Comments for Campbell Law Group http://campbelllawgroup.com Business law firm, Boulder, CO. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:43:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Unreasonable Africa by Hugh McGough http://campbelllawgroup.com/2011/11/unreasonable-africa/#comment-31 Hugh McGough Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:43:35 +0000 http://campbelllawgroup.com/?p=495#comment-31 Hi Bruce, Marvelling at your adventures and contributions. A recent Pitt Law grad whom I've met through Pittsburgh politics -- Patrick Yingling -- is teaching Law in Kenya this fall. You can find him on Facebook, and I'm sure would enjoy the connection. He is a stellar humanitarian, who will clerk for the Third Circuit before joining Reed Smith. Be well and keep up the good work. Fondly, Hugh Hi Bruce, Marvelling at your adventures and contributions. A recent Pitt Law grad whom I’ve met through Pittsburgh politics — Patrick Yingling — is teaching Law in Kenya this fall. You can find him on Facebook, and I’m sure would enjoy the connection. He is a stellar humanitarian, who will clerk for the Third Circuit before joining Reed Smith. Be well and keep up the good work. Fondly, Hugh

]]> Comment on It Starts with Me — A Letter to the Occupy Movement by John Darst http://campbelllawgroup.com/2011/10/it-starts-with-me-a-letter-to-the-occupy-movement/#comment-25 John Darst Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:05:08 +0000 http://campbelllawgroup.com/?p=489#comment-25 Bruce, A very well written statement of your view I read. I feel though there is a place for anger here among many of the other emotions. Anger is a gift when used "correctly." I am angry because our inalienable rights are actually being challenged and the lack of caring for human life is so apparent. I occupied Zuccotti Park for eight days and was witness to self proclaimed one percent-ers joining us, expressing their views and insight, and being accepted by all. It was very powerful. I do feel it is just to direct feelings of anger to those working in this monetary system. They are helping to perpetuate the cycle. We are for positive changes and they are expressed in many ways, anger being one of them. Anger doesn't have to be a negative if it is used constructively. I respect your views and hope we may meet someday! With sincerity, John Darst Bruce,

A very well written statement of your view I read. I feel though there is a place for anger here among many of the other emotions. Anger is a gift when used “correctly.” I am angry because our inalienable rights are actually being challenged and the lack of caring for human life is so apparent.

I occupied Zuccotti Park for eight days and was witness to self proclaimed one percent-ers joining us, expressing their views and insight, and being accepted by all. It was very powerful. I do feel it is just to direct feelings of anger to those working in this monetary system. They are helping to perpetuate the cycle.

We are for positive changes and they are expressed in many ways, anger being one of them. Anger doesn’t have to be a negative if it is used constructively.

I respect your views and hope we may meet someday!

With sincerity,

John Darst

]]> Comment on It Starts with Me — A Letter to the Occupy Movement by Kendall Thiessen http://campbelllawgroup.com/2011/10/it-starts-with-me-a-letter-to-the-occupy-movement/#comment-21 Kendall Thiessen Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:48:02 +0000 http://campbelllawgroup.com/?p=489#comment-21 Bruce: I get your general point but also think that measuring the anger of a few is a poor and unfair way to measure the value of a movement. Much like the media has tried to undermine the movement by suggesting that they are all disaffected jobless (it turns out a high percentage are at least part-time employed). In addition, your interpretation of the life and work of Ghandi and MLK seemed to focus on latter parts of their life and yet seemed to overlook the righteous anger and frustration that both felt in their "youth" and inspired in their followers in order to achieve that change. That is not to say that either pressed an agenda of anger and hatred. But both did instill a sense of moral outrage that —if you purely look at the followers of the movement alone—could well have been mistaken for an angry, out of control mob. Did all of those followers reflect the peaceful values of MLK at all times? Did the marches and movements inspired by Ghandi include only peaceful and humble participants? No way and to be homiest MLK and Ghandi both benefitted from that reality in my humble opinion. I am definitely of the view that we can all change in small ways but I will be honest and say that for all those sitting comfy in their offices and talking about change in some abstract way (like me), I still resonate with those willing to move, walk, stay, occupy and yes get pissed off a bit in the name of change even when the tone or tenor may leave something to be desired. As Parker notes above, what is there today may coalesce into something quite different if given time. Sometimes the only way to get start the movement is to light a fire that will sometimes burn those around them before it can provide the warmth and comfort for all. Appreciate your honest post. -- Kendall Thiessen Principal, Transideation P.C. A Boutique Technology Law Firm 1507 Pine St., Boulder, CO 80302 Ph: 720.458.3042 Fax: 303.416.8926 Web: http://www.transideation.com Your ideas realized. Bruce:

I get your general point but also think that measuring the anger of a few is a poor and unfair way to measure the value of a movement. Much like the media has tried to undermine the movement by suggesting that they are all disaffected jobless (it turns out a high percentage are at least part-time employed).

In addition, your interpretation of the life and work of Ghandi and MLK seemed to focus on latter parts of their life and yet seemed to overlook the righteous anger and frustration that both felt in their “youth” and inspired in their followers in order to achieve that change.

That is not to say that either pressed an agenda of anger and hatred. But both did instill a sense of moral outrage that —if you purely look at the followers of the movement alone—could well have been mistaken for an angry, out of control mob. Did all of those followers reflect the peaceful values of MLK at all times? Did the marches and movements inspired by Ghandi include only peaceful and humble participants? No way and to be homiest MLK and Ghandi both benefitted from that reality in my humble opinion.

I am definitely of the view that we can all change in small ways but I will be honest and say that for all those sitting comfy in their offices and talking about change in some abstract way (like me), I still resonate with those willing to move, walk, stay, occupy and yes get pissed off a bit in the name of change even when the tone or tenor may leave something to be desired. As Parker notes above, what is there today may coalesce into something quite different if given time.

