Clients are the lifeblood of the legal world, and private equity is no exception, but they don’t always make life easy for their chosen legal counsel, and an important part of an attorney’s job is to create successful working relationships no matter how many obstacles stand in the way.
There are plenty of ways clients can cause headaches, but whether they’re missing meetings or sitting in one looking bored, part of a lawyer’s job is to handle unwelcome behavior in a way that doesn’t lead to the client seeking legal advice at a different law firm.
“Ultimately, if they walk away, that’s a business decision that I tend to respect,” said Howard Berkower, a partner with McCarter & English LLP’s corporate practice. “I may express my opinion and explain why I feel that way, but that’s about as far as I can go.”