[Superman]

I am married to an attorney but this is not the kind of law she does. Last Friday she won a big court case. Not a split decision. She won the whole thing. Protecting an industry against manipulation.

For part of my career I negotiated labor agreements and resolved labor disputes. No attorneys in the room, usually. I have a STRONG preference for having the principals meet and negotiate terms directly with one another. Sometimes their discussions need to be professionally guided, but this model works more effectively and more quickly than having attorneys to the negotiating. By a wide margin. When the issues are settled, then pay the attorneys to write it up. Done.

I have also done plenty of work with people and organizations through their attorneys, and I very often wondered what they were telling their clients. Yes, they want billable hours. Yes, they tell their clients they can kick so-and-so's butt in court. Yes, they almost always lost instead.

Attorneys are needed, but clients need to understand what their role is and isn't. And again, when principals are separate from one another by two teams of opposing counsel, expect an expensive mess.