Category Archives: Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy Stars Tease "Sexy" Season 14 – TV Guide

Now PlayingGrey's Anatomy: Will DeLuca and Jo Get Together in Season 14?

With Jo's (Camilla Luddington) estranged husband Paul (Matthew Morrison) back in the picture when Grey's Anatomyreturns for Season 14, will her love triangle with DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti) and Alex (Justin Chambers) become a... quadrangle?

Not anytime soon, Luddington assures.

"I have yet to read a script that has my ex-husband back in it," Luddington told TV Guide at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Los Angeles this week. "It's definitely a storyline that I hope we explore, because it's so important. But right now, it's [DeLuca] and Alex."

Of course, Jo has no idea that Alex went to confront her ex at the end of Season 13 -- and DeLuca has no idea either.

Grey's Anatomy Adds a Controversial New Doctor for Season 14

"When Jo finds out that Alex did that, I don't know what her reaction's going to be," Luddington admits. "I feel like it could go either way. They're in a really interesting time in their relationship, and it's very tricky. ... Do I think that it could push them even further away from each other? It's definitely possible."

But will it push Jo further away from Alex and then into the arms of DeLuca? We'll have to wait and see, but this is Grey's, so one thing is certain: there will be complications. For now, Jo will be leaning on DeLuca in a friendship capacity in Stephanie's (Jerrika Hinton) absence. And, after confessing his feelings to Jo didn't go over so well at the end of last season, DeLuca may be looking to move on.

"It might be a little bit more awkward, now that there's some things that have been shared between us that are a little bit more intimate," Gianniotti tells TV Guide. "We're bringing on some new people, and so there might be something there. ... If [a new romance] was to happen, I feel like Jo's the one that got away [for DeLuca]."

Adds Luddington: "This season's going to be very sexy. ... I can imagine [Jo] maybe feeling a little bit jealous if DeLuca started dating someone else. But I think she's at a time in her life right now where she has to deal with her own emotional journey and what she's going through in her past ... before she really jumps straight into a relationship with someone else. There's some stuff that she has to work through."

Grey's Anatomy kicks off Season 14 with a two-hour premiere Thursday, Sept. 28 at 8/7c on ABC.

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Grey's Anatomy Stars Tease "Sexy" Season 14 - TV Guide

Anatomy of a Leader: The practical skills you need to get to the top – Marketing Week

Human, empathetic, rational, emotional, brave and agile just a snapshot of the essential attributes a modern marketing leader must possess.

From being data literate and adept at driving sales, to having the ability to tell a rich brand story, marketers can feel under real pressure to excel at every aspect of the role in order to succeed. This pressure, coupled with the shrinking length of CMO tenure, is putting marketing leaders under the microscope like never before.

To examine the key skills and attributes required by a modern marketing leader in 2017 Marketing Week has carried out an in-depthqualitative and quantitive study, mapping out the Anatomy of a Leader.

The first part of the study looked at the core responsibilities of a marketing leader, with our survey of more than 600 marketers finding thatsales and commercial awareness (74%) is considered the most important responsibility for marketing leaders.

Now, switching the focus to the essential attributes of a modern leader, it is strategic thinking that most marketers (86%) believe is imperative.

Relationship building came in a distant second (61%), followed by people management (60%), vision (59%) and problem solving (57%).

Conversely, visual presentation emerged as the least important skill for a marketing leader (14%), followed by practicality (15%), general knowledge (16%), specialist knowledge (16%) and written communication (20%).

READ MORE:Take our quiz to find out if you have the Anatomy of a Leader

Recognition of the importance of strategy is welcomed by Marketing Week columnist Mark Ritson: In recent years, marketing has become more and more tactical and we have lost the art of developing clear strategic direction first. We like to debate the knobs and dials of communication, but do not have a clear strategy for our brands first.

Adaptability (87%) was identified as the attribute growing most in importance for marketing leaders, followed by strategic thinking (83%), vision (81%) and technical proficiency (77%).

The fact that strategic thinking, commercial awareness and vision are now seen as being more important is unsurprising since more marketing leaders are moving into roles with a broader set of commercial and customer accountabilities, says Direct Line Groups marketing director, Mark Evans.

What is perhaps surprising is that more marketing leaders believe that technical proficiency has simultaneously become more important. I suspect that this relates to being literate and staying fresh with regards to all things digital. However, there is a risk of being a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Evans recognises that not all digital skills are a must-have for marketing leaders and while it is helpful for CMOs to understand developments in digital, it is better to remain channel agnostic.

