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“Give me my check, put some respect on my check / Or pay me in equity / Watch me reverse out of debt.” — Beyoncé

This week, I had the opportunity to catch up with Rukayatu Tijani, a former Quinn Emanuel associate and recent law firm founder. I first met Tijani a few years ago while serving on the Pipeline to Practice Foundation board.

Last November, Tijani decided to embark on the journey of entrepreneurship and founded Firm for the Culture. In accordance with my New Year’s resolution — of speaking with more attorneys on the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of their legal journeys — I was thrilled with the opportunity to cover Tijani’s journey from Brooklyn to the Valley, and from law school to entrepreneurship, for our audience.

Tijani’s passion and purpose are evident to anyone who has met or has been represented by her. And her advice to those who are thinking about Biglaw or hanging their own shingle is both inspiring and instructive. As she recently relayed to Pipeline to Practice:

In the projects of Brooklyn, New York, you quickly grow accustomed to choosing your battles. Some battles, frankly, can get you killed — speaking back to the wrong group of folks can set you up to become a target. So you learn to pick your words and actions wisely. This practical wisdom has helped me immensely as an attorney. In the high stakes world of litigation, every interaction with opposing counsel seems like a battle you want to fight to the death. But the most skilled lawyers know when to fight and when to simply fold; they concede some victories to win the ultimate war. I continue to see this strategy at play from the partners I work with; I hope to emulate this tried and true principal as well.

Without further ado, here is a (lightly edited and condensed) write-up of our conversation:

Renwei Chung (RC): Congratulations on the founding of your firm, Firm for the Culture, in November 2019. What prompted this move from Quinn Emanuel? 

Rukayatu Tijani (RT): I will forever be grateful for the amazing experience I had at Quinn Emanuel.  As the famous Quinn mantra says, there is truly “No Firm Like Ours.” But it’s funny how purpose chases you down. Since I was five years old, I knew I wanted to be an attorney.

And as I grew, my purpose grew with me. Purpose, which had been molded and shaped by my experiences at Quinn Emanuel and my Federal Judicial Clerkship, now required me to do something different. Something more. Something entirely out of alignment with the status quo. So I listened. And I built Firm for the Culture — an innovative virtual law firm designed to help social entrepreneurs trademark their brands as they scale their social impact.

And I’m excited to witness the immense impact the Firm will make.

RC: What inspired you to become an attorney and how did you choose Berkeley Law?

RT: The road to lawyerdom was pretty “interesting” for this Brooklyn girl, ha ha. I grew up in the projects of Brooklyn, N. Y., where there was often more “month” than “money.” Against this backdrop, it was audacious to want to be a lawyer. But the story of Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP encouraged me to live boldly and to make this goal for myself. In learning about the long arduous journey to what would eventually become Brown v. Board, my curious young mind latched onto the idea that I too could use the law to change the world.

Berkeley Law understood that. I chose Berkeley because of its amazing reputation for social impact, social justice, and intellectual rigor. It was not uncommon for my classmates and I to discuss intersectional feminism while studying torts. Berkeley Law encouraged me to always think of my place in the real world while I pursued greatness in the ivory tower.

I am a proud Golden Bear.

RC: As a first-generation law student and a second-generation American, any advice for others — who are new to the legal universe or whose families are new to this country — who are thinking about a career in law?

RT: I run an organization called the First Generation Purpose Project, which is an amazing initiative designed to help First Gen Professionals navigate corporate America, entrepreneurship, and life by utilizing the grit and tenacity that is already on the inside of them. In this capacity, I often tell my First Gen Rockstars this: you may be the first in your family to think a certain way, the first in your family to walk a certain way.

You may find yourself in the “in between,” in between the person you used to be and the person you’re meant to be. But keep going. Keep asking questions. Keep building community around you. Keep growing. Because there’s purpose attached to your journey.

RC: Can you share a bit about your law clerk experience with The Honorable Kimberly Mueller in the Eastern District of California from September 2015 to September 2017?

