Looking for a way to become more valuable to your company? Resourceful in-house counsel seeking to improve processes can mine written material created by prior lawsuits in order to accelerate departmental and companywide objectives.
In-house counsel are under even more pressure to demonstrate not only their value, but the value of the outside firms they chose to work with. You must reduce costs, but not at the expense of securing high quality outside counsel. High quality does not mean big firms. This article explores using law firm networks.
Generally, counsel no longer advise against disclosure when a data breach occurs in a company. So, what should be done when sensitive client information is leaked? this article takes you through the steps — from identifying the type of data that was compromised to determining who must be notified — in order to swiftly respond to the event and minimize backlash.
Having practiced in wide-ranging areas of the law, from construction litigation to Medicare compliance, the author decided to move in-house. In addition to the most visible changes — an open office space, a khakis-and-shirt uniform, etc. — the author discusses less salient ones, like navigating a new cultural landscape and managing day-to-day tasks for a singular client.
The high-stakes nature of litigation is widely recognized. But there is one area that should not be left to chance, and it occurs early<br />on in any suit — document preservation.
It is no longer enough for a business to show that it has adopted policies against discrimination and retaliation, and that it has in place a clear and effective process for reporting and investigating complaints. In order to manage risk and reduce liability, it is critical to train and educate employees. Learn more about what this training should look like.
Sometimes, there is a disconnect between certain truths patent attorneys<br />hold dear and what corporate counsel understand about patents. This article aims to close those gaps.
Immediate Past Chair John Page writes about the discrimination and under-representation still extant in the corporate legal field today. Changing the dynamics of an institution must also involve a shift in power structures.
As an employer, when it comes to termination entitlements and claims, which jurisdiction in Asia is most favorable? This article provides an in-depth comparison of three countries: Singapore, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Indonesia. Generally, Singapore provides limited regulation of employment. By contrast, Indonesia heavily regulates employment contracts, while PRC sits somewhere in-between.
Who will be able to claim ownership over the next great American invention has a lot to do with patent law and its dramatic new makeover. Learn how a savvy medical supplies company had a makeover of its own, developing a system in order to cheaply and smartly apply for patents in this changing legal landscape.
As employers everywhere rack their brains to find the next breakthrough in workplace efficiency, the answer is simple: mindfulness, or the “present-centered attention and awareness."
The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and a group of its members have developed this Model Information Protection and Security Controls for Outside Counsel Possessing Company Confidential Information (“Model Controls”) to help in-house counsel as they set expectations with their outside vendors, including outside counsel, regarding the types of data security controls these vendors should employ to protect their company ‘s confidential information. The Model Controls provide a list of baseline security measures and controls some legal departments may consider requiring from outside vendors. It is ACC’s hope that the Model Controls offer in-house counsel a streamlined and consistent approach to setting expectations with respect to the data security practices of their outside vendors.
Discover for-profit vs. nonprofit considerations, who the different stakeholders are, what risks (to share prices vs. fundraising, goodwill) arise when crisis strikes, and gain tips and experience from the field.
The ACC Records Management Program Maturity model provides a detailed maturity model for all aspects of an organization’s records program.
It seeks to gauge program effectiveness across a variety of program elements, taking a “big picture” view to increase program value.
In order to facilitate and expedite engagement with an Independent Contractor, the right questions need to be asked. This document will help determine if the risk of the misclassification and help with the draft of the agreement itself.
This issue discusses in-house salaries, electronic monitoring in the global workplace, building successful relationships with work councils in Europe, and more.
It’s not surprising that age discrimination litigation is reaching record highs. With so many out of work, discriminatory discharging is easier to disguise. Learn how to litigate as both plaintiff and defendant in an age discrimination discharge case, and address such key issues as ediscovery, evidence, reduction in force and releases.
The Commission published this concept release to seek public comment regarding audit committee reporting requirements, with a focus on the audit committee’s reporting of its responsibilities with respect to its oversight of the independent auditor.
This article highlights significant considerations for boards operating in today’s volatile business climate: Corporate governance has become more of a shared responsibility than ever before; directors should adopt a proactive stance and engage with management in candid, ongoing discussion about the company’s strategy; and directors have a responsibility to set the right tone at the top regarding long-term value creation.
Mitchell and the subsequent Court of Appeal decisions have proven highly controversial. Described as "unduly harsh" and leading to a "climate of fear", Lord Dyson's prediction that there will be more litigation to determine the exact boundaries of the decision have been realised. Much has already been written about the aftermath. The focus of this article is to look at where we are now. How exactly have the rules of the game changed?
This article is a four-part series in which Oracle Associate General Counsel Suchitra Narayen, QuisLex CEO Ram Vasudevan and consultant Rees Morrison discuss the opportunities and challenges facing a global legal department.
The purpose of this policy is to outline the guidelines on distribution and monitoring of Company-Issued Wireless Devices and proper use of all Wireless Devices in the workplace.
Legal knowledge isn't everything when you're in-house counsel. In this article, learn how the development of non-legal skills can really boost your career.
Legal departments of the small-to-medium size company face daily contract negotiation challenges in their business relationships with large and dominant customers, often having to agree to: no limitations on liability; open-ended indemnifications for a broad range of activities; compliance with onerous and expensive codes of conduct and corporate social responsibility programs; audit provisions; annual reductions in costs; etc. This leaves little room for negotiation or potential loss of business. Attend this session and learn how to face and negotiate these demands.
These guidelines detail the standard terms of engagement between Freescale and outside counsel. Section 1 addresses effective communication, including the company's expectation that counsel allow sufficient time to review and consider counsel's advice and work product prior to deadlines. The remaining Sections address handling confidential/proprietary information, budgets, staffing, retention authority, litigation planning, non-litigation planning, procedures for addressing potential conflicts of interest, media policy, professional fees, invoice timing and format, and policies on expenses.
While the threat of an impending “doomsday” virus may seem like an outlandish prospect, real-world examples like Swine Flu and Ebola raise the question: How would your company respond to such an event? Through an understanding of key employment regulations, in-house counsel can develop precautionary strategies to help mitigate the risk of the next global health crisis.
All attorneys understand the misfortune of dealing with difficult opposing counsel at some point in their career. We call these lawyers “Rambo” litigators. By understanding how Rambo litigators operate, in-house counsel can learn to watch out for certain tactics, and how best to react to them. This article outlines the steps needed to disarm this difficult adversary without losing Voices your composure or professionalism.
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