By: Denis-Andrei Mesinschi
January 1, 2014
Why does the Mesinschi Law Offices need an Automotive Blog?
It doesn't, but we're doing it anyway.
We could try to come up with some marketing-speak reason and say its to "serve our Automotive Clients" (But what's wrong with the emails and newsletters of pertinent legal changes/cases/tips we send them now?); We could say its for getting the word out about the fact that we represent everyone from Dealers to OEMs in cases ranging from litigation avoidance techniques, to advertising oversight, to dealer development strategies, to even general business consulting (we do, and word about our Automotive Law services seems to be spreading quite rapidly on its own); We could even say that it would be a good platform to advocate for those things automotive-related that we believe important to speak out about (though there are better ways to achieve these sorts of things). While an "automotive blog" can do some or all of these things, it really is not the real reason we're doing it. In truth, if we're being completely honest, we're doing it because we can and want to (maybe even need to). I'll try to answer some of the questions that have come up when discussing this idea:
"Where'd this (explicative deleted) idea come from?"
The idea for an Automotive Blog actually came from a few different people over the years - most likely thinking that if I would just get it out of my system and not talk to them about cars their own lives would be the better for it.
"Yes, we all really do wish you'd shut up about cars... but if you like the idea, why didn't you do it sooner?"
I've always managed to find an excuse not to do it: too busy/not enough time/etc. etc.. I've also been reluctant as I don't consider myself a writer: I can write some of the best contracts out there: give me a 200-page software licensing agreement to put together and I'll be happy for days; complex merger/acquisition agreement? No problem; cross-border sales agreement? any-day, any-time. However, when it comes to writing eloquently or, worse yet, in a whimsical and easy-to-read fashion, I'm at a complete loss. You might as well be give me two hammers and ask me to fix a space shuttle while blind-folded with my left leg in an alligator's mouth.
"So why now?"
Why not now? Its the start of the year, we all set out new resolutions and things of that nature, so its the perfect time.
"Better than losing weight, getting fit, donating more to charity?"
We do all of that already, and, yes, I realize I have a Fiat 500 around my mid-section that needs to be dealt with but this could be fun and serves other purposes too.
"Like?"
Well like all of those good marketing-speak things I mentioned in the introduction.
"Right. So why would a lawyer that's spent so much of his life, time, and money building a practice in two countries, across multiple jurisdictions, want to spend any time talking about cars? Don't lawyers usually just buy some flash car and drive about all-self-important like?"
Well, in my defense, cars came well before the law -- (which for me is a minor miracle seeing as most of the influential people I knew until the age of twelve were lawyers or somehow had something to do with the law). For me, the obsession with started at about the age of two. My first actual memory is of sitting on my godfather's lap, my toddler hands at the wheel of his canary yellow Lada in Bucharest as he taught me "drive" the car.
It was all down-hill from there: My favorite (and most vivid) memory of coming to North America was of the yellow TransAm in the airport parking lot and of the white Buick Regal sedan (with burgundy velour seats and wire wheels) that picked us up to take us to our new home; My very first job was as the automotive parts-desk kid / auto-service whipping-boy at Canadian Tire (think Pep-Boys/Auto-Zone for our American readers); I worked the night-shift on Chrysler's (then, DaimlerChryler) assembly line during undergrad for tuition (and car-part) money; I even spent a few months screwing together high-powered engines for rich/spoiled kids in southern Ontario who were more than eager to spend mom/dad's money on making some imported econobox go faster. After completing law school I would once again gravitate back to "the industry" for a stint as Legal Counsel for one of the larger foreign automakers, a job that I really enjoyed and took great pride in even though it had more than its share of inter-office political intrigue. When I left, I did it to try to, as they say in legal circles, "hang my own shingle" but, as it would turn out, the automotive part of my practice remained important (and a personal favorite).
"Yes, we all really do wish you'd shut up about cars... but if you like the idea, why didn't you do it sooner?"
