Stanley J. Davis (l) and Jeremy Ben-David (r), circa 2000.
I mention his passing up a chance to be among the trailblazers of the EPO, as, while patents was the career he made for himself, what stood out as a major motivator for him were not his material ambitions, per se, but his long felt desire to return to his national home, to Israel. It was in Israel where, for 25 years he was to pursue excellence for his clients, in what became known in his later years as “Start Up Nation”.
And so it was that at the very tail end of 1984, Dr. Davis (as he was known to most of his clients and co-workers) moved to the other side of the desk, into private practice. I had the privilege of taking the Israeli Patent Bar exams with him in 1987. In early 1996, only eight months after I had set up as a sole practitioner, I was fortunate enough to have my father team up with me. That became a legal partnership in 1998, which we maintained until his passing in 2010, on the Hebrew date of 11th of Shvat, the 16th anniversary of which occurs as of the time of writing these lines.
My father had a number of personal traits which he brought to bear in all of his business dealings. Foremost among these was his absolute integrity. There was no cutting corners. This combined with another of his traits which in the field of medicine would be called a “good bedside manner”, and in the field in which we practice, is one of respect for the client. It didn’t necessarily mean always agreeing with the client, but always listening. During the initial seven day mourning period (known in Hebrew as “shiva”, which means “seven”) after his passing, many people who knew him from different walks of life, including clients, told about their interaction with him and the gentle, wise, respectful manner was something that came up in many discussions with people that had known him.
In previous articles, I have discussed the way in which we at JMB Davis Ben-David interact with clients and foreign associates. Unwittingly, perhaps, my father’s influence was present almost from the beginning. I have always been responsible for managing the firm, now in its 31st year. However, when I reflect on how we interact both amongst ourselves within the firm, and also with those we work with both in Israel and worldwide; with those whom we meet at conferences such as INTA, or with those whose offices we visit overseas, it is clear that my father’s values and characteristics pervade the very way in which we do business.
It is a little known fact that several times over the years when we worked together, I wanted to include my father’s surname – Davis - in the name of the firm, but he always refused, saying that it was “not necessary.” That modesty was nothing less than typical of him. On rebranding in 2012, I was at last able to give him the recognition that he deserved; hence the name of the firm became JMB Davis Ben-David, as it is today.
Over the years, I have met quite a number of father-son and father-daughter continuums – including my partner Avraham Hermon whose father was also a patent attorney. It was a rare privilege to work alongside and in partnership with my father. I do believe that we as a firm continue my father’s legacy, and strive to do the very best by our clients, our friends and partners overseas, and not least of all by our amazing country, Israel. May his memory be a blessing, a source of inspiration, and a force for good.