CMOs may feel pressure to personally build digital skills, but I dont think its something to lose sleep over if you have invested in your team, he adds.

Bacardi head of creative excellence, Zara Mirza, agrees it is less about being a super CMO who can do it all and more about building strong teams. At Bacardi, we have more than one CMO. We have me, we have a head of data, head of PR. Together we figure it out and we all report into the CEO.

Thats a smart move as theres not going to be one person as a super CMO. Having lots of perspectives and figuring it out together will give you a better chance of success.

READ MORE:Russell Parsons The modern marketing leaders might not be who you think

Looking ahead, problem solving (77%), the ability to listen (74%), resilience (74%), people management (67%) and risk taking (67%) are key attributes that marketers say are becoming the DNA of a marketing leader.

By contrast the research finds that experience (11%), specialist knowledge (10%), tactical execution (9%) and assertiveness (7%) are the attributes marketers are most likely to identify as becoming less important to the make up of the modern leader.

LinkedIn CMO ShannonStubo believes asking the right questions and using the answers to solve problems is the hallmark of a successful leader. Reflecting on her own background in PR, Stubo explains that despite not having the typical marketing experience of most CMOs, she understands how to set a vision, hire great people and build excellent teams.

Marketing leaders need to be able to identify the right talent, but also be relationship-focused with key stakeholders. They need to be able to dedicate time to mentoring and coaching to help teams develop, as well as navigate and adapt to increasingly fast-moving trends, she adds.

READ MORE: LinkedIns CMO on being a marketing boss with PR DNA

Reflecting on the skills he feels are missing from the top survey findings, Britvic CMO Matt Barwell highlights the ability to lead creatively and encourage an environment of creative thinking, which he argues are attributes far more likely to deliver true breakthroughs.

Humanity and empathy are the stand-out traits of a brilliant marketing leader in the opinion of Tommy Hilfiger CMO Avery Baker, who argues that leading without an ego is the only way to get the best out of people.

However, these softer skillsfail to impress Ritson. All this wank about humanity and bravery is the outcome of sitting around on yachts in Cannes feeling each others pain. Its time for marketers to wake up and smell the coffee. Our role is as a fundamental part of organisational success, not some personality-driven, self help group for sensitive people.

Peugeot marketing director Mark Pickles disagrees, arguing that marketers ultimately have to be brave and adaptable in order to succeed.

It is only by understanding the core desires, motivations and demands of consumers, and being brave enough to consider how to quickly adapt the enterprise to deliver these that the modern marketer can survive and prosper.

However, in the opinion of IBM CMO Lisa Gilbert, the perfect marketing leader is T-shaped. She defines this as a mixture of general leadership skills, like the ability to set a vision or the tenacity to bring an idea over the finish line, combined with expertise such as the ability create a compelling narrative or get to the root of a data problem.

This mix of skills is underpinned by empathy and the ability to manage your energy, explains Gilbert.

Being a leader in this fast-paced industry takes stamina. Fortifying yourself with people who lift you up, coupled with a few good nights sleep are critical to winning the marathon of leadership versus the sprint.

At its core Marketing Weeksresearch reaffirms how essential it is for marketers of any level to possess strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking, talents that are superseding functional skills such as copywriting and design.

To be a successful marketing leader the key is to recognise that you do not need to be good at everything and that fundamentally it is far more valuable to ask the right questions, listen to the answers and empower your teams to execute your vision with confidence and creativity.

Marketing Week will further explore the necessaryqualitiesfor leadership on the Realising YourPotential stage at the Festival of Marketing in October. For tickets, visit festivalofmarketing.com

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Anatomy of a Leader: The practical skills you need to get to the top - Marketing Week

Grey’s Anatomy Is Making So Many Cast Changes, We Can Barely … – SheKnows.com

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Updated Aug. 8, 2017, 8 a.m. PT: Grey's Anatomy is making casting changes so quickly, we can hardly keep up.

In the latest announcement, Refinery29 reports that series regular Marika Dominczyk, who plays Dr. Eliza Minnick, won't be returning for Season 14.