RT: A clerkship is an amazing opportunity to understand the inner workings of the court. And it’s hard work. My judge encouraged us to uphold a spirit of excellence with each case we received, including cases brought pro se. My judge also emphasized importance in making legal writing “accessible.” She’d say things like “because our case is for the public at large, it should be understood by the public at large.”

My clerkship also encouraged me to see myself as a powerful contributor to the law.  Subject to my judge’s decision, of course, my research and writing played an enormous role in a case outcome. Inner-chambers advocacy mattered. My thoughts mattered. My writings mattered. My clerkship really helped me understand all this and more.

RC: What advice do you have for others who are thinking about Biglaw or starting their own firm?

RT: Biglaw far too often gets a bad rap. Now, I’ll be the first to concede that Biglaw still has a way to go in terms of diversity and other equitable practices. But Biglaw has also been at the forefront of some of most monumental changes in our country.

It was in Biglaw that I helped draft an amicus curiae brief for Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court case extending the right of marriage to same-sex couples. And it is because of Biglaw that I have a work ethic that can hardly be beat.

To anyone coming into Biglaw, I’d encourage you to get really clear on the impact you want to make while you’re there. It’s great if you want to become a partner. And it’s totally fine if you have something else in mind. But having a sense of self and building support around this will be the touchstone of success in an institution as powerful as Biglaw.

For people starting their own law firm? Ha ha. Come back to me in a year and I’ll be happy to share more wisdom with you.  The only advice I have right now is community, community, community. Have a powerful community of people and advocates. When I considered starting my firm, I found support in relationships with brilliant women like Ticora Davis, Kimberly Bennett, and Sonia Lakhany. When you’re around women like them, it’s hard to believe you can’t soar, ha ha.

RC: How would you compare New York and California?

RT: Unfair question! Comparing New York and California is like comparing apples and oranges. I am a different person in each place, if I am being honest. I go to bodegas to talk to papi and dine at Caribbean food joints in New York. I go hiking, eat way too many avocados, and drink lots of green juice in California. And I feel like myself in each experience. I truly feel like I’m exposed to the best of both worlds. Because of this, I decided to take the bar in both states, ha ha.

Brooklyn is home. Cali is my love. And I’m grateful for both.

RC: What are you looking most forward to in 2020?

RT: More impact with Firm for the Culture. We have an exciting year lined up and I cannot wait to start working. I look forward to trademarking the brands of some of the biggest and most innovative social impact organizations and entrepreneurs in the world. I look forward to making intellectual property protection accessible to diverse founders.

I look forward to sharing more trademark tips on my Instagram, speaking at more conferences, writing more articles about the benefits of trademark protection, and stewarding my relationships with friends and family.

RC: Why is Firm for the Culture specifically aimed at social entrepreneurs?

RT: Social entrepreneurs are in a unique position to shift culture, and I want to support them in any way I can. According to the Stanford Social Innovation Review, “[n]early two-thirds of Americans believe companies should take the lead in driving social and environmental change,” and the new businesses of today are building their companies to address this.

Additionally, as a millennial, I am witnessing first-hand how my colleagues want more from the workplace than a fancy title and a paycheck.  I felt heard when I read the Deloitte Global Millennial Survey of 2019, which stated, in part, that “millennials and Gen Zs [tend to] start and stop relationships with companies for [reasons . . . often] related to a company’s positive or negative impact on society.” And we also are more likely to leave positions of power if we feel we can make a more positive impact on society.

As a social impact entrepreneur and attorney, my goal is to make sure businesses that seek to change the world are well positioned for investments by having a robust intellectual property portfolio, and are less vulnerable to lawsuit because of trademark infringement.

RC: It was great chatting with you. Is there anything else you would like to share with our audience?

RT: If you’re an organization with social impact as one of your bottom lines, you’re our ideal client.

There are several ways to keep in touch:

• Text CULTURE to 33777 to get a free infographic about the trademark application process for social entrepreneurs.
• Join us on Instagram @firmfortheculture
• Join us on Linkedin @firmfortheculture
• Join us on Facebook @firmfortheculture
• If you need a trademark, book a call with us to see if we’re a good fit at https://www.firmfortheculture.com/book

And thank you, Renwei, for the amazing chat. Be blessed.

