Mr. Monteverde has concentrated his legal career advocating shareholder rights. Mr. Monteverde regularly handles high profile merger cases seeking to maximize shareholder value and has recovered damages and improved merger transactions in the process.
Mr. Monteverde has written articles regarding executive compensation and also speaks regularly at ABA, PLI, ACI and other conferences regarding merger litigation or executive compensation issues.
Mr. Monteverde has been selected by Super Lawyers in 2013 and 2017-2019 as a New York Metro Rising Star in Securities Litigation, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. Mr. Monteverde has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell in 2017-2021 as a Top Rated Lawyer.
What is Monteverde & Associates PC all about?
I am the founder and managing partner of Monteverde & Associates PC. Monteverde & Associates PC is a securities class action firm that protects shareholders rights and recovers damages for shareholders who fall victims of corporate wrongdoing.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
I have a finance background as well as a law degree, I worked in two securities firms for over a decade before starting my own firm. I started my firm to continue to pursue protecting shareholders rights.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
- Motivated
- Disciplined
- Creative
What are your plans for the future, and how do you plan to grow this company?
The firm has grown from 2 attorneys to 8 attorneys in a few years and we will continue to grow as we accumulates triumphs in class actions and recover millions of dollars for shareholders in the process.
How have the pandemic and Lockdown affected you or your new business?
At first, it was daunting to think of not having a conference room to gather attorneys and documents to discuss litigation and trial strategy, now it is obvious that many technological tools exist to have virtual meetings and share documents via screen share in lieu of a conference room.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
We are not followers but trendsetters. We do not wait to see what competitors will do, instead, we do what nobody does.
What were the top three mistakes you made starting your business, and what did you learn from them?
- Hiring impatience is probably the biggest mistake where you will hire because you need people but fail to take the time to adequately evaluate candidates.
- Excessive technology spending, as a new business you may commit to more services than you actually need.
- Lack of accounting and spending control, you will be focused on growing your business and forget to spend time on basics like keeping an eye on expenses.
Tell us a little bit about your marketing process, what has been the most successful form of marketing for you?
Freedom of speech. The firm focuses on class action cases and that means taking down big corporations. It is important to believe in your cause and share your concerns with the world. The firm uses internet marketing and press releases to get its message out to shareholders.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
Judges that do not get the facts and do not want to follow the law. The only way around it is to appeal and sometimes to go to the highest court in the Country or a State to fix bad and unjust rulings.
What was your first business idea and what did you do with it?
At 8 years old I decided I was done with my toys and sold them on the boardwalk in front of our beach house. All the money that I made was quickly spent at the beach town arcade with my friends.
What are you learning now? Why is that important?
I am reading biographies of historical figures to understand how to become a better leader.
If you started your business again, what things would you do differently?
Nothing at all.
What are the top 3 online tools and resources you’re currently using to grow your company?
- Bloomberglaw.com – we use it to research financial information of the company that is corporate defendants in our class action.
- LexisNexis.com – we use it to do legal research for the briefs we draft and file in Court.
- WSJ.com – we use it to keep apprise of financial news
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
Honestly, forget about “mañana” and do it now.
Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs?
Running with the Bulls: This book was recently recommended to me and can help lawyers see other attorneys’ styles of negotiation. Although it is important to develop your own voice and style, it is insightful to see how other attorneys resolve matters.
If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
I think you need a lot more, but probably in books about the business, you want to go in to understand it better before making a decision.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
Helping shareholders recover money is great but intellectual competitiveness is the main drive for me.
What is your favorite quote?
Do it now.
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
You should be more scared of not trying and not about failing to try.
Who should we interview next and why?
Other successful class-action attorneys allow readers to find the common denominator.
What is your definition of success?
To be happy doing what you do.
How do you personally overcome fear?
I am challenged by fear and obstacles, which become my trampoline to overcome it and push ahead.
How can readers get in touch with you?
Via email is the easiest way to get a hold of me, jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
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