Our Firm
September 28, 2015 | by Kieran McCarthy | My Practice, Practice of Law
I often think about the future of the practice of the law, and about how it’s going to change over the next twenty years. In the book Average is Over, economist Tyler Cowen uses an analogy that I’ve found compelling. It’s about chess and the future of human-computer relations. Until 1997, the best humans could […]
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September 25, 2014 | by Kieran McCarthy | Current Events
The top trending story on twitter last night was that Bill Simmons, famous ESPN sports commentator and renowned Sports Guy, was suspended by his employer for 1) calling NFL commissioner Roger Goddell a liar and 2) daring his employer, ESPN, to call him out for doing it. His employer did call him out. He’s now […]
Tags: Entrepreneurship, Our Firm
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September 11, 2014 | by Kieran McCarthy | Startups
By combing the Interwebs, poring through my personal library, and applying my own experience in working with more than 100 startups, I’ve compiled this checklist of 25 items to review and consider as you launch your startup. I hope you find it useful. Decide whether starting a business is right for you and what kind […]
Tags: Angels, authenticity, business formation, contracts, Corporation, Entrepreneurship, llc, Our Firm, Raising Capital, s corp, Sometimes Cheap Is Expensive, trademark, venture capital
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August 27, 2014 | by Kieran McCarthy | My Practice, Practice of Law
Henry David Thoreau once famously said that, “most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” That statement is likely more true today than it was in the 1840s, when he said it. With increased specialization, many adults sleepwalk through their professional years, operating on a level of minimum consciousness, never fully engaged or alive. They’re just […]
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June 25, 2013 | by Kieran McCarthy | Startups
“Only describe, don’t explain.” ― Ludwig Wittgenstein According to Merriam-Webster, a startup is a fledgling company. According to Wikipedia, it’s a partnership or temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. According to the Chicago Manual of Style, you spell start-up with a hyphen. But most people who work in the […]
Tags: Angels, founders, Our Firm, startups, venture capital
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April 29, 2013 | by Kieran McCarthy | My Practice
I was very pleased to hear about this on Paul Graham’s twitter feed. Apparently, the good folks over at Spark Capital have decided to buck the trend and pick up their own legal expenses in their future deals. The first time I raised venture capital, over a decade ago, I was hit with the same […]
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April 26, 2013 | by Kieran McCarthy | My Practice
Many think of the best lawyers as the Johnny Cochrane-Alan Dershowitz types. These are the guys who gained their reputations for in-your-face, no-hold-barred advocacy on behalf of their clients. Having a lawyer like this is important when you’re facing a murder charge. But in most other circumstances, you may want to consider a different advocate. […]
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April 26, 2013 | by Kieran McCarthy | My Practice
Recently read a post by Seth Godin about choosing your clientele that resonated with me. I’m defining pandering as using your perception of your customer’s wishes as an excuse to do work you’re not proud of. The public radio station that puts on empty, sensationalist coverage of the current crisis-of-the-year is chasing others down the […]
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March 21, 2013 | by Kieran McCarthy | My Practice
I recently read this post by Lon Harris about the Age of Excellence. It’s powerful insight into what professional life is like today. The gist of the post is that customer reviews are omnipresent. Amazon, trip advisor, yelp, and programs of their ilk provide transparency on all products and services we consume. Being ok at […]
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