Search

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.

CHRISTUS Health Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Jeannie Frey had been practicing law for almost a decade before she decided to become actively involved in the American Bar Association (ABA).

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.

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.

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.

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

The scope of constant vigilance needed can be a burden to many organizations, and legal sets the mandate for how that is accomplished. Your biggest ally is technology. For source-to-pay and procurement organizations, there is no better combination of risk mitigation tools than a Software as a Service (SaaS) contract management solution linked with a supplier management solution.

Achieving flow, a state of focus on a particular activity, can help in-house counsel achieve their goals.

As with many things in our legal world, the answer here is both simple and frustrating: It depends. Many factors come into play. It may depend on the company profile — its size, business area, level of regulation, governance structure and priorities, budget, management practices, and so on. It also depends on the individual professional perspective — duties, skills, professional and educational background, career aspirations, and talent.

Although artificial intelligence has now moved from the research and development stage to commercialization, its wider deployment in business imposes challenges for enterprises and for patent legislation, as it is a completely new concept and a very powerful force for change.

Inclusion allows for superior decision-making by bringing balance and equilibrium to any team or group and to the environment in which the team operates. And a diverse group will develop different strategies, approaches, solutions, and ideas.

We’ve dedicated this issue of ACC Docket to stories that touch on employment issues and emerging trends.

Leslie Thornton, the recently retired senior vice president and merger transition counsel for WGL Holdings and Washington Gas Light Company, has had the same mandates as most high-profile general counsel. She has navigated and managed major litigation, employment and labor law matters, supported the board of directors, and dealt with complex cybersecurity issues and data protection, all while being cognizant of what that means in the energy industry.

Prior to law school, I worked as a server in a restaurant. I’ve often said that my experiences back then were particularly valuable in forming my worldview; their relevance certainly rushed back to the fore when I began in-house practice in a department of one.