations to all those who came out to ABA TIPS Section Conference last week. BLC won the innovation award for its standalone meeting last winter. Follow BLC's new LinkedIn page for event and member updates!

Welcome to the new BLC LinkedIn page! Here we will highlight our programs, activities and members. Please follow!