Fans who watched the end of the last season probably won't be surprised. Eliza Minnick joined at the start of Season 13, and she came into Grey Sloan Memorial like a wrecking ball, pissing off pretty much every doctor (except Arizona, who she instead dated), and getting unceremoniously fired by Bailey in the season finale. At least Shonda Rhimes didn't kill her, so the door is open for her to reappear later. Let's all just hold out hope for that.

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Grey's Anatomy has some pretty big casting news for Season 14.

More: Jesse Williams' Insta Is Making Us So Hungry for Grey's Anatomy

Glee star Matthew Morrison has revealed that he'll be reprising his role from the end of Season 13 as Dr. Paul Stadler by returning as a series regular in the upcoming season. But Morrison is staying tight-lipped about the details, saying only that he has a "big role coming up." What we do know is that there will be drama between Morrison's character and Justin Chambers' character, Alex Karev. They crossed paths briefly at the end of the 13th season, where it was revealed that Dr. Stadler is Jo's abusive estranged husband, and if we know anything about Alex Karev, it's that he fiercely defends the people he loves.

The show's upcoming season will also welcome Timeless star Abigail Spencer as Owen's sister, Megan Hunt. Megan was presumed to be dead, but the end of the Season 13 finale saw Owen anxiously awaiting her arrival to Seattle. She was previously played by Bridget Regan, who was unable to take the recurring role due to her commitment to TNT's Last Ship. She did congratulate Spencer on landing the role, though.

More: Grey's Anatomy's Finale Had a Sad Goodbye but These Deaths Were Way Worse

"Thanks for all the love guys! @abigailspencer is an incredible actor, tip top lady and will be a BRILLIANT Megan on #GreysAnatomy," she wrote.

More: Grey's Anatomy Season 14 Will Feature a Blast From the Past

Season 14 of Grey's Anatomy premieres with a two-hour episode on Thursday, Sept. 28.

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Grey's Anatomy Is Making So Many Cast Changes, We Can Barely ... - SheKnows.com

The anatomy of the White Sox’ 3-19 second half – South Side Sox

When youre a rebuilding team, its hard to find wins anywhere, but this current stretch is a tall order for anybody.

The White Sox ended the first half with three games against the Rockies, then opened the second half with the Mariners, Dodgers, Royals, Cubs, Indians, Blue Jays and Red Sox. Theyll start a series with the Astros today, followed by more Royals and Dodgers before a softer week arrives.

Thats nine teams with winning records at the time the White Sox played them, and the Mariners are over .500 and adding now (they acquired Yonder Alonso). The math says the White Sox would find it difficult to win, and the results bear that out, with a whopping 20 losses over their last 23 games.

As a result, the White Sox are now within one game of the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.

Heres how the standings looked at the opening of the second half.

The White Sox made up eight games on the Phillies over a stretch of 22 games, during a stretch where the Phillies played only .500 baseball. This is like The Phold in reverse.

Its been a team effort, because the White Sox sport both ...

Baseballs worst offense: In the second half, the White Sox rank dead last in all of baseball in runs (68), OBP (.284) and OPS (.658) ... and that includes teams that dont have the designated hitter. The position players as a group are 0.1 wins below replacement. The Brewers are the only ones worse, and by one-tenth of a point.

... and ...

The leagues worst pitching: The White Sox have the ALs worst second-half ERA at 5.34, with the Rockies (5.68) and Red (5.84) trailing. It could be worse, because the Sox have yielded a whopping 45 homers over 193 23 innings, along with the highest OBP (.371) and slugging percentage (.520). The Rockies are the only team within 50 points of OPS, and they play at Coors Field. Most of this is on the rotation, which has a 6.28 ERA (second-worst) and a 1.69 WHIP (easily the worst) since the All-Star break. As a whole, the White Sox pitching staff has been worth -1.5 WAR, with every other team on the positive side.

Its not all bad. Carlos Rodon has finally tied together two overpowering starts, Yoan Moncada went 5-for-14 with three walks during the Boston series, and Reynaldo Lopez is starting on Friday, although the White Sox havent yet made that official. There are aspects of this team worth watching on a regular basis.

They just get overshadowed by the overwhelming talent deficit the Sox face day in and day out. Most of it shows up on the scoreboard, but theyre even battling parts that get buried in the box scores (the White Sox running into outs while being unable to slow down the running game, for instance).

The arrival of baseballs sluggingest offense figures to only exacerbate the problem, but the White Sox arent too good for anybody anymore. If they can only count on wins against teams with worse records, they wont play the Philles until 2019.

