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In-house counsel are constantly under pressure to do more with less. For attorneys executing contracts, simple agreements like NDAs can require hours of manual supervision, leading to longer hours on the job. However, by automating your work experience and implementing smart contract technology, in-house counsel can streamline this burdensome legal practice, saving both time and money.

As more government authorities are issuing health guidance that includes monitoring people in order to operate, such as temperature checks, required quarantines, contact tracing, or all of the above, in-house counsel must also consider the implications for our businesses.

ACC spoke with Maria Rocha Barros, SVP and CLO at BOOKING.COM.

We all know change is inevitable for organizations that want to grow and evolve, so why does change have such a negative connotation? This column will focus on how to shift your legal department culture to one of accepting, adopting, and promoting change.

Elisa Garcia's experience at Macy's corporate level.

Dealing with labor and employment litigation is an unavoidable reality for US companies. From small, privately-held companies to multinational corporations, the chance of legal action from dissatisfied employees and former employees is always present.

Law department leaders are continually being asked to do more with fewer resources, which often means seeking to reduce expenses, implement efficiencies, and use data analytics and technology to drive value-enhancing legal advising.

Some practical advice to help you think through the types of features you do — and don’t — want to have in a contract automation solution before you start scheduling demonstrations with technology vendors.

Ahead of his retirement, Bob Santamaria spoke to ACC Australia to reflect on some of the skills and lessons that he has applied to manage a high-profile and complex legal department during one of the most disruptive decades in the global finance industry.

When combined with the broader risk mitigation that results from proactive and holistic information governance, this data makes a strong case for why in-house legal departments should prioritize their ability to keep pace with digital transformation initiatives.

Diversity and inclusion cannot stop at the door of the legal department. As in-house lawyers, we typically control budgets, select firms, and review and approve legal bills. Here are a few concrete steps in-house lawyers can take to help effect change in law firms.

Because in-house counsel are trusted advisors, key decision-makers, and know their CEOs and chairpersons best, they are particularly positioned to advocate for board diversity in their companies. But once you have a seat at the table, what do you say? These 14 compelling arguments can be used to convince your company to pursue board diversity.

Converting to PDF isn't enough. When converting the format of a document, whether it is from word to PDF or another form, the document’s original content is stored and preserved as metadata in the new PDF file.

With this change of circumstance from office to home reviewing, in-house counsel rightfully still expects their outsourced providers to ensure that strict confidentiality and data security requirements are upheld. The seemingly many variables presented by at-home work mean corporate counsel need to ask their law firms and legal service providers “who is doing my document review — and where?" 

Those affected by COVID-19 are asking why governments do not have stockpiles of treatments or a vaccine in hand, ready to go. But developing a vaccine is complex, expensive, risky, and takes time.

This article offers a roadmap for legal departments that want to learn how recent ACC Value Champions implemented cost-saving legal operations by dedicating resources to the transformation, securing the backing of the chief legal officer, and leveraging the skills and knowledge of company employees.

More in-house lawyers should consider working for a startup, writes Anne Graue, who experienced the pace of business in Berlin’s startup scene.

Tara Rosnell, associate general counsel, IP at Procter & Gamble (P&G), has a unique story as an attorney who not only started her career in-house, but works for an organization that has supported hiring directly from law schools in the past (herself included). Here, she discusses her career path to P&G, as well as how the company attracted and integrated new in-house lawyers into the legal department and organization as a whole.

ACC got a chance to talk to Angelique Strong Marks about how she rose to the top of the in-house legal practice, why she "does something amazing" each year for her girls, and how she has earned flexibility from her employers.

Words of wisdom from Fendi GC on becoming a corporate board member while working for a separate company.

As the general counsel of IT firms Infosys and Atos IT Solutions and Services Inc., Fayiaz Chaudhri has gained the managerial, budgeting, and strategic skills needed to become CEO of AIMACTEK, a startup that specializes in machine learning platforms. Chaudhri relates how his varied professional experience and legal acumen gave him an edge to join the C-suite and eventually run the show.

In this Q&A, Karen shares a little about her path to Walmart, the importance of embracing the opportunities presented by change, and how using technology can help manage those changes (and the legal department), the work the company is doing to promote diversity and inclusion in the profession, and more.

A day in the life of Niv Polani, chief risk officer at Bank Hapoalim B.M. in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Some insights into the career path of Hiro Kato, general counsel at INPEX in Japan.

This article explores the benefits and challenges of using the VLFT approach and offers some pointers for in-house counsel to manage a far-flung team more effectively.

A day in the life of Katerina Galanopoulou, legal and compliance counsel for Greece, Cyprus, and Malta at SAP Hellas in Athens, Greece.

As in-house counsel, you never know when you’ll encounter an unforeseen event that triggers an internal investigation. But when you do, you’ll want to be prepared. Whether it’s a whistleblower complaint or a personnel-related issue, companies can no longer afford to treat claims on a case-by-case basis, and must create precautionary policy that ensures that every investigation is fair and safe for all involved.

An in-house litigator, defense counsel, plaintiff counsel, and judge discuss how to be civil to fellow lawyers during trial cases.

General counsel are typically part of the leadership team; their position naturally connects them to others across their organizations. By being open about the succession planning process, you are letting the candidate know there is a place at the table for those who can help anticipate developments, proactively manage the company’s legal risks, and strategize in related areas such as finance and employment matters.

Combining the human and technological parts of your team effectively might be challenging, but the results are worth it. Here are a few ways you can invest in technology that benefits your people and your business.