Sometimes the only way to get start the movement is to light a fire that will sometimes burn those around them before it can provide the warmth and comfort for all.

Appreciate your honest post.
–

Kendall Thiessen
Principal, Transideation P.C.
A Boutique Technology Law Firm
1507 Pine St., Boulder, CO 80302
Ph: 720.458.3042
Fax: 303.416.8926
Web: http://www.transideation.com
Your ideas realized.

]]> Comment on It Starts with Me — A Letter to the Occupy Movement by Parker Johnson http://campbelllawgroup.com/2011/10/it-starts-with-me-a-letter-to-the-occupy-movement/#comment-20 Parker Johnson Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:10:15 +0000 http://campbelllawgroup.com/?p=489#comment-20 Hi Bruce, this is a fabulous letter and I wish I had written it. I am a former investment banker and I share many of your same concerns here. I had the opportunity to spend some time in NY with one of the young organizers of the Occupy movement last weekend - he was a 2007 Berkeley grad with a double major in Poli Sci and Applied Ethics. In my conversation with him I was relieved to see that he had no anger or hostility in him - he was simply lucid, clear, and determined that what they are doing is important and necessary. Moreover he shared that they had no leader, no demands, no agenda, and no plan beyond simply holding space for the "people" to express their discontent. Which I found to be surprising and refreshing. I came away from our conversation with a deep sense that the energies being stirred by this movement will coalesce into an organic expression of what wants to emerge from the collective. What was absent from his rhetoric was "we know best what to do" - what was inherent in his position was, "we trust that by holding space for the people to express their discontent, that the from the collective - we will witness the emergence of what is next, and we will eventually experience the change we wish to see." And your letter perfectly speaks to this vision for positive change - and I thank you for your eloquence and wisdom - I hope you will consider submitting it as an Op-Ed piece to newspapers far and wide. One final thought which also gives me hope with the Occupy movement - it seems to have three things going for it: truth, conviction, and patience. And this feels like a recipe for positive change. Hi Bruce, this is a fabulous letter and I wish I had written it. I am a former investment banker and I share many of your same concerns here. I had the opportunity to spend some time in NY with one of the young organizers of the Occupy movement last weekend – he was a 2007 Berkeley grad with a double major in Poli Sci and Applied Ethics. In my conversation with him I was relieved to see that he had no anger or hostility in him – he was simply lucid, clear, and determined that what they are doing is important and necessary. Moreover he shared that they had no leader, no demands, no agenda, and no plan beyond simply holding space for the “people” to express their discontent. Which I found to be surprising and refreshing. I came away from our conversation with a deep sense that the energies being stirred by this movement will coalesce into an organic expression of what wants to emerge from the collective. What was absent from his rhetoric was “we know best what to do” – what was inherent in his position was, “we trust that by holding space for the people to express their discontent, that the from the collective – we will witness the emergence of what is next, and we will eventually experience the change we wish to see.” And your letter perfectly speaks to this vision for positive change – and I thank you for your eloquence and wisdom – I hope you will consider submitting it as an Op-Ed piece to newspapers far and wide. One final thought which also gives me hope with the Occupy movement – it seems to have three things going for it: truth, conviction, and patience. And this feels like a recipe for positive change.

]]> Comment on Don’t Wait for the Crowd — Legalization of Crowdfunding Could Take a While by Greg Berry http://campbelllawgroup.com/2011/10/dont-wait-for-the-crowd-legalization-of-crowdfunding-could-take-a-while/#comment-12 Greg Berry Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:42:56 +0000 http://campbelllawgroup.com/?p=453#comment-12 Gents, thanks for the detaled assessment of these issues. Really appreciate your willingness to break through the hype and get down to the reality of what to expect. Gents, thanks for the detaled assessment of these issues. Really appreciate your willingness to break through the hype and get down to the reality of what to expect.

]]> Comment on Time to Rethink “Exits” by John Goldstein http://campbelllawgroup.com/2011/06/rethinking-exits/#comment-5 John Goldstein Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:23:50 +0000 http://campbelllawgroup.com/?p=70#comment-5 It might be worth looking at the good work done outside of the US by development minded investors operating in markets with limited exit opportunities. They develop a wider variety of exit/repayment scenarios including redemption, MBO, cash flow royalty streams, etc. Growfin, BPI, Aureos and SEAF come to mind. Additionally, some are switching from equity structures to participating debt to structure around the issue. We have done this in a number of direct social enterprise investments - it reduces our risk (and upside) and leaves the company's destiny in its own hands. It might be worth looking at the good work done outside of the US by development minded investors operating in markets with limited exit opportunities. They develop a wider variety of exit/repayment scenarios including redemption, MBO, cash flow royalty streams, etc. Growfin, BPI, Aureos and SEAF come to mind.

Additionally, some are switching from equity structures to participating debt to structure around the issue. We have done this in a number of direct social enterprise investments – it reduces our risk (and upside) and leaves the company’s destiny in its own hands.

]]> Comment on The Heart of the Law by Cameron Burgess http://campbelllawgroup.com/2011/08/the-heart-of-the-law/#comment-4 Cameron Burgess Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:28:23 +0000 http://campbelllawgroup.com/?p=55#comment-4 so appreciate how you approach your work - have been finding myself holding space for love at conferences and such as they so often become mental abstractions for what motivates us toward this work in the first place; thanks for all that you contribute through your work and, more importantly, through how you live so appreciate how you approach your work – have been finding myself holding space for love at conferences and such as they so often become mental abstractions for what motivates us toward this work in the first place; thanks for all that you contribute through your work and, more importantly, through how you live

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