I've always managed to find an excuse not to do it: too busy/not enough time/etc. etc.. I've also been reluctant as I don't consider myself a writer: I can write some of the best contracts out there: give me a 200-page software licensing agreement to put together and I'll be happy for days; complex merger/acquisition agreement? No problem; cross-border sales agreement? any-day, any-time. However, when it comes to writing eloquently or, worse yet, in a whimsical and easy-to-read fashion, I'm at a complete loss. You might as well be give me two hammers and ask me to fix a space shuttle while blind-folded with my left leg in an alligator's mouth.
"So why now?"
Why not now? Its the start of the year, we all set out new resolutions and things of that nature, so its the perfect time.
"Better than losing weight, getting fit, donating more to charity?"
We do all of that already, and, yes, I realize I have a Fiat 500 around my mid-section that needs to be dealt with but this could be fun and serves other purposes too.
"Like?"
Well like all of those good marketing-speak things I mentioned in the introduction.
"Right. So why would a lawyer that's spent so much of his life, time, and money building a practice in two countries, across multiple jurisdictions, want to spend any time talking about cars? Don't lawyers usually just buy some flash car and drive about all-self-important like?"
Well, in my defense, cars came well before the law -- (which for me is a minor miracle seeing as most of the influential people I knew until the age of twelve were lawyers or somehow had something to do with the law). For me, the obsession with started at about the age of two. My first actual memory is of sitting on my godfather's lap, my toddler hands at the wheel of his canary yellow Lada in Bucharest as he taught me "drive" the car.
It was all down-hill from there: My favorite (and most vivid) memory of coming to North America was of the yellow TransAm in the airport parking lot and of the white Buick Regal sedan (with burgundy velour seats and wire wheels) that picked us up to take us to our new home; My very first job was as the automotive parts-desk kid / auto-service whipping-boy at Canadian Tire (think Pep-Boys/Auto-Zone for our American readers); I worked the night-shift on Chrysler's (then, DaimlerChryler) assembly line during undergrad for tuition (and car-part) money; I even spent a few months screwing together high-powered engines for rich/spoiled kids in southern Ontario who were more than eager to spend mom/dad's money on making some imported econobox go faster. After completing law school I would once again gravitate back to "the industry" for a stint as Legal Counsel for one of the larger foreign automakers, a job that I really enjoyed and took great pride in even though it had more than its share of inter-office political intrigue. When I left, I did it to try to, as they say in legal circles, "hang my own shingle" but, as it would turn out, the automotive part of my practice remained important (and a personal favorite).
"So who's going to be involved in this blog?"
Well I will, as well as various other contributors from within, and outside of, the automotive industry.
"And what will it be about?"
We'll cover the legal topics around the automotive industry, obviously. However, we'll also go into all sorts of other things.
"For example"
General interest stories about cars or life in the Automotive Industry, historical tidbits about cars and the industry, even reviews from time to time.
"Great you like cars, you know about cars, you've spent (way too much) time around cars, you've even roped others in to help with this. That still doesn't answer the question: Why does the Mesinschi Law Offices need an Automotive Blog?"
It doesn't.
"Then why do it?"
Because we can.
And it might be fun.
Well I will, as well as various other contributors from within, and outside of, the automotive industry.
"And what will it be about?"
We'll cover the legal topics around the automotive industry, obviously. However, we'll also go into all sorts of other things.
"For example"
General interest stories about cars or life in the Automotive Industry, historical tidbits about cars and the industry, even reviews from time to time.
"Great you like cars, you know about cars, you've spent (way too much) time around cars, you've even roped others in to help with this. That still doesn't answer the question: Why does the Mesinschi Law Offices need an Automotive Blog?"
It doesn't.
"Then why do it?"
Because we can.
And it might be fun.
Disclaimer. All conversations appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real conversations with people living or dead is purely coincidental. Enjoy.
