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A Conversation with One of World's Most Formidable Trial Lawyers
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Episode #45 with guest John B. Quinn, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
John B. Quinn is the founder and chairman of the nearly four-decade old Los Angeles law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan. The firm has been voted the world’s "most-feared law firm" ten times by independent research provider BTI Consulting, which surveyed over 300 key legal decision-makers at the world’s largest organizations.
In fact, in BTI’s annual survey - when respondents were asked the law firm that they least wanted to face as opposing counsel – Quinn Emanuel is consistently ranked number one as the world’s most feared litigation law firm.
Since 1986, John and his partners have built the largest law firms in the world devoted solely to business litigation and arbitration – which The Wall Street Journal called a “global litigation powerhouse.” In that time, Quinn Emanuel has grown to 35 offices in 12 countries on four continents, with over 1100 lawyers, generating more than $2 billion in revenue annually. In recent years, the firm has recovered over $80 billion for plaintiffs.
John also has ties to Hollywood, where, for 33 years, he served as General Counsel to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars.
An avid mountain climber, Ironman triathlete and father of five, he is also the host of the popular podcast "Law, disrupted" - www.law-disrupted.fm.
In this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, he chats with host, Ajay Shamdasani, about how he found his way into the legal profession, his representation of the Bank of China, Alibaba, AliPay, and Ant Financial – juggernauts on the mainland Chinese banking and fintech / digital payments scene – as well as his belief in Singapore's importance as a dispute resolution centre for the Asia-Pacific. He also comments on how Hong Kong stacks up against the Lion City in that regard.
The conversation also covers the business rationale for Quinn Emanuel Urquhart’s focus on purely litigation and for not to representing the world’s largest money centre banks, notwithstanding the deep pockets for premium legal services that the world’s biggest financial institutions possess. It is an approach that has won the firm many plaudits amongst the plaintiffs’ bar writ large.
John also shares his candid thoughts on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) concerns at a time when such considerations in corporate operations and investing are under attack – often from prominent figures in the business world. He also comments on what can be done on the level of policy and legal reform to lure more foreign direct investment to the Middle East and Asia Pacific.
The discussion concludes with John commenting on his commitment to the arts and philanthropy and the importance of giving back to society when one attains a certain level of success – such as his longstanding service to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, opening the Museum of Broken Relationships in Los Angeles.
HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.
Chapters
1. From Greenwich to Harvard: A Lawyer's Path (00:02:41)
2. The Competitive Nature of Litigation: Balancing Aggression and Strategy (00:05:07)
3. Banking and Fintech in China - Insights (00:06:52)
4. Litigation as a Last Resort: The Role of ADR and Mediation (00:08:41)
5. Expanding in Singapore: Strategic Growth in International Arbitration and Regional Markets (00:10:35)
6. Choosing Litigation Over Representing Major Banks (00:14:57)
7. Do Investors Understand ESG? Challenges and Definitions (00:20:04)
8. Common Law vs. Civil Law: Perspectives on Legal Systems and Business Growth (00:25:38)
9. Passion for the Arts and Giving Back (00:27:46)
10. Faith in L.A.: Embracing the Lifestyle Amid Economic Challenges (00:31:57)
11. The Hollywood Incident: Will Smith and Chris Rock in the Spotlight (00:34:34)
12. The Intersection of Law and Life: The Importance of Broad Interests in Litigation (00:37:15)
13. The Best Preparation for Becoming a Lawyer (00:39:51)
14. The Importance of Verbal Skills and Writing in Legal Practice (00:43:01)
15. Burnout: Recognizing When Law Isn't the Right Fit (00:45:45)
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