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The anatomy of the White Sox' 3-19 second half - South Side Sox

Anatomy of a Goal: Urena’s Back Post Opener – Massive Report

Welcome to the Anatomy of a Goal, where each week we dissect one goal (or near goal) from the previous weeks Columbus Crew SC match.

For match 24 on the 2017 MLS Season, we take a look at Marco Urenas 42nd minute post-aided goal that put the San Jose Earthquakes up 1-0, as part of the 2-1 win over Crew SC on Saturday.

Heres a look at the finish from the San Jose striker.

The Earthquakes goal begins with a Jonathan Mensah turnover at midfield. Jonathan is easily dispossessed by Urena, very far up the field, and then falls victim to the less than ideal field at Avaya Stadium. In this play alone, two Columbus players slip on this turf.

As soon as Urena takes the ball, he slides it over to San Joses creative cog Tommy Thompson. With the ball at midfield and the Black & Gold defense scrambling, Thompson has a number of options. He can play a pass across midfield to fellow midfielder Jackson Yueill, carry the ball through the midfield, slot pass to Shea Salinas on the left flank, play a pass right back to Urena or a drop ball to Darwin Ceren.

Jonathans slip makes Thompsons decision an easy one.

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The above video shows Jonathans ill-timed slip, opening up an easy pass to Salinas and giving Urena an open run down the pitch.

As Jonathan slips, Urena easily runs past him while Artur is forced to give chase. Thompson slid the ball into Salinas on the left, who has a half field of space ahead of him with all of Crew SCs right-sided players in the Earthquakes defensive half.

Salinas continues to carry the ball upfield with Urena running level to him as Artur continues to chase the San Jose winger. Jonathan is highlighted because he has partially caught up to the play, but will very quickly slow up and remove himself from the action. Had Jonathan continued his run toward Urena, he may have been able to force a more difficult pass or even prevent this goal.

Toward the goal, Chris Wondolowski runs in front of Wil Trapp and toward Nicolai Naess, attempting to take both Columbus players out of the play and open the middle of the field. Center back Alex Crognale keeps his attention on Urena and wisely moves to cut off his angle on goal.

Salinas slows up as he feels both Hector Jimenez and Artur close him down, and Jonathan continues to trail the play. Crognale is totally focused on Urena, and continues his angled run at the winger while he cuts just behind Artur.

Trapp hasnt fallen for Wondolowskis clever run, trusting his center back to cover the veteran striker while the Black & Gold captain defends the middle third of the pitch.

Having occupied two Crew SC defenders, Salinas slides the ball into the path of Urena. Jonathan continues to trail this play and will not become involved in the effort to stop this goal. Crognale continues to monitor Urena, and the Columbus defenders objective is to force him away from the goal, either toward the end line or toward the attacking left boundary.

Toward the back post, Naess is effectively monitoring Wondolowski, while Trapp continues to cut off any runs toward the middle of the goal.

As Urena heads to the ball he has two options. He can either continue carry the ball toward the end line or he can try to beat Crognale for a shot on goal. To this point, Crognale has done well to position himself between Urena and the goal. Jonathan continues to trail, marking no one, as the rest of the Black and Gold defense holds down the goal box.

Crognale is still well positioned in the above image. The Crew SC center back is only giving Urena a poor angle right to goalkeeper Zack Steffen. Jonathan continues to run straight ahead. By this point, he should either be paying attention to Salinas right behind him, heading toward Urena in aid of Crognale or running right toward the middle of the goal. Jonathan does none of these things.

Despite all of Crognales good decisions, this one slip up costs his team a goal. As Urena realizes that he has no crossing options, he attempts to cut back on Crognale to get a shot on goal. The defender gets over-ambitious and gets his front foot caught on the poor turf.

Urena is then easily be able to cut around Crognale to get an open, if difficult, shot on goal while Jonathan continues his aimless run.

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The above video shows Crognales singular defensive slip up. Despite all of the center backs hard work on this play, one mistake costs his team a goal.

From the side angle, you can see both how well the rest of the Columbus defense has the goal box defended and Crognales mistake. Rather than backing off Urena to force him to continue toward the end line, Crognale attempts to steal the ball, getting caught on his front foot.

