SPOTLIGHT: Marc Friedman, Esq. Joins GCE as Director of Professional Relations
It's rare when someone can truly be called a pioneer. Marc Friedman has that distinction.
Marc obtained his law degree (J.D) from George Washington University, where he also served as Editor of the Law Review. He became a pioneer early in his career when he won the first-ever information technology (IT) case in the country, helping to open a whole new field of computer law.
Marc went on to found his own internationally acclaimed technology law firm. For the last 10 years, and until his retirement in 2018, Marc was a senior partner at Dentons, one of the world's top global law firms. Again, he concentrated in technology law, helping foreign companies successfully establish themselves in the US.
Life has a funny way of bringing people together however, to make positive things happen. When Marc left law, he decided to transition to coaching, for executives and entrepreneurs from abroad. When he realized how his work mirrored Global Commerce Education, and that one of the founders was a college friend of his, Gene Detroyer, he reached out and offered to collaborate.
The result was a series of very successful joint seminars in Helsinki and the Baltics, providing instruction on both the cultural differences and the important legal differences of doing business in the U.S. The success of the events, the passion Marc brings to the table, and the deep and broad know-how he loves to share made it an easy decision for us to ask Marc if he would join GCE as Director of Professional Relations.
What drives Marc to do what he does?
"At heart I'm an entrepreneur, having started two very successful companies. So, it gives me an enormous amount of gratification to help other entrepreneurs come to the US and expand. In fact, that's what attracted me to GCE."
When asked for his primary message to companies hoping to expand to other countries, he gave excellent advice.
"Be sure to develop a comprehensive, realistic, and affordable plan to expand. Without a plan, all you get is chaos."
