Here are some of them:
• Vivien Chan of Vivien Chan & Co. described herself as “made in Hong Kong” and said she was “really honored” that so many people have come to her home town. One piece of advice she learned at her first INTA Annual Meeting, which she has always followed, is: “If you get really overwhelmed and you feel like going shopping, do so.”
• Carrollanne Lindley of Kilburn & Strode reminded everyone to “keep in with the regulators” by scanning your badge within the first 15 minutes of a session, and downloading the CPD/CLE form after the Meeting. She also emphasized the importance of time management and a good alarm clock, especially for those suffering from jetlag: “You need technology or a human touch to wake you up!”
• John Hackett of AJ Park also offered some hotel room-based advice: “Always wear pajamas to bed.” In fact, he said, you might even want to attach your name badge to them and put some business cards in the pockets, ready for any unplanned midnight meetings.
• More seriously, he gave recommendations for networking: “Learn about people, practice and culture. You have a short window to create a relationship, so leave something behind. Talk to everyone and never make assumptions about people!”
• All the speakers agreed that INTA soon becomes part of your life. Hackett said his daughter’s birthday is on May 13 and he has missed about 25 of them because of the Annual Meeting. Chan said that she had “gone to INTA” so many times that her son used to think it was a country. “In many ways, it is!” she added.
