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Attorney
By
Attorney
 Career
Profiles of the Profession
Who?
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Antitrust, Franchising and Distribution Litigation, and Business
Regulation.
When?
In Practice Area:
Since 1971
In the Legal Profession:
Since 1971
Where?
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Employer:
Sonnenschein
www.sonnenschein.com
Size/Sector:
600 lawyers in offices across the U.S.
City/State:
Chicago, IL
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Law School:
University of Michigan, JD cum laude (1971), Member-Michigan
Law Review, Alpha Sigma Nu, National Honor Society.
Undergraduate School/Degree:
Xavier University, AB magna cum laude (1968)
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Antitrust and trade regulation law
presents the practitioner, counselor or litigator, with the challenge
of
applying somewhat general and abstract legal principles, having
economic
content, to often complex but important business decisions and
strategies.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
An interest in
the underlying economic and public policy issues helps the practitioner;
the practitioner should enjoy digging into the business considerations
and
background of any problems presented; an ability to grasp larger
principles
and details at the same time is important.
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice
Area:
Obtain a good understanding of basic subject matter relating to
commercial
law (e.g., corporations, commercial transactions); when taking
antitrust
law as a course make sure to understand the underlying economic
principles
and concepts.
How?
Career Path to Current Position:
Prior to joining the Sonnenschein firm, Mr. Joseph was a staff
attorney from 1971 to 1976 in the headquarters office of the Federal
Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition. He also served as the
assistant to the director of the Bureau of Competition in 1973-74.
Influences and Mentors:
Partners at the Sonnenschein law firm (Earl
Pollock, Alan Silberman, Gary Senner) were major influences and
mentors:
while each has a somewhat different style and focus on his approach
to
counseling and litigation, they all have a marvelous facility
to exploring
hidden issues, thinking creatively, and working with clients to
identify
antitrust issues and then propose courses of action to minimize
antitrust
risk. I also learned a lot from superiors at the Federal Trade
Commission
(where I worked from 1971-1976), including Bureau of Competition
Directors
Alan Ward and James Halverson, Assistant Director David Roll,
and
supervising attorneys David Wilson and Jonathan Gaines.
Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
Antitrust Law Developments, Fifth Edition; the Areeda treatise;
Antitrust Magazine and Antitrust Law Journal.
Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
I believe a display
of a keen interest in the subject matter (e.g., antitrust) and
questions to
the interviewer about her or his practice show that you are eager
to learn
and work hard.
Bar Affiliations and Activities:
Immediate Past Chair of the ABA Antitrust Law Section, Mr. Joseph
previously served as the Section's Chair-Elect and Vice-Chair,
and as Committee Officer on the Section's Council, and as Chair
of its Franchising Committee (1984-1987), Chair of its Videotapes
Committee (1987-1990), and Chair of its Publications Committee
(1991-1994). He also was Vice Chair of the Franchising Committee
(1981-1984) and of the Publications Committee (1990-1991).
Mr. Joseph was a member of the Section of Antitrust Law Task Force
that prepared comments on the National Conference of Commissioners
on Uniform State Laws' (NCCUSL) Uniform Franchise and Business
Opportunity Act and prepared a recommendation and report to the
American Bar Association concerning the Act. He also served as
the Chair of the Section of Antitrust Law Task Force that prepared
comments on the Federal Trade Commission's Advance Notice of Rulemaking
With Respect To Franchise Trade Regulation Rule.
Member of the Illinois and Michigan Bar Associations.
Recent Professional Publications:
Mr. Joseph has published articles on antitrust and franchising
subjects. Those articles include the following: Vertical Maximum
Resale Price Fixing After State Oil Company v. Khan (Franchise
Law Journal, Vol. 17, Number 3, Winter 1998 Minimizing Risk
When Communicating with Distributors About Prices (Antitrust,
Fall 1996) Proof of the Meeting Competition Defense: Investigation
and Verification of Reported Competing Offers (with Blake
L. Harrop) (62 Antitrust L.J. 127 (1993)) Living with Kodak
From the Seller's Standpoint (with Stuart Altschuler) (Antitrust,
Fall/Winter 1992) Do Franchisors Owe A Duty of Competence?
(The Business Lawyer, February 1991, Vol. 46, No. 2) Functional
Discounts And The Robinson-Patman Act After Texaco, Inc. v. Hasbrouck
(Franchise Law Journal, Vol.10, Number 2, Fall 1990.
Recent Professional Presentations:
Mr. Joseph has frequently participated in legal symposia, including
programs sponsored by the Practicing Law Institute, Section of
Antitrust Law of the American Bar Association, and the American
Bar Association's Forum on Franchising and the International Franchise
Association
Memorable Career Moment:
Learning that I had been nominated to be Vice Chair of
the Section of Antitrust Law (and therefore would ultimately become
Chair).
Intriguing Interests:
American history and culture; philosophy; theology; popular
music (particularly in the period 1955-1970).
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