Crognale will get a half deflection on the ball with his trailing leg, but hes lucky that he doesnt trip Urena for a penalty kick. The ball actually deflects into a better angle for Urenas shot on goal.

Just behind the play, Jonathan likely could have cut off Urenas path to goal had he continued a hard run.

With no one between him and the ball, Urena is able to take a shot or slide the ball into the path of Wondolowski. Steffen has cut of Urenas angle to the near post, only giving up a difficult shot to the back post. Naess and Trapp have Wondolowski and the middle of the six-yard box well covered.

With only an angle at the back post, Urena slides the ball just around Zack Steffen. Naess continues to play strong defense against Wondolowski.

Urenas shot just beats Trapp in the middle of the box, and hits the inside of the back post . . .

. . .putting San Jose up 1-0 and setting the pace for their win over the Black & Gold.

Findings:

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Anatomy of a Goal: Urena's Back Post Opener - Massive Report

Take our quiz to find out if you have the Anatomy of a Leader – Marketing Week

As part of Marketing Weeks exclusive Anatomy of a Leader research we have devised a short test to see if you have the necessary skills and attributes needed to become a marketing leader.

Marketing Week carried out an in-depth study encompassing both qualitative and quantitive research to discover the attributes, responsibilities and core skills that make up the Anatomy of a Leader.

Click here toread in-depth analysis of the research.

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Take our quiz to find out if you have the Anatomy of a Leader - Marketing Week

The Anatomy Of A Trump Administration Resignation Letter – BuzzFeed News

For years, Selim, a director at the Department of Homeland Security, built relationships with Muslim community leaders as part of the federal government's programs to combat violent extremism. The idea was for the federal government to support local initiatives to prevent children and young adults from being recruited and radicalized by violent extremist groups, such as ISIS.

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The Anatomy Of A Trump Administration Resignation Letter - BuzzFeed News

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Grey’s Anatomy’s’ Kelly McCreary on Maggie-Jackson Romance: It ‘Came Out of Nowhere’ – CBS 8 San Diego

On Monday night's The Bachelorette finale, viewers saw frontrunner Peter Kraus leave the show in a burst of emotion so powerful that we would've fallen for him instantly ... if we hadn't already weeks ago. Kraus has been a fan favorite all season, and his heartbreaking exit cemented that he's a m...

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EXCLUSIVE: 'Grey's Anatomy's' Kelly McCreary on Maggie-Jackson Romance: It 'Came Out of Nowhere' - CBS 8 San Diego

Anatomy Of A Rumor: The Quinn Emanuel / Williams & Connolly … – Above the Law

NOT! (Click to enlarge.)

Last Tuesday, Biglaw was rocked by reports of supposed merger talks between Quinn Emanuel and Williams & Connolly. The news spread rapidly, perhaps because it was so surprising.

Other than being two of the nations finest litigation firms with a shared reputation for zealous representation of their clients, QE and W&C share little in common. Quinn Emanuel is obscenely profitable ($5 million in 2016 profits per partner), rather large (700+ lawyers), and rapidly expanding, with offices in eight U.S. cities and more than a dozen cities overseas.

In cultural terms, Quinn reflects its founder, legendary litigator John Quinn. The firm isentrepreneurial and risk-taking, doing a fair amount of contingency work, and its brash and publicity-seeking. How many Am Law 100 firms have ever advertised in airports?

(Not surprisingly for the staid precincts of Biglaw, the Quinn approach has its detractors. QEs critics or player haters question the accuracy of its profitability, the sustainability of its expansion, and the tastefulness of its self-promotion.)

Compared to Quinn Emanuel, Williams & Connolly is less profitable ($1.6 million in PPP) and smaller (under 300 lawyers). And this is intentional. Given the tremendous talent under its roof and its worldwide reputation, W&C could be much larger and more lucrative than it currently is. But the firm has made a deliberate decision to focus on quality and collegiality, refusing to expand beyond its one D.C. office or even hire many laterals. As Jenna Greene noted in an interesting post-mortem, Why Its a Good Thing That Williams & Connolly Isnt Merging With Quinn Emanuel:

As big law firms fell over themselves to jack up their PPPs and lure top laterals, Williams & Connolly has been like the last samurai, refusing to go with the flow. In the firms 50-year history, the partnership has only hired two laterals U.S. Supreme Court advocate Kannon Shanmugam in 2008 and tax expert Gerald Feffer in 1986. The rest are homegrown.

