We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David King a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

David , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.

When I first graduated law school, I took a job in the World Trade Center working for a securities law firm with several hundred attorneys. I worked for Norm Slonaker who was Merrill Lynch’s securities lawyer. He had an amazing mind. My next job was in Silicon Valley working for Wilson Sonsini, where I worked directly for the Managing Partner, Alan Austin. Like Norm, Alan was among the truly elite corporate securities attorneys in America. Alan previously clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. Douglas was eccentric, insanely smart. He was once impeached by the House, so he framed it and put it on his wall.

However, neither of these of amazing attorneys were my most influential boss. When I first launched my firm, I took extra contract work for another law firm where I worked for Erick Altona. Erick isn’t like one of the mega law firm attorneys who were pigeon-holed into one practice area early in their careers. He’s got a diverse range of experience and uses all of it to find solutions which aren’t straight out of the law books.

Erick handles business transactions, real estate sales and leases, and litigation. He thinks out of the box more quickly than anyone I’ve met. Most businesses in San Diego don’t have the means to hire a mega firm with hundreds of specialists. Instead, they need a well-rounded attorney who can help them through most everything, while knowing when to refer matters to a specialist.

Erick’s management and supervision skills are exceptional. He is always considerate and respectful, never demeaning like so many attorneys can be. I learned from Erick to never, ever take an assignment back from a subordinate attorney. Anyone in this profession should be able to complete an assignment, even if they need a little more time or guidance.

Erick’s clients know they can rely upon him for his loyalty, impeccable skills, and attention. He has clients for decades who come to him for everything. I’ve been able to keep some of my clients since I founded my firm in 2004. Erick would never sacrifice his reputation by being dishonest or playing games, the hallmark of small-time attorneys. He sees through it and doesn’t engage in it.

Lawyers should be generous sharing their time and expertise with each other for the good of the profession. I still turn to Erick when I’m stumped by a problem. He once told me that I’m “fearless,” no higher compliment.

I represent clients in mergers & acquisitions, securities transactions, general corporate matters and disputes between owners. Approximately half the clients I represent in M&A transactions were existing clients and half are new ones, referred to me for the sale. It’s a huge advantage to represent clients in M&A that I’ve served for years prior. When I negotiate opposite an attorney from a bigger firm, and we go through certain issues, I call upon real experience and wonder if they spent the night in a Holiday Inn.

Erick helped mold me into the lawyer I am today, one who serves his clients forever and through everything, with an ultimate objective of selling their business. If clients don’t have someone watching their backs for all types of risks, many will never make it to the pot of gold at the end of rainbow.

Practicing law isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be miserable, and we can treat each other respectfully. Help a young attorney reach their potential, confident in their ability to practice law.

David , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The King Law Group provides corporate legal services, such as handling mergers & acquisitions and private securities offerings, providing general counsel services, as well as representing clients through business litigation. We seek entrepreneurs who are looking to develop their business, and we serve these clients at all stages of development, from formation to pursuit of an exit strategy. We also represent clients in civil litigation, specializing in disputes over ownership and control.

I serve middle-market businesses in industries ranging from software development to biotechnology.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The 2008 financial meltdown happened just after I expanded my firm, with new lawyers and a new office. I was spreading myself thin by serving as Chairman of the Regional Water Quality Control Board and trying to support a nonprofit news website. I was recently married and the father of two kids, a toddler and infant. Clients were failing left and right and none were undertaking new transactions or projects. I still feel the pit in my gut from looking at my firm’s finances and obligations.

When you’re going through hell, keep running. It took years to turn things around, but new matters come along, even paying clients. In 2014, I had recovered well enough to run for California Attorney General. Most importantly I kept life stable for my kids who are my pride and joy.

How did you build your audience on social media?

People hear “lawyer” and groan, rarely listening after that. “Corporate lawyer” elicits multiple groans. It wasn’t until I wrote a book titled Selling Your Business, Begin with the End in Mind and promoted it through a podcast and website that people understood what I do. The only thing I would do differently is launch the podcast before publishing the book. I published first which is not the best way to make a splash. My book, podcast, and website have had an immeasurable impact on practice development in my area of expertise.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thekinglawgroup.com/?msclkid=3522ad17a93111ec8905d5d4354b8804
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkingbusiness/?msclkid=891dacf1a93411ec8337007c36a238bc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKingLawGroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-king-6a359a1?msclkid=a4f9edb9a93411ecb3a04cd6e7df7c43
• Twitter: @thekinglawgroup
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO8Zy11hkPzbVMqjXxwLqNA?view_as=subscriber
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UbZeYa6hjWc9hYAwMh3BX