Today, more than ever, corporate law departments are focusing on the notion of what constitutes “value” and how to enhance it to support their organizations. Not surprisingly, law firms are also increasingly focused on creating “value” for their clients as well. While both say “value” is their prime objective, the definitions differ.
What is the distinction between governance and management? A corporate board determines strategy and sets policy for its organization, while management is responsible for the operation of its organization. Board members should have a connection to the company they govern so that both entities can act in concert. This article addresses several steps involved in achieving integration of governance and operations.
Canada is the United States’ largest trading partner, making disputes between US companies and Canadian companies inevitable. Consequently, US companies may be forced to resolve their disputes in Canadian courts. Although both legal systems share much in common, including traditional common-law principles, procedural rules and substantive rights for litigants differ significantly. This article describes some of the most important distinctions of the Canadian legal system.
This article traces the career path of Edith Shih – from aspiring dentist to music teacher to head group general counsel and company secretary of Hutchinson Whampoa Limited.
This article discusses an underwritten topic: the transition from in-house to law firm. For those considering the move, there’s a lot to keep in mind, including how to choose the right firm and how to develop a business plan that highlights your abilities. There are no hard and fast rules — every experience is different. Learn from several of your peers.
When it comes to compliance matters, in-house legal departments and law firms most often interact over risk assessments and investigations. Learn how to best use external counsel, protect your company and contain costs.
Bruce Kuhlik, executive vice president and general counsel of Merck, explains what it takes to get a corporate pro bono program off the ground and to maintain people's commitment to it.
Recently, US Justice Sonia Sotomayor, on behalf of a unanimous Supreme Court, held that funds contained within inherited IRAs are not “retirement funds” — a ruling, known as the Clark decision, that notably alters the landscape of inherited IRAs under the Bankruptcy Code. What will the world of bankruptcy, inherited IRAs and estate planning look like post-Clark?
The purpose of a workplace investigation is to fairly and objectively determine the facts. Increasingly, courts and tribunals are scrutinizing not just whether an investigation was undertaken but how it was undertaken with a focus on ensuring that workplace investigations are conducted in a fair and impartial manner in line with the organizational and legislative procedural guidelines.
Large companies with employees located across the country need to consider the dangers of “one- size-fits-all” covenants.
This is a request for proposals from associations to provide outside counsel services on a broad range of areas of the law.
A collection of resources providing guidance to attorneys on how to deal with high-profile situations, including high profile litigation and a "roadmap" for in-house counsel in a crisis.
What legislation is applicable to insolvencies and reorganisations? What criteria are applied in your country to determine if a debtor is insolvent?
A detailed due diligence checklist form licensed from the American Health Lawyers Association, adapted, revised and fully annotated by Ropes & Gray, LLC with assistance from Bloomberg Law editorial staff. The checklist included is a sample for a simple, small-dollar transaction in the United States involving a general healthcare provider or supplier.
What legislation is applicable to insolvencies and reorganisations? What criteria are applied in your country to determine if a debtor is insolvent?
Have you ever wondered what you’d need to do first if the SEC began investigating your company? One of the coauthors of this article worked for the SEC and has developed a checklist for you, along with a thorough discussion of the various paths you could take and the pros and cons for each of them. Keep this article handy. It could help you get your heart to start beating again in those first few critical moments when you hear of an impending enforcement investigation.
This is a sample working document that sets up a framework for the structure of Binding Corporate Rules.
This is a sample code of business conduct and ethics policy.
The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and a group of its members have developed this<br />Model Information Protection and Security Controls for Outside Counsel Possessing Company<br />Confidential Information (“Model Controls”) to help in-house counsel as they set expectations<br />with their outside vendors, including outside counsel, regarding the types of data security controls<br />these vendors should employ to protect their company ‘s confidential information. The Model<br />Controls provide a list of baseline security measures and controls some legal departments may<br />consider requiring from outside vendors. It is ACC’s hope that the Model Controls offer in-house<br />counsel a streamlined and consistent approach to setting expectations with respect to the data<br />security practices of their outside vendors.
702 - Workplace Law Training: A Key Affirmative Defense for Small Law Departments
There are countless articles outlining the best ways to evaluate outside counsel. Many of them leave out an important factor: the personalities of the lawyers and companies they represent. This article addresses the role of personality in outside counsel selection.
The ability to effectively manage outside counsel is essential to the success of in-house lawyers. Learn tips on selecting, evaluating, comparing, and retaining the outside counsel that best suit the organizational needs of your company. Develop lists of providers and criteria for preferred legal service providers and specialized firms, implement alternative billing models, and use legal project and process management techniques with your outside counsel to streamline your engagements.
Get a global perspective on the diverse privacy and data protection rules of several international jurisdictions as panelists discuss methods by which global employers can protect confidential business information, customer lists, trade secrets and other valuable corporate information. They will examine global trends in rules and regulations designed to protect employee privacy and employee-related data from the perspective of a US-based company with global operations. Learn about rules under the European Union (EU) data protection directive, as well as comparative rules in Mexico, Latin America, Asia and other jurisdictions, including differing rights granted employees regarding privacy in the workplace. Discover steps employers can take to manage their obligations under these privacy and data protection rules, and tips to keep your own company’s trade information confidential.
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