On behalf of everyone here at Above the Law, I would like to thank Rukayatu Tijani for taking the time to share her story with our audience. We look forward to following her successes and wish her continued achievements in her career.

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Renwei Chung is the Diversity Columnist at Above the Law. You can contact Renwei by email at projectrenwei@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter (@renweichung), or connect with him on LinkedIn. 

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Olga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. Olga founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. Olga also co-founded SunLaw, an organization dedicated to preparing women in-house attorneys to become general counsels and legal leaders, and WISE to help female law firm partners become rainmakers. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat and Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security. You can email Olga at olga@olgamack.com or follow her on Twitter @olgavmack. 

Why?

The Mütter Museum at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia collects a number of oddities from the twisted medical history of Philadelphia. If you’re touring the city, it’s a wonderful place to stop and grab lunch and then lose it checking out the exhibits. There’s a 40 lb. colon and a horn that a woman grew. It’s a cornucopia of horrors you can never unsee.

Earlier this week, Emily Kelchen wrote a piece for the Wisconsin Bar’s Nonresident Lawyers Blog about her adventure at the museum and how they pulled her aside to show her John Marshall’s kidney stones for some God awful reason.

The jurist responsible for Marbury v. Madison — the decision that, whatever Rudy Giuliani tells you, does not make impeachment unconstitutional — had some kidney stones removed in Philadelphia and these folks kept them for our entertainment. This is the best picture available.

Kelchen advises:

If you want to see the stones in person, I recommend calling ahead to make sure they haven’t been loaned out to another institution, and asking a staff member to show you where they are.

Which esteemed institution is going to be borrowing these exactly?

While this is all so very very gross, it drives home that as hard as it may be to believe, 200 years from now someone will be admiring curious artifacts from our current justices like Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s broken hip or Sonia Sotomayor’s Yankee caps or Brett Kavanaugh’s booze calendars. What an era!

Legal Tourism: You Too Can See Chief Justice John Marshall’s Kidney Stones [Nonresident Lawyers Blog]

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Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.

When your accomplishments at a job can be summed up as “substantive engagement” composed of “many constructive comments and questions,” it might be time to move on. This is not to say it’s Robert Jackson’s fault that he’s got nothing of consequence to show for his two years as a Securities and Exchange commissioner—he is, after all, a Democrat on a regulator controlled by Republicans in Donald Trump’s America, who on their best day are determined to do nothing, and on their worst determined to undermine everything Jackson believes in. It’s just to say that commenting and questioning and yelling and writing impotent dissent after impotent dissent as your colleagues drag their feet or seek to take the democracy out of shareholder democracy or the money out of whistleblowing can be exhausting and disheartening. So Jackson’s going to go and do the next least important thing: teach at a law school, where he may not be making any more of a difference than as a member of the SEC’s minority, but at least gets to live in New York.

It really wasn’t that long ago that Rep. Devin Nunes was a co-sponsor of the Discouraging Frivolous Lawsuits Act. Of course, since then, he’s been filing a whole bunch of frivolous lawsuits against news organizations, journalists, political operatives, critics, and, most famously, a satirical internet cow.

At times he’s admitted that these lawsuits are about fishing for journalist’s sources, but it certainly seems pretty clear that this is all an intimidation campaign, by a silly little man who is an elected representative in Congress and simply can’t handle criticism. Of course, as more evidence comes out that, at the very least, suggests that Nunes is somehow tied up with all of the mess around impeachment — including reports revealing that the indicted Lev Parnas spoke by phone with Nunes — he seems to be getting more and more upset with anyone calling him out.

The latest is that fellow California Representative Ted Lieu noted on Twitter that Nunes’ lawyer sent him a letter threatening to sue Lieu for saying “that Nunes conspired with Parnas.”

Unfortunately, Lieu hasn’t yet released that letter, but I’m hoping he does. I’d be curious to see if Nunes tries to sue Lieu in Virginia like most of his other lawsuits, rather than California. Also, I’d love to see how Nunes and his lawyer think they can get around the Speech or Debate Clause.