This approach instills lawyers with the Williams & Connolly culture, which is in many ways the opposite of Quinns. Despite its overall political liberalism its zealously pro-criminal-defendant, for example, and its more likely to hire a former criminal defendant than a former federal prosecutor W&C is culturally (and fiscally) conservative. It does most of its work based on hourly rates, eschewing exotic alternative-fee arrangements, and it pays above-market base salariesbut no bonuses to its associates (who have been wondering, ever since last summers Cravath pay hike, about when theyll get a raise). And you definitely wont see W&C advertisements in airports heck, it took years for the firm to even put up a website.

Given the big differences between the two firms, I reacted with surprise and skepticism to last weeks rumored merger talks. After Williams & Connolly issued its unequivocal denial, I tweeted:

So I decided to do a little digging. I reached out to both firms; both declined to comment. But I also spoke to individual lawyers at both places, and here is what I managed to piece together.

The meeting that gave rise to the rumors took place not last week, but a while ago several weeks or even a month ago. It took place over breakfast, at a Marriott in downtown D.C.

Okay, hold on right there a power breakfast to discuss the merger of two leading law firms at a Marriott? I have great respect for Marriott as a business and stay often at its hotels (Gold Elite, baby), but Marriott is a solid rather than glamorous brand. If the firms wanted to support Marriott International maybe its a client? they could atleast have met at the D.C. Ritz-Carlton, Marriotts top-of-the-line property in the nations capital.

UPDATE (6:51 p.m.): In defense of the Marriott pick, a source points out that it was probably the Washington Marriott at Metro Center(775 12th Street NW), conveniently located down the block from Williams & Connolly (725 12th Street NW).

The breakfast involved a small number of Quinn Emanuel and Williams & Connolly lawyers. The W&C representatives were people that John Quinn knows personally at the firm, through personal friendship or prior work together as co-counsel. Some folks you might have expected at a merger-related meeting were not present; for example, W&C chairman Dane Butswinkas did not attend, nor did all members of the Executive Committee.

What was discussed at the breakfast? The two sides disagree. The QE sources say that business matters were discussed, including referrals of work between the two firms. The W&C sources say that most of the discussion centered on families and summer plans and that to characterize it as an official business meeting would be quite erroneous.

Near the end of the breakfast, John Quinn tossed out somewhat spontaneously, and in very general terms the idea of stronger ties, such as a strategic partnership or maybe even a merger. The W&C lawyers were taken by surprise, since nobody went to the breakfast anticipating such a discussion.

How did the Williams & Connolly lawyers respond? Again, theres some divergence.

The QE sources say that the Williams & Connolly folks did not say no, at least not in a way that would satisfy a clear statement rule. And they claim that John Quinn followed up with W&C lawyers after the breakfast as well, which led to talk of a follow-up meeting sometime in September for further discussion.

The W&C sources disagree. Although the Williams & Connolly lawyers at the breakfast might not have been as blunt as they could have been they were taken by surprise, and didnt want to be rude they made quite clear that the firm was not interested.

According to the W&C camp, when John Quinn raised the subject of a merger, he prefaced it by saying something like, Heres a crazy idea. The W&C lawyers responded along these lines: Haha, that sure IS a crazy idea! Merging with a giant international law firm more than twice our size? We havent opened a second office in our half-century of existence! Heck, we dont even hire laterals!

And thats where things were left until Legal Business, a U.K.-based publication, reported on the supposed merger talks last Tuesday. Their article included comment from John Quinn: It is true that we had a meeting on this subject but it was very preliminary and we dont know what, if anything, will come of this.

This news quickly jumped the pond given credibility by Quinns confirmation, and picked up promptly by the American Lawyer, Law360, and Above the Law and it caused a lot of tsuris over at Williams & Connolly. Senior partners and Executive Committee members were besieged by calls and emails from anxious clients, colleagues, and recruits, expressing concern that the firm they know and love was about to get transformed through absorption into the Quinn Emanuel borg. (As a litigation partner at another Biglaw firm told me, the merger rumors created some serious consternation among W&C clients, associates, etc. and gave me an endless source of amusement.)

As noted earlier, Williams & Connolly can be somewhat press-shy, even secretive. This makes sense; in many of their cases, the best result involves their client never being in the newspaper. But given all the drama, here W&C had no choice but to speak. Firm chairman Dane Butswinkas issued a statement: While Quinn Emanuel is an excellent law firm, we are happy just the way we are. We have no plans to merge with them or any other law firm.

