Resource Library

A list of resources and a brief description of materials and websites with information on relationships with outside counsel.

A guide to managing a corporate legal department. Provides guidance on managing employees, managing outside counsel, financial matters, records retention, and the use of metrics.

Self-service contract creation frees experienced attorneys to work on high value matters. Business users also benefit by getting contracts more quickly. By completing an online questionnaire, information is automatically captured for improved management and reporting and contracts can be generated quickly. Attend this session and let us demonstrate the principles and benefits of self-service contract creation through role-play illustrating the impact on the business and on Legal. Steps in the process will be interspersed with expert commentary by law department practitioners and industry experts.

In these tough economic times, actual or threatened corporate downsizing has forced in-house counsel to take stock of their careers as well as their future in general. Am I valuable enough to the organization to avoid the next layoff? Do I have the passion to take my in-house career to the next level? Or is my passion focused on something different? If so, how do I make the leap? This program seeks to provide a new perspective as in-house counsel look ahead to an uncertain future. After discussing how best to remain marketable in a down cycle, our panel of both former and current in-house counsel who have found other pursuits or undertaken new ventures will share unique insights on how to make sure you remain passion-powered!

Don't make the same mistakes Wall Street Executives did, learn from them. In-house counsel involved in executive compensation matters often find themselves in the cross-fires of competing legal, ethical, political, relationship and self-interest issues. Facing the specter of increased government oversight, boards and compensation committees grapple to fairly compensate, motivate and engage their executives while balancing shareholder and public perception of run-away compensation. This game show format will train attendees to recognize key issues and understand how to avoid the pitfalls of ethical and legal situations. Attendees should emerge able to provide better support and insight to their executive team, board members, HR and coworkers.

Today's economic climate heightens the urgency of securing the maximum value for your expenditures. How should you work with your in-house and outside colleagues to meet the CEO's and other management's value-added expectations? How can we effectively manage legal costs, both internally and outside counsel, while building and maintaining a productive and effective legal team with a positive work-life balance? This panel will discuss these and other important issues as the economic climate changes the legal profession.

Most law departments spend more on their outside legal counsel than on their internal costs and staffing, yet most of us also recognize that law firms bill their clients or set their fees in a manner that is both unpredictable and often apposite to efficiency and client value. The ACC Value Challenge project spent the last year learning more about best practices in cost/expense management, and we've created this program to help law departments and firms get a handle on better processes that can help control expenses and drive greater client value in both firms and departments. We'll examine alternative staffing models, data mining techniques that can help you understand what matters are worth, metrics that measure performance relative to cost, and much more.

Cover the basics of investigating internal complaints, preparing and responding to government inspections or investigations, and avoiding retaliation claims; Discuss how your peers use incentives to improve employees’ conduct, best practices for termination and severance agreements; and Discuss key practical tips for managing employment litigation.

Discuss what key IP rights and risks you should be mindful of; Learn to take the necessary steps to protect valuable corporate assets on a national and global scale, and how not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others; Learn to spot and respond to common issues in advertising, trademarks, licensing and other areas so that you leave empowered to respond accordingly; and Discuss the ins and outs of nondisclosure agreements and receive a few samples to take back to the office.

The Gullible Assistant. The Careless Vendor. The Imperious Boss. The Road Warrior. The Absent-Minded Executive. The Social Butterfly. Every organization has horror stories about people who bypass, ignore, forget or blatantly run roughshod over IT security policies and procedures. While trying to find the right balance between security and employee accessibility, IT sometimes exposes the organization to elevated risk. Before you know it, it’s legal’s problem. This “Family Feud” style session will test the audience’s knowledge of potential cyber risks and possible solutions to manage each scenario. Key takeaways will include strategies and tactics for mitigating threats from “the Human Element,” improving security without constricting access or employee flexibility and running a tighter ship without negatively impacting the workplace culture or environment.