In the meantime, Ted Lieu, we really could use more people in Congress supporting a federal anti-SLAPP law. Seems like now might be a good time for you to support such a law, right?

Rep. Devin Nunes Now Threatening To Sue Fellow Congressional Reps

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China’s foreign minister Wang Yi has pledged to strengthen cooperation with Zimbabwe despite a hitch in bilateral ties last year.

The two countries were at loggerheads after Zimbabwe’s government said it had only received $3.6 million in aid from Beijing in 2019 – 40 times lower than the figure claimed by China.

Yi met his Zimbabwean counterpart Sibusiso Moyo on Sunday during the final leg of an Africa tour that also took him to Egypt, Djibouti, Eritrea and Burundi.

He did not mention financial assistance, but hailed China and Zimbabwe’s “win-win cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, and mining” and vowed to explore new areas of cooperation.

China’s relationship with Zimbabwe dates back to the liberation struggle of the 1970s, when Beijing supported some of the top guerrilla leaders.

After the end of white-minority rule in 1980, China was one of the first countries to establish a diplomatic mission in the capital Harare.

Beijing remained one of Mugabe’s most powerful allies and a major trade partner, even as the West shunned him over human rights violations.

Zimbabwe’s opposition parties are not excited with this renewed friendship. China’s influence and accused the government of giving away minerals and other natural resources in exchange for aid.

Chinese companies are alleged to abuse and underpay local workers.

Zimbabwe’s economy has been reduced to tatters by decades of mismanagement under Mugabe, who died of cancer in September last year.

Years of rampant hyperinflation have rendered life unaffordable for most and basic goods such as bread and fuel are hard to come by.

* Harvey Weinstein is attempting to move his criminal trial outside of New York City, citing the intense publicity of the matter. Fairly sure every community in America knows about Weinsten’s case. [Fox News]

* Lawyers in a class action against Aramark are getting more than just free food, filings provide for $5 million in cheddar as counsel fees. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

* The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that felons need to pay all costs associated with their sentences before having their right to vote restored. [CBS News]

* A attorney has been disbarred for continuing to practice law despite being suspended for failing to pay bar dues and neglecting to register with the New York Bar. This is a stern reminder for every lawyer to pay all bar dues. [Albany Times Union]

* A man serving life in prison has been granted a new trial because his lawyer was racist. [San Francisco Chronicle]

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Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothmanlawyer.com.

Zimbabwe and China this week signed a currency swap deal aimed at strengthening trade between the two nations.

The swap arrangement will enable an investor in China to pay a Chinese business in Zimbabwe which is looking for foreign exchange. The Chinese-owned business in Zimbabwe would release the Zimbabwe dollar equivalent of the US dollar to a local bank account of the payer in China.

The local currency is the legal tender for all domestic transactions except for a few business operators particularly those in the tourism sector who can trade in US dollar.

Nonetheless, the monetary policies are not attractive to investors specifically when they want to remit their profits back to China as Zimbabwe is facing foreign currency shortages.

This currency swap deal, which follows a visit by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, will make it easier for Chinese businesses in Zimbabwe to move their funds out of the country. Yi was on an official visit to Zimbabwe and other four African nations including Egypt, Djibouti, Eritrea and Burundi.

“The idea is those individuals (Chinese investors) will then swap (currency) so that those who are investing in Zimbabwe are able to give them a domestic currency-which they are bringing in for investment-to pay those who are exiting,” said finance minister Mthuli Ncube in an interview with journalists in Harare at the end of Yi’s visit.

The southern African nation, which is experiencing its worst economic crises in decades-with shortages of fuel and other basic commodities, is putting hopes on China to help turn around its struggling economy after efforts failed to have US and EU economic sanctions removed last year.

Zimbabwe has joined other nations in Africa including South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana that also have currency swap arrangements with China.