What went down here, from the point of view of each firm?

From the perspective of Quinn Emanuel, there was enough there to justify John Quinns confirmation of something when contacted by Legal Business. Remember that Legal Business contacted John Quinn i.e., Quinn Emanuel didnt make an announcement of its own and remember his caveat that the talks were very preliminary. (Side note: the U.K. legal-media outlets tend to be more aggressive in their coverage of the industry than we are in the States, and they will often report out stories that we might hold pending further confirmation.)

From the perspective of Williams & Connolly, this was something spun out of nothing, and there was no way anyone could have thought that even preliminary discussions were underway. This was an informal breakfast meeting, not attended by W&C top brass, focused on personal rather than business matters. Yes, John Quinn randomly tossed out his crazy idea at the end but that idea was not discussed further back at W&C, and certainly not discussed in the Executive Committee that runs the firm. To the contrary, many Executive Committee members and other firm leaders learned of the supposed merger talks the way everyone else did from news reports.

Whose version of events am I inclined to credit? Speaking for myself, I view the W&C account as more credible. Heres why (in addition to the fact that the talks took place over breakfast not dinner, breakfast at a Marriott.)

John Quinns incredible success, as both a lawyer and businessman, rests upon his energy, enthusiasm, and view that almost nothing is truly impossible. When he gets an idea in his head, he runs with it over mountains, through walls, and past any obstacle standing in his way.

In many cases over his long and distinguished career, many of Quinns ideas including the idea for Quinn Emanuel itself, which he launched after leaving Cravath have turned into huge wins. But sometimes Quinns vision can get ahead of reality, which I suspect is what happened in this case. When he raised the idea of a merger with a few Williams & Connolly partners over breakfast, the fact that they didnt explicitly say hell to the N-O even if they gave many other strong indications that anyone else might have viewed as dispositive gave him just enough of an opening to think that preliminary discussions were underway.

(An alternative hypothesis: John Quinn knew full well that this breakfast chat didnt amount to merger discussions, but decided to confirm to Legal Business anyway. Im not sure, however, what his motivation would be for such a move. Did he want to burnish QEs brand by touting talks with another top firm? Did he want to make mischief for W&C? Its all too speculative.)

If law firm consultants were to use this episode as a case study for how to conduct merger talks, what lessons would they draw from it? Here are three that come to my mind:

1. Communicate clearly. This sounds obvious, but its easier said than done. Despite its reputation for ruthlessness, Biglaw can actually be quite genteel and passive-aggressive. Many lawyers like to think of themselves as learned professionals who are above money-grubbing pursuits, so they can turn skittish when talk turns to dollars and cents.

But a merger is a business deal in which money matters, so dont be afraid to be blunt polite, certainly, but honest. And dont defer difficult issues to the post-merger integration, especially issues surrounding compensation and internal leadership, just because its too awkward to talk about them in advance.

2. Get leadership involved early. This is usually not a problem in most law firm mergers, where the deals originate at the top and then get sold to or foisted upon rank-and-file partners later. But in the rare situation where this is not the case, bring the people with actual decision-making authority into the loop as soon as possible. Otherwise youre just wasting everyones time.

3. Prevent leaks. This apparent misunderstanding would never have seen the light of day if someone hadnt leaked the news to Legal Business. Again, plugging leaks is easier than said than done just ask Jeff Sessions but it can be done, especially if the talks take place between firm leaders and are kept inside a small group.

So thats the skinny of how the supposed QE/W&C merger talks came into existence, along with lessons learned. Best of luck to Quinn Emanuel and Williams & Connolly in their very independent respective futures.

Why Its a Good Thing That Williams & Connolly Isnt Merging With Quinn Emanuel [Litigation Daily]

Earlier:

David Lat is the founder and managing editor of Above the Law and the author of Supreme Ambitions: A Novel. He previously worked as a federal prosecutor in Newark, New Jersey; a litigation associate at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; and a law clerk to Judge Diarmuid F. OScannlain of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. You can connect with David on Twitter (@DavidLat), LinkedIn, and Facebook, and you can reach him by email at dlat@abovethelaw.com.

Originally posted here:
Anatomy Of A Rumor: The Quinn Emanuel / Williams & Connolly ... - Above the Law