Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Antoine.
Heather, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was 7 when I told my parents I wanted to be a lawyer. I’m not even sure where the inspiration came from, but the running joke is that I essentially raised myself after that. I was always extremely focused and determined, which lead to my passing the bar and becoming an attorney at 24. I was so excited! But six years later I found myself living a life devoid of passion. I was good at my job but didn’t necessarily love what I did or going to work every day. I knew something had to change, I just didn’t know what it was. Even though my father is the consummate businessman, I never thought about opening my own law practice.
Then, after a series of “last straws” I made the decision – I was going to try to do it myself. I now refer to that initial phase as blissful naïveté. I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into, or sure of how to meet my goals, but I was beyond excited and happy to be trying. It’s now been over five years and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I love everything about what I do. I love my clients. I love business development. I love the areas of law I get to practice every day. And I love the freedom and creativity of having your own business allows for.
Has it been a smooth road?
I’m not sure “smooth” is a word many entrepreneurs would use. That said, it hasn’t been a wild rollercoaster either. I would call it a winding, sometimes bumpy road. I think the main struggle I faced was an approach switch. I had to go from being a lawyer to thinking like a businesswoman. I suddenly had to learn to put myself out there. The answers would not be found researching in my office – I knew the law, I knew how to practice – these were different skill sets.
There is so much more that comes with running a business. You have to understand branding and marketing, run finances, and maintain a proper mindset. At first, I struggled with trying to create a façade, but over time I realized the more I was authentic to who I really am, the easier it became to be a businesswoman.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Antoine Law Group story. Tell us more about the business.
At Antoine Law Group, we focus on protecting a company’s brand. That can mean that we are filing trademarks to protect a company’s name, logo, or slogan; making sure others don’t infringe on those elements; potentially licensing them to others to expand brand exposure; working with marketing companies to ensure they don’t get in trouble in today’s fast-paced Internet world; making sure trade secrets stay secret; and/or safeguarding consumer data and providing guidance as to privacy laws.
I am most proud of our ability to tackle quickly changing areas of law. Many of our clients are in the Internet space (e-commerce, software-as-a-service, apps, etc.), and regularly face demands traditional brick and mortar companies could never have dreamed of 15, 10, or even 5 years ago. You have to be able to think outside the box when it comes to working with these companies. They are moving quickly and you have to be ready to move with them. It can be challenging, but that is what makes it so much fun.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’m not sure there is anyone characteristic that is important. I think a number of qualities are important – perseverance, passion, and communication. I was once told that my superpower is making people feel comfortable. While that is a compliment I am not sure I deserve, I try to listen and understand where my clients are coming from.
If they are growing, I try to support that growth so that they take advantage of all legal protections available. If they find themselves in a lawsuit I make it my goal to relieve some of the stress inherent in that situation. You have to make a client’s life easier. You should never be an additional source of stress – they have enough of that already.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9595 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 900 Beverly Hills, CA 90212
- Website: http://www.antoinelaw.com/
- Phone: (310) 849-3134
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AntoineLawGroup
- Twitter: @IPfixer
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/antoine-law-group-apc-beverly-hills
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-antoine-48b14859/
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