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Part I of this article briefly reviews the changes to the United States patent system in the past 35 years. Part II discusses the pendulum swings between perceived overprotection and perceived underprotection and the concerns lawyers have raised in both directions. Part III presents evidence of the resilience of the patent system. Part IV offers some possible explanations for this surprising result.

ACC Board Chair Iohann Le Frapper discusses what resources ACC members need, and how ACC can provide them.

There are many odd laws on the English statute book that have
yet to be repealed. It has been asserted that it is legal to shoot a Welshman with a bow and arrow inside the city walls of Chester after midnight, although, if true, this is likely to now be over-ruled by European Union law.

Activist investors often begin planning their campaigns as much as a year in advance of the annual meeting. This includes accumulating stock positions, coordinating with other hedge funds in so-called “wolf packs,” analyzing the target company’s defenses and vulnerabilities, and making initial contacts with the target company. Therefore, target companies should focus on early vigilance and advance preparation.

This report comes at a time when many employers are unclear about their obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In particular, companies struggle to understand when a leave of absence is a necessary and reasonable accommodation vs. when other actions can or should be taken.

ACC’s “2014 Top 10 30-Somethings” are passionate change-makers; always seeking opportunities to positively impact their companies, industries and communities. They face challenges like increased regulation and advancing technology with a calculated, patient stamina that many of them learned as athletes. Whether fighting corruption or advancing diversity in the profession, no goal is too far reaching for this group, especially considering the dedicated, talented teams that support them. Our winners may live and work around the globe, but they are banded together in their efforts to make it a better place.

Lawyers hate strategic planning, but the author argues that such plans allow you and your department to learn how, and with whom, to interact for peach performance. Peter Drucker is a demigod in corporate circles. Learn how to apply his management principles to your law department.

There are key differences between termination of employment relationships in the United States and those in countries of the Europe,Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. EMEA legislators generally take the view that dismissing employees should not be straightforward, must always be justified and must comply with local mandatory legislation to the protection of the employees. Various methods of termination are available to employers but carry costs and extensive statutory obligations. Learn what this means in practice, pitfalls to avoid and how to plan and execute terminations efficiently.

There are two kinds of companies: those that have had a security breach and those that will have a security breach. Security incidents present numerous significant risks to companies, including negative brand and reputation attention, loss of sales or customer churn, financial penalties and legal exposure. This session will provide practical guidance from an in-house perspective on the multiple challenges posed by cybersecurity issues, best practices for data protection and steps to take in the event of an information security breach. Topics will also include insurance and vetting third-party vendors.

The deadline for EU Member States to amend their local laws in order to comply with EU Directive 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions was August 1, 2022. Here’s what employers with workers in Europe need to know. Check out this Seyfarth article to learn what the directive states.

Representing European companies in U.S. litigation is not at all the same as representing your American client in U.S. litigation. Learn what you need to take into account, such as billing procedure differences, confidentiality requirements differences, translation requirements and differences in expectations on the part of your clients.

News, Notes, & Datebook Information for October 2007

Discusses practical, important steps to creating the legal function within your office as in-house counsel, making your transition into the company as easy as possible.

There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to implementing a workable information governance framework and policies program in your corporate organization. This checklist is a generic guide that will need front-end thought and tailoring to fit each firm’s unique circumstances.

This article addresses the issue of whether in-house attorneys who serve as a member of the business team and help craft the business plan should sign some form of written restrictive covenant similar to agreements senior business leaders or sales management typically execute.

Have you read Roberta Katz’s new book Justice Matters: Rescuing the Legal System for the Twenty-first Century yet? Here’s a preview based on her well-received address to participants of the 1998 Legal Leadership Summit.

This article is a Gotham City street lighting project case study.

Corporate diversity advocates highlight the ways in which they have created, implemented and enforced diversity initiatives within their own ranks and with outside service providers.

This resource is an overview on cartel regulations in Austria.