Crouch, Touch, Set Litigating Like A Rugby Player

Developing the Next Generation of Rainmakers Crouch, Touch, Set: Litigating Like a Rugby Player I grew up playing team sports. I believe that experience taught me a lot about winning, losing, practicing, working as a team and more. I enjoy coaching many lawyers who play sports. Many are still playing. Recently I had a coaching session in Toronto with an IP litigator  David Tait. We talked about Rugby and a case he recently tried. I saw a connection and asked him to share it with you. Here are David’s thoughts: You wouldn’t think being a patent litigator at McCarthy Tétrault in Toronto and playing rugby as a forward for the Bay Street RFC have much in common, would you? I didn’t. But, during one of our coaching sessions, Cordell asked me to think about what makes playing rugby and trying cases similar. Our team (affectionately called the “Pigs”) is made up of lawyers, bankers and other downtown professionals. The team recently went on its first tour. Destination: the Caymans. Opponent: the IRB-ranked Cayman national side. Unfortunately, I was scheduled to complete the damages phase of a long patent trial and would miss the trip. Fortunately, the trial ended early. I have the sunburn (and bruises) to prove it. So, given that inspiration, here are the top five ways I can think of litigating like a rugby player â€" like a gentleman playing a hooligan’s game:     I practiced law for 37 years developing a national construction law practice representing some of the top highway and transportation construction contractors in the US.