documents, then invited Mark Hayes back to his office for a cup of coffee.
“How does it feel to own commercial real estate?” Herbie asked.
“It feels just great,” Mark said, “and I want to thank you for suggesting that I buy the building personally and lease it back to the company.”
“And I want to thank you for your invitation to invest with you,” Herbie said.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Mark said. He took a notebook from his pocket and did some scribbling, then ripped out the page and handed it to Herbie. “That’s the number of my shares you’ll get for investments of one, two, or three million dollars.”
Herbie took a quick look at the numbers and made a quick decision. “I’ll do the three million. I’ll draw up the documents, move the money today, and have a cashier’s check for you tomorrow.”
Mark nodded. “I’m impressed that someone your age can come up with that kind of cash on short notice.”
Herbie smiled. “I’m impressed that someone your age can start a company that’s worth the investment.”
“I suppose you’re wondering why I’m willing to sell you these shares,” Mark said.
“I expect you can use the cash for the renovation of your new building. That way, you won’t need to mortgage it.”
Mark nodded. “My new architect and builder tell me it’s going to cost a million dollars a floor to make the space habitable, and I’m going to reinforce the roof, so that I can build myself a penthouse up there.”
“What a great idea! I live in a penthouse, and I can tell you, you’re going to love it.”
There was a rap on the door and Bill Eggers stepped in.
“Good morning, Bill,” Herbie said.
“I understand our new client is here,” Eggers said, offering his hand to Mark.
“Mark,” Herbie said, “this is our firm’s managing partner, Bill Eggers.”
“Good to meet you.” Mark rose and took Eggers’s hand.
“I’ve wanted to meet you since Marshall Brennan told me about your start-up,” Eggers said. “Are we meeting all your legal needs?”
“More than meeting them,” Mark said. “Herb has given me a wealth of good advice in a very short time.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” Eggers said.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Mark said, “I have a computer to get back to. I’m unaccustomed to seeing daylight during the workday.”
They said their goodbyes and Mark left. Eggers took a seat, and Herbie handed him a cup of coffee.
“Well, Herbert,” Eggers said, “congratulations on making our new client happy.”
“Thank you, Bill.”
“Now, what have you done for me lately?”
Herbie laughed aloud. “Greedy, aren’t you?”
“You’d better know it.”
“Well, last night Robert Bentley the Third and I had dinner at the Brook with Robert Bentley the Second.”
Eggers’s eyebrows went up. “And?”
“And the elder Mr. Bentley says he’d like to give us some new business soon.”
“How soon?”
“I’m going to leave that up to him, and I’m not going to rush him. He said something interesting, though.”
“What was that?”
“He put this to me hypothetically: how would I handle a major piece of commercial litigation for a client?”
“Tell me what you told him.”
“I told him that we are a large enough firm to have specialists in every area of the law, and that I would assemble a team of our best litigators, then act as the firm’s liaison with the client.”
“Whew!” Eggers said. “I’m relieved to hear it. I’m glad you didn’t tell him you’d handle it yourself.”
“I’m young, Bill, but I’m not crazy.”
“Do you have any idea if he’s referring to a real lawsuit?”
“My guess is, yes. He described it as ‘dangerous.’”
Eggers frowned. “I’m not aware of anything like that looming in Bentley’s future.”
“Perhaps it hasn’t happened yet. Perhaps he’s thinking of suing, not being sued.”
“I’m going to have a word with our litigation department and
“How does it feel to own commercial real estate?” Herbie asked.
“It feels just great,” Mark said, “and I want to thank you for suggesting that I buy the building personally and lease it back to the company.”
“And I want to thank you for your invitation to invest with you,” Herbie said.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Mark said. He took a notebook from his pocket and did some scribbling, then ripped out the page and handed it to Herbie. “That’s the number of my shares you’ll get for investments of one, two, or three million dollars.”
Herbie took a quick look at the numbers and made a quick decision. “I’ll do the three million. I’ll draw up the documents, move the money today, and have a cashier’s check for you tomorrow.”
Mark nodded. “I’m impressed that someone your age can come up with that kind of cash on short notice.”
Herbie smiled. “I’m impressed that someone your age can start a company that’s worth the investment.”
“I suppose you’re wondering why I’m willing to sell you these shares,” Mark said.
“I expect you can use the cash for the renovation of your new building. That way, you won’t need to mortgage it.”
Mark nodded. “My new architect and builder tell me it’s going to cost a million dollars a floor to make the space habitable, and I’m going to reinforce the roof, so that I can build myself a penthouse up there.”
“What a great idea! I live in a penthouse, and I can tell you, you’re going to love it.”
There was a rap on the door and Bill Eggers stepped in.
“Good morning, Bill,” Herbie said.
“I understand our new client is here,” Eggers said, offering his hand to Mark.
“Mark,” Herbie said, “this is our firm’s managing partner, Bill Eggers.”
“Good to meet you.” Mark rose and took Eggers’s hand.
“I’ve wanted to meet you since Marshall Brennan told me about your start-up,” Eggers said. “Are we meeting all your legal needs?”
“More than meeting them,” Mark said. “Herb has given me a wealth of good advice in a very short time.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” Eggers said.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Mark said, “I have a computer to get back to. I’m unaccustomed to seeing daylight during the workday.”
They said their goodbyes and Mark left. Eggers took a seat, and Herbie handed him a cup of coffee.
“Well, Herbert,” Eggers said, “congratulations on making our new client happy.”
“Thank you, Bill.”
“Now, what have you done for me lately?”
Herbie laughed aloud. “Greedy, aren’t you?”
“You’d better know it.”
“Well, last night Robert Bentley the Third and I had dinner at the Brook with Robert Bentley the Second.”
Eggers’s eyebrows went up. “And?”
“And the elder Mr. Bentley says he’d like to give us some new business soon.”
“How soon?”
“I’m going to leave that up to him, and I’m not going to rush him. He said something interesting, though.”
“What was that?”
“He put this to me hypothetically: how would I handle a major piece of commercial litigation for a client?”
“Tell me what you told him.”
“I told him that we are a large enough firm to have specialists in every area of the law, and that I would assemble a team of our best litigators, then act as the firm’s liaison with the client.”
“Whew!” Eggers said. “I’m relieved to hear it. I’m glad you didn’t tell him you’d handle it yourself.”
“I’m young, Bill, but I’m not crazy.”
“Do you have any idea if he’s referring to a real lawsuit?”
“My guess is, yes. He described it as ‘dangerous.’”
Eggers frowned. “I’m not aware of anything like that looming in Bentley’s future.”
“Perhaps it hasn’t happened yet. Perhaps he’s thinking of suing, not being sued.”
“I’m going to have a word with our litigation department and
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