LARS LIEBELER PC
Areas of Practice
LITIGATION
You have heard the judge say to the jury: “Do not form an opinion about the case until you have heard all the evidence.” Despite this admonishment, study after study shows that jurors do exactly the opposite; they form an opinion about a case during opening statement.That initial impression affects the way a juror then views all the evidence they hear after opening statement. That initial opinion also profoundly affects the decision each juror will make during final deliberations. Eighty-five percent of the time the juror’s initial impression of the case will be the way they vote in the jury room at the end of the case.
That is important information to know as a litigator and a trial attorney. Establishing credibility and trust with a jury (and the judge) during opening statement is absolutely critical. Explain your case simply and logically. Do not overstate your case. Tell the jury how you will prove your case. Then, prove your case with the best evidence you have. Avoid the theatrics you see in television courtroom dramas. Juries, and judges, know a “poser” when they see one.
Lars Liebeler represents Clients in federal and state courts in the Washington, D.C. area, throughout the mid-Atlantic region, and across the country. He has conducted and won jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, contested evidentiary hearings, and administrative proceedings by applying the fundamental principles described above. Extensive preparation is critical. Know the law; know the facts. Only then will the lawyer be able to make the important decisions about what will win the case.
We’ve won most of our cases by filing persuasive written briefs and motions, thereby winning the case before a trial is even necessary. The same important principles apply when writing a brief and arguing the client’s case to the judge. Establish your credibility at the start, and never give it up. Present your case simply and logically. Argue your case directly and forcefully. Get to the point quickly; brevity trumps verbosity:
"I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."
—Edward Everett to Abraham Lincoln after the Gettsburg Address (1863)
Lars Liebeler PC provides effective and efficient litigation services to its clients in a wide variety of substantive areas, and has done so for more than 25 years.
EMPLOYMENT
There is no field of the law that covers the breadth and depth of the human experience quite like employment law does.
Consider, for example, the curious case of actress Shirley MacLaine. In 1965 Ms. MacLaine was employed by 20th Century-Fox to play the lead role in an airy musical titled Bloomer Girl for a cool $750,000. For reasons unknown, 20th Century cancelled the picture, and instead asked Ms. MacLaine to play the female lead in a dramatic western movie to be filmed in Australia called Big Country, Big Man.
Not surprisingly, Ms. McLaine felt this picture would not be "career-enhancing." Or, perhaps the prospect of 14 hot and dusty weeks in the Australian outback wearing chaps was not attractive to her. She declined the reassignment and her lawyers promptly sued 20th Century. The California Supreme Court upheld the trial court’s award of $750,000 for breach of Ms. McLaine’s employment contract.
Nearly every first year law student is required to analyze the classic case of Parker v. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. in their first few weeks of law school. Indeed, it is a valuable snapshot into the myriad issues that arise between employer and employee. Contract disputes, terms of employment, working conditions, compensation, and mitigation of damages.
COMPANIES
Lars Liebeler has represented employers and executive employees in all aspects of the employment relationship including contract formation, breach, and damages. He counsels and advises employers in a wide variety of industries on hiring, compensation, retention, termination, and compliance with federal, state and local laws regarding wages, discrimination, and workplace conditions and conduct. He prepares non-compete agreements and employee handbooks. He has handled a wide variety of employment-related litigation from arbitrations to jury trials in federal and state court.
EXECUTIVES
Executive employees leaving their employer retain Mr. Liebeler to advise them on compensation, severance, non-compete, and confidentiality issues. Mr. Liebeler prepares and analyzes executive employment agreements, and acts as a forceful but tactful negotiator with prospective employers.
In short, whether your employment issue involves a new movie in Australia, or a non-compete in Vienna, Lars Liebeler PC is ready.
CORPORATE
In 1670 the English government granted a charter to The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay. More commonly known as The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), it stands today as the oldest corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. At one time, HBC was the largest commercial land owner in the world. Now, through acquisition, merger, and diversification, HBC is retail giant in Canada and owns Lord & Taylor department stores in the United States.
It is surely no accident that the advent of the corporation 340 years ago coincides with incredible economic growth and improved standards of living around the world. With limited personal liability for shareholders, the corporation in its many forms allows free enterprise to flourish; entrepreneurs and investors risk capital on commercial ventures from fur trading to oil exploration, from computer software to handheld computers.
Lars Liebeler PC counsels and advises its corporate clients in a variety of substantive areas to assist them in reaching their business objectives. We provide legal and strategic advice to corporations regarding internal governance issues, sales and acquisition transactions, leasing and contracts, as well as trademark and copyright protection.
We work with corporations in many industries including high-tech, information technology, automobile manufacturing, architecture, government contracting, food service, real estate, and shipping to name a few.
Fortune 100 corporations have retained Mr. Liebeler for his specialized expertise in critical areas that affect their bottom line. They understand that a comprehensive business plan includes careful legal planning.
Postscript on the Hudson Bay Company’s corporate formation back in 1670: under the original charter granted by King Charles II, the company was required to present the King or his heirs with two elk skins and two black beaver pelts whenever he visited lands under control of the company! Very interesting tax. By the way, our affiliated law firm members also give tax advice . . .