Technology Litigation Attorney Frank Taney Featured in Philadelphia Business Journal, AmLaw Daily Articles on Law Firms and Twitter
As explained by the article, "Twitter is a micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets — postings of no more than 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to subscribers who are known as followers."
The article noted Taney as an advocate and frequent user of the social networking site. On his Twitter page, he discusses a wide array of topics, including why "Tom Petty's 'Apartment Song' is a lost classic, why the Phillies had no business winning the previous night's game or how intricate his 6-year-old son's Lego set is compared to those from his own childhood."
The article goes on to note that, "[H]e mixes that in with his professional life, where he represents technology-centric clients. He discusses an upcoming meeting with a prospective client from Australia or an event he is planning in his capacity as president of the Entrepreneurs Forum of Greater Philadelphia, which featured speakers such as Mayor Michael Nutter and Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank CEO Charles Plosser."
"I've come to use it as a mix of professional and personal things I choose to share," Taney said. "It's partly self-expression but not as extensive as a formal blog. I can also get the word out about certain things that are important to my clients."
According to the article, "Taney's younger, tech-savvy client base is a perfect fit for Twitter. He said many do not have in-house lawyers and use Web searches as part of the process to find outside counsel. And Twitter does show up on those searches."
Taney explained that, so far, he hasn't gotten any work as a result of Twitter, but his clients like him to be "technologically adept so it helps solidify those relationships."
"I have a client from Australia that found me through an Internet search," he explained. "So I would not be surprised, in fact, I would expect, that sometime in the next year if someone reacts to one of my tweets and some business results from it."
In addition to the Business Journal, The AmLaw Daily featured Taney in a July 29, 2009, article that focused on the same subject matter. In the article, titled "Should Lawyers Tweet with Clients?," Taney was interviewed about using Twitter and what is has done for his practice. Excerpts from the article were also published in a July 30, 2009, article titled "Two Twittering Lawyers: The ABA President and an IT Buff," posted on ABAJournal.com.
He was asked how long he has been on Twitter and what got him started.
"I want to say late summer or early fall of 2008," he explained. "I'm on the board of a lot of entrepreneurial and technologically oriented nonprofits. One of them is the Philadelphia Area New Media Association, and they're into social networking and media applications because of their business. One of the other board members asked me to join and, not really thinking much about it, I did."
In regards to what he "tweets" about, he said, "It's an outlet for my professional activities. I can tell people I'm going to be on a panel doing XYZ on a certain night, so it's a good way to get out there."
He was asked whether or not he follows his clients on Twitter and how it has affected the dynamic of his relationship with them. He replied, "Yes. I think that its enhanced the personal relationship. [Twitter] makes it easier for each of us to let the other know what we're doing on a real-time basis."
Finally, Taney was asked if he thought more lawyers should Tweet with their clients? He explained that it may not be for everyone. "It probably depends on a lawyer's practice," he said. "I think you need to figure out what kind of relationship you have with your clients. I personally tend to be close with a lot of mine. Some clients it'll be years before they're even aware [Twitter] exists. So I'd say know thyself and know thy client base."
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