For our latest installment of the General Counsel Corner, we talked to Mark Ginalski, the General Counsel at SunLink Corporation. SunLink manufactures integrated PV balance of system solutions for the photovoltaic industry that reduce the cost of installation, ease permitting, and enhance system design flexibility. SunLink’s industry-leading solar roof and ground mount racking systems, HomeRun™ combiner boxes, and wire management tools have been proven on more than 500 MW of commercial and utility-scale PV projects at 2,000+ sites across North America.

My question for Mr. Ginalski was: 

What is the most important factor you consider when hiring a law firm?"

In his response, he said that he can "imagine [that] any GC could opine for pages on this topic. For me the key factor is relatively straight-forward – Will outside counsel work in an collaborative and efficient manner to achieve the best result for the company, based upon an agreed upon strategy."

That is a hugely telling response – what it says to me is that what Mr. Ginalski (and other GCs) really care about is a firm’s ability to understand that each client, and each matter, is different. As we’ve heard before, that means there’s no "one size fits all" answer, only "one size fits one." 

And what’s more, in-house counsel want to work collaboratively – it’s the partnership mentality that we hear about so often. Clients want you to be a partner in their business, and in their success. 

Your food for thought today is then: 

  • Are you focused enough on your clients to discern what their individual goals and needs are in each matter, with the understanding that despite your industry expertise, each client is unique?
  • Are you working collaboratively with each client to achieve their goals? 

Thanks so much to Mr. Ginalski for his participation in our General Counsel Corner! 

 

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Photo of Lindsay Griffiths Lindsay Griffiths

Lindsay Griffiths is the International Lawyers Network’s Executive Director. She is a dynamic, influential international executive and marketing thought leader with a passion for relationship development and authoring impactful content. Griffiths is a driven, strategic leader who implements creative initiatives to achieve the…

Lindsay Griffiths is the International Lawyers Network’s Executive Director. She is a dynamic, influential international executive and marketing thought leader with a passion for relationship development and authoring impactful content. Griffiths is a driven, strategic leader who implements creative initiatives to achieve the goals of a global professional services network. She manages all major aspects of the Network, including recruitment, member retention, and providing exceptional client service to an international membership base.

In her role as Executive Director, Griffiths manages a mix of international programs, engages a diverse global community, and develops an international membership base. She leads the development and successful implementation of major organizational initiatives, manages interpersonal relationships, and possesses executive presence with audiences of internal and external stakeholders. Griffiths excels at project management, organization, and planning, writes and speaks with influence and authority, and works independently while demonstrating flexibility in thinking, especially in challenging situations. She also adapts to diverse and dynamic environments with constant assessment and recalibration.

JD Supra Readers Choice Top Author 2019

In 2021, the ILN was honored as Global Law Firm Network of the Year by The Lawyer European Awards, and in 2016, 2017, and 2022, they were shortlisted as Global Law Firm Network of the Year. Since 2011, the Network has been listed as a Chambers & Partners Leading Law Firm Network, recently increasing this ranking to be included in the top two percent of law firm networks globally, as well as adding two regional rankings. She was awarded “Thought Leader of the Year” by the Legal Marketing Association’s New York chapter in 2014 for her substantive contributions to the industry and was included in Clio’s list of “34 People in Legal You Should Follow on Twitter.” She was also chosen for the American Bar Association Journal’s inaugural Web 100‘s Best Law Blogs, where judge Ivy Grey said “This blog is outstanding, thoughtful, and useful.” Ms. Griffiths was chosen as a Top Author by JD Supra in their 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards, for the level of engagement and visibility she attained with readers on the topic of marketing & business development. She has been the author of Zen & the Art of Legal Networking since February 2009.