Zak Muscovitch has accumulated vast experience by practicing international domain name law since 1999, for clients all over the world. He was lead counsel in numerous precedent-setting court cases such as the Toronto.com case (2000).
In 1996, Zak wrote an academic paper entitled, “Taxation of Internet Commerce”, and it was the first of its kind as it tackled legal issues arising from the Internet. While reading a local newspaper, he came across a new story about a “domain name dispute” for which Zak volunteered. That gave him invaluable experience in domain name law, which also enabled him to open his own law firm. His plan for next 3 years is to expand his reach in India.
Please provide a brief overview of your product/ service.
We represent Internet businesses and domain name investors all over the world. We represent parties in contentious domain name matters, such as domain name arbitrations and domain name court cases. We also represent parties who are acquiring an Internet business, or are selling an Internet business, including but not limited to websites and domain names.
What inspired you to build the above product/ service?
Back in 1996, I became avidly interested in the Internet. While in law school I wrote an academic paper entitled, “Taxation of Internet Commerce”, and it was the first of its kind, tackling legal issues arising from the Internet, which was quite unknown and new to most people back then. From there, I continued to be fascinated with technology but had no technical background, just a legal background. One day when I was a first-year associate lawyer at a law firm in 1999, I was reading a local newspaper and came across a new story about a “domain name dispute”. I volunteered by services to one of the litigants, and got to participate in a precedent-setting legal case about domain names, and did so as lead counsel, even though I had only passed the bar mere months prior. That gave me invaluable and unique experience in domain name law, and about 4 years later, in 2003, I opened up my own law firm so that I could focus on domain name law. In 17 years of practice, I have represented perhaps thousands of people in domain name disputes, all over the world, and have expanded by practice to also include Internet business transactions, such as buying and selling online businesses.
What is your life mantra?
“In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Good Will.”
What was the most challenging part of your journey till now?
When I first started out, many people didn’t even really know what the “Internet” was. Accordingly, I was building a niche practice in a brand new field, and this was challenging in that there was nobody else to learn from, as everything was being learned from scratch.
How do you protect yourself from the problem of Brain Drain?
My law clerk has been with me for 13 years. One instills loyalty by demonstrating loyalty.
According to you, what are the three qualities an individual must have to achieve success?
Creativity; Intelligence; Instinct
Which online tools/ services/ apps do you use the most and would like to recommend as well?
The WIPO Global Brand Database is an excellent resource for researching trademarks in many jurisdictions.
Share any one habit which you think makes you more productive.
Exercise three days a week before work.
Answer in less than 50 words
Travel expands one’s horizons and is integral to understanding how the world works and new opportunities.
- One mistake you believe every individual must avoid:
Avoid people who over-promise and under deliver.
- One most important lesson that you have learnt till now:
Even the most experienced people have things to learn, and must re-adapt on a daily basis to new developments.
What are your plans for next 3 years?
We continue to expand our network of clients and associated law firms to India, where we believe there is a tremendous opportunity.
If you get a chance to start your career again what would you do differently this time?
I have always thought that I would have made a good academic, so if I could do it again, I might become a professor.
What are your top three getaway destinations?
Rajasthan, Bali, and Phuket,
Share a quote that inspires you the most.
You can’t win if you don’t play