No matter the size of your company or the particulars of your industry, a formal recoveries program can track how your legal department contributes to the company’s bottom line. There are benefits and downsides to affirmative recoveries programs. This article addresses those issues, as well as any other questions you might have about implementing such a program. You might be surprised by what you learn.
Revera, Inc., recently conducted a review of its in-house legal department. The review analyzed the department’s alignment with strategic objectives, workflows, workload capacity, organizational structure and management practices, and relationships with external counsel. The central questions asked were as follows: What value does the department offer? How can it be increased? How is it demonstrated? The results of the review prompted Revera, Inc., to consider some changes to its legal department, as discussed in this article.
As local economies continue to stabilize, Angola and Nigeria are ripe with potential investment opportunities — particularly in the natural resources area. However, with new laws, immigration considerations and a legacy of corruption, in-house counsel must familiarize themselves with a variety of issues to ensure their clients’ success.
The substantial increase in international trade disputes, constraints on US courts, and the limited reach of US court judgments create a demand for an innovative way to handle international technology disputes.
The employment relationship is a complex, rapidly changing area of the law. This survey program will cover the basics such as investigating internal complaints, responding to government investigations, addressing ADA and accommodation issues, managing overtime pay and FLSA classification compliance, handling leave issues, and avoiding retaliation claims. The course will also cover emerging issues such as social media, diversity programs, genetic information discrimination, and class action waivers.
The new millennium has ushered in an era of lighting fast communication and commerce. As in-house counsel work to protect their most valuable asset - their company's intellectual property - there are new elements to consider when thwarting competitors' ability to use your top-secret information to their advantage. Are restrictive covenants the solution?
Negotiating a contract is a hybrid legal and business function that is often performed by business people with no formal legal education. During contract negotiations, different rules and obligations apply to a lawyer depending on whether the party on the other side of the table is represented by counsel. Learn about these rules so as not to be caught on the wrong end of a deal.
This is a sample employee handbook.
This article focuses on a shift in the billable hour paradigm and how law firms and clients must look forward and focus on the outcomes that are desired, rather than looking backwards at the cost of production. The billable hour has diametrically opposed functions for both sides in the relationship: (1) unit of production and (2) basis of profitability. Not until both sides understand that you can't have the same unit serving dual purposes, will they truly understand alternative fees and value-based relationships. This article delves into what is required to establish a new model for law firm economics.
<p/>This ACC Value Challenge resource is part 2 of a 3 part series. To view the other resources in this series, please click here:</p>
<p class=><a id=CP___PAGEID=1365185| href=/legalresources/resource.cfm?show=1365185>ACC Value Challenge: Facing Up to the Challenge - The Case for Change (Part 1)</a></p><p class=><a id=CP___PAGEID =1365213| href=/legalresources/resource.cfm?show=1365213>ACC Value Challenge: Facing Up to the Challenge - The Transition (Part 3)</a></p>
This is a sample computer, email and internet usage policy.
Results can be multiplied when you put together any combination of in-sourcing, unbundling, alternative legal service providers, process improvement, value-based fees and technology.
This interview with Therese Lee, global ethics & compliance counsel at Google, Inc., focuses on her travels, her anti-bribery checklist, and overall, how she manages her compliance program.
Dan Goldstein, chief legal and compliance officer at Pitney Bowes, discusses risk management.
Extracting value from intellectual property assets through IP monetization activities is a major objective for many organizations. This session will provide an in-depth discussion of issues to consider when assessing and valuing patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret assets for possible commercialization. The panel will review the IP monetization programs, transactions, and structures available and provide strategies for structuring and building successful deals based on asset attributes, desired outcomes, and governing legal principles (e.g. standing, enforcement, royalty structures, and reserved rights).The panel will also include guidance for engaging key stakeholders to establish an IP strategy that supports monetization activities worldwide.
The development of blockchain technology is moving quickly, but there are still questions about government oversight and competition. Blockchain technology implicates privacy, antitrust, and securities law issues.
For in-house legal departments, relationships with Outside Counsel are integral to overall management of matters and outcomes. A solid relationship creates synergy and partnership; a dysfunctional one creates frustration and typically increases costs. One of the most common tools to enhance client/firm relationships is setting effective Outside Counsel Guidelines (OCGs). Read this article written by Brenda Hansen, Sr. Legal Operations Consultant, Epiq Legal Business Advisory, for tips on drafting effective and impactful Outside Counsel Guidelines.
This InfoPAK discusses the role of the general counsel in the United States, Canada and Europe. The purpose of this InfoPAK is to provide some definition of the role, scope and nature of the duties of a general counsel in a globalized, post-Enron, post-Parmalat, post-Satyam Sarbanes-Oxley world, further battered by a worldwide recession the likes of which have not been seen for more than a generation. By noting some of the issues that arise in the ordinary course of an inhouse counsel’s practice, this InfoPAK will help general counsel provide high-quality representation for their corporate client.
Read Todd Silberman's insights on the balance between work and life. Do we live to work or work to live?
This article contains five tips for freshening up your legal resume right now.
This article examines industry changes resulting from an automated workforce and identifies future trends.
Despite the CLO’s best efforts, Legal is almost always viewed as a cost center within the corporation. What are the most effective ways that you as a CLO can continuously prove your value to the company, what metrics do you use to do it, and how do you get the company to see the cost savings that result from early and regular consultation with Legal?
This is a sample personnel policy concerning corporate credit card use.
Career Path Columnist Bjarne P. Tellmann discusses the various types of diversity that a company needs in order to succeed.
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