But economists in Zimbabwe believe the move will benefit the Chinese while starving the country of much needed foreign currency. This currency swap deal will simplify an exchange control procedure yet it will help the Chinese traders move their business proceeds out of the country but Zimbabweans who might have had access to that money before will not have any more.

The potential foreign exchange inflows from investment will be cancelled as the foreign currency does not get into any of the country’s economic systems as it is given to a Chinese company that remits its profits to China.

The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) executive director Janet Zhou told Quartz Africa the only benefit that comes to Zimbabwe from the deal could have been access to foreign currency and external finances at competitive interest rates, however, currency swaps work best in stable economies.

“In the case of Zimbabwe where there is hyperinflation, the deal is not going to benefit the country considering that a fixed exchange rate is agreed upon at the beginning of the contract and given the rate at which the local currency is losing value, the principal amount would have lost value by the time the contract matures,” she said.

“Moreover, Zimbabwe is currently desperate for foreign currency and it is high likely that the government will offer friendly terms in order to attract the much-needed foreign currency and investment. In any case, China will have more bargaining power considering their global political economy position.”

She said ZIMCODD’s fear is the source of Zimbabwe dollar to effect the currency swap since the only available options will be either printing of money or issuance of treasury bills which are highly inflationary.

Soon after his meeting with president Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare on January, 13 this year, Yi claimed China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 11 years in a row and the former’s stock of “indirect investment has reached $110 billion, and more than 3 700 Chinese enterprises have invested and started business in various parts of Africa”, providing a strong force for a sustained economic growth on the continent.

Post published in: Featured

On January 20, attorneys all over the country will have the day off in honor of civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr. To honor this great man on this day, and throughout the year, here are five ways attorneys can provide acts of service, uphold the civic values of the profession, and use their training to fight for the civil rights issues of today. 

The projects highlighted below are hosted by the innovative online platform We the Action and most of them can be supported remotely, from anywhere in the country. To find pro bono projects close to home, check out Pro Bono Net’s map of volunteer opportunities in every state, or check in with your local bar association. 

1. Advocate for Asylum Seekers in Bond Hearings. Many asylum seekers are kept in detention while they await their immigration court hearings, which can take months or years.  The Immigration Justice Campaign organizes pro bono attorneys to prepare bond motions and advocate for asylum seekers to be released at telephonic bond hearings. Volunteer here. 
2. Fight Workplace Sexual Harassment. The Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund is looking for attorneys across the country to join a new Legal Network for Gender Equity so that workers who are facing sexual harassment can access legal resources and other help to fight their case. Volunteers will receive training on trauma informed advocacy and other legal issues. Sign up here. 
3. Provide Local Counsel in Reproductive Rights Litigation. Access to reproductive healthcare is a critical civil right. Nationwide litigation requires the Center for Reproductive Rights to partner with local counsel all over the country. Volunteer here. 
4. Represent Workers Fighting Deportation. Lawyers in immigration cases don’t need to be admitted in any specific jurisdiction, so remote immigration work can be a great way for pro bono attorneys to give back. The Mississippi Center for Justice will train attorneys to remotely represent workers who were arrested in August 2019 in the largest ever single-state immigration raid, hundreds of whom remain in detention as they fight deportation. Sign up here.  
5. Translate Legal Information for Nonprofits & Aid Workers. Eliminating language barriers is crucial to helping people access their civil rights, benefits, and legal services. If you are a bilingual attorney, you can help the tech nonprofit Tarjimly provide translations for all kinds of legal documents. Get more information here. 

Finally, protecting the fundamental right to vote is vital work which all attorneys should support – especially in an election year. Sign up for Election Protection as a poll watcher or hotline volunteer, or to find out other ways you can help maintain election integrity in 2020. And remember, November 3 isn’t the only critical voting day this year – there are hundreds of primaries and local elections as well!

Related Content: 

1. Pro Bono Perspectives: Best Practices for Matters Serving the Public Good, Wherever You Work
2. Strategies to Improve Diversity and Interrupt Implicit Bias in the Legal Profession
3. Election Cybersecurity Update: Interference and Integrity Ahead of the 2020 Election