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ACC Credentialing Institute Chief Advisor Jim Merklinger and Eskor Edem, Director at Major, Lindsey & Africa, address five skills and competencies that are critical to the success of in-house counsel.

The dust is beginning to settle on the Nov. 5 elections, which saw former President Donald Trump re-elected to just the second nonconsecutive presidential term in US history. ACC gathered experts from the in-house community and beyond to discuss what the election outcomes mean — and how in-house counsel can prepare now for the new administration.

So, how do you tell if your colleague is trying to undermine you, and what can you do about it?

I’ve worked with Phillips for many years on the ACC Law Department Management Network leadership, where he is currently chair. It recently occurred to me that the in-house legal community would benefit from the leadership lessons Phillips has gleaned from his years serving as — and training to become — a Navy SEAL.

Regardless of how well-intentioned or well-written they might be by themselves, corporate mission, vision, and values statements have no impact on employee behavior. Although people do not respond to slogans, they do respond to leadership.

Privacy and public health are overlapping in ways that were unimaginable only a few months ago. The critical question raised by this turn of events is whether the right to privacy is more important than the lives of the people at large?

Working remotely enables access to a talent pool of professionals who once would have required expensive or unwilling relocations. This means we can collaborate with people around the world in ways we never did before.

US sanctions and export controls can often raise complex issues requiring an in-depth examination of all aspects of a proposed opportunity. This includes the entities involved on behalf of the business, the customer and related third parties, the products/services involved, and the use of the US financial system.

As corporate clients, it is easy to place the burden and blame on our outside counsel partners for the pervasive industry challenge of retaining and advancing diverse talent. We suggest law firms need stronger affinity groups, mentor and sponsorship programs, and more inclusive and flexible working environments. As clients, we then demand diverse teams at multiple levels and express frustration when our law firms fail to deliver.

On Aug. 8, 2019, the Ministry of Law and Justice in India formally announced its Code of Wages (Code), which amended and consolidated labor laws relating to wages, bonus, and similar matters that are applicable to all workers in India. This article will discuss the history and coverage; salient features that affect employers and employees; and enforcement reforms, including the offenses and penalties.

Document requests are a regular part of your life as an in-house lawyer — even when your organization isn’t involved in the litigation for which documents are requested. For corporate counsel, such document requests can present an interesting predicament.

Using in-house counsel to argue in court has advantages, such as saving costs, when used in the right circumstances. Sometimes you can gain a persuasive edge by using in-house at a hearing.

Understanding the risks tied to both expressed and unexpressed considerations can go a long way to ensuring a fair deal for your organization. Below are seven pitfalls to avoid and some tips to help you navigate potential issues.

In early 2019, two attorneys in the ACC Southern California Chapter, Jill Kalliomaa and Jeff Compangano — both passionate about health and wellness — became inspired to create an attorney well-being focus for their chapter. A few months later, their chapter formally launched the Attorney Well-being Committee to help its members find healthy ways to manage the stress inherent in the fast-paced in-house law practice.

You are here because you want to work out, but working out as a busy lawyer seems virtually impossible. The good news is that (1) it is possible, and (2) you are done with the hardest part: wanting change.

Contemporary CEOs must not only be experts at addressing the commercial verities of products, markets, and competitors, but, aided by general counsel, they must also have the experience and capability to address business-in-society issues — legislation, regulation, investigation, enforcement, and litigation — that create risk and opportunity in all dimensions of corporate activity. These societal issues are the ultimate test of corporate citizenship.

Mediation is not litigation nor is it a zero-sum game. Although it is a less expensive and more efficient path to resolve conflict than litigation, it is often misunderstood and undervalued.

Legal departments are increasingly focused on DEI, but lawyers can forget about their personal networks. Here are suggestions to evaluate your network and expand its reach and composition.

Many aspects of litigation are uncertain, but open and data-driven conversations with outside counsel can yield cost-effective outcomes.

As more data laws are passed, in-house counsel need to understand how they will affect vendor relationships.

Leaders don’t become leaders without mentors — or their mentees. Brian Ellis has learned this firsthand on his career path to senior vice president and general counsel at Danaher.

Employment lawyers have been complicit by being too cautious. Follow these steps to help your company move forward.

Setting goals for the first 90 days (and beyond) will help you build relationships and add value.

We’re all biased. And before we can change, we need to understand common bias types and patterns encountered in the workplace.

From investigations via Zoom to ESG philosophies, here are a few insights you can expect to learn at this year’s virtual meeting.

Before embarking on a social media blitz, reflect on who you are as a person and what you want to share.

Small legal teams, even a team of one, can improve their department’s day-to-day activities by implementing strategic processes.

To share or not to share your life goals; that’s the real question contemplated by columnist James Bellerjeau. #ACCDocket #MondayMotivation

Olympians’ reactions to winning silver or bronze are rooted in their comparing themselves to others. Look around you and assess whether you need to change your perspective to appreciate all you have. #ACCDocket #career #MondayMotivation

Many companies are transitioning to a hybrid work schedule, but what does that mean for conducting meetings? Tech Toolbox columnist Greg Stern shares his best practices for keeping hybrid meetings efficient and engaging — for those in the office or at home. #ACCDocket