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In order to defray the rising cost of ediscovery, corporate legal teams are bringing the practice in-house. There are many ways to develop good, cost- effective ediscovery processes that are also transparent and defensible. This article discusses the five key pillars that frame successful initiatives.

Your initial reaction to the offer of an international assignment will probably be excitement — and understandably so. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity through which you can expand your knowledge, experience and personal value. However, take a minute to think about the logistics — personally and professionally — before you book your flight.

The policy of promoting free and frank discussions in negotiations that can lead to settlement prior to trial is embodied in Federal Rule 408 of the US Federal Rules of Evidence. But before you start a full and open discussion, understand that the protections extended by this rule are not clear-cut. This article reviews what Rule 408 does and does not do.

A bumpy economy has turned litigation and government investigations into even hotter hot button issues. Increasing expenses are placing added pressure on counsel saddled with keeping costs down. How can you evaluate the impact of the economy on your law department? Read to find out!

We have recently witnessed a tide of competition cases examining discrete exchanges of information. This article sets out how you can ensure your company avoids falling foul of the competition rules on exchanging information in its dealings with competitors and other market players.

This paper continues to focus on Europe, which has long viewed the privacy of personal information and data as a fundamental right.

Discuss the various roles in-house counsel tend to play, and how they are affected by attorney-client privilege rules; Discuss challenges that can arise when in-house counsel and their clients work in different countries that have diverging views of attorney-client privilege; Discuss in depth the Professional Conduct Model Rules 1.6, 1.13, and others as appropriate; Walk away with practical guidance on how to handle common privilege challenges; and Discuss the potential challenge of making sure in-house counsel have authorization to practice in all of the countries where they need to advise clients.

This is a sample employment agreement between the company and its Chief Financial Officer.

This White Paper is part of a series of Latham & Watkins publications highlighting significant developments under Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and outlining some of the major workstreams that foreign financial institutions must complete in order to comply with FATCA.

A young lawyer drops a file on your desk: "We got him cold," he says. "Here are his emails to his lawyer—I bet he has admitted the sexual harassment in some emails to his attorney and once we read them, we can nail him good." But should you open and read them? Something makes you uneasy about reading those emails. Are you right to worry? Yes. While there are cases which would support your claim that the executive waived the attorney-client privilege by using company computers, especially in light of your company policy prohibiting using computers for personal use, the law in this area is neither mature nor settled. Proceed, as they say, at your peril.

A sample RFP for legal services.

This policy sets forth how MassDEP expects to exercise its enforcement discretion in determining an appropriate enforcement response and administrative penalty for violations discovered during the course of an environmental audit.

Audits by governmental agencies are on the rise, and compliance with the ever-changing and increasing number of regulations is challenging. Employee benefit plans could impose liability for your company’s employees who serve as fiduciaries, your board or your company. In a Jeopardy! format, this session will examine the top six sources of liability and top six best practices to avoid liabilities from employee benefit plans for welfare, retirement and executive compensation plans and specific issues for multinational companies.

Each of the respective industries in healthcare face different issues when negotiating contracts. This program will highlight what are essential provisions to be included in health care agreements from the perspective of hospitals, providers, medical device companies, pharmaceutical companies and health plans. Concepts to be discussed include the requirements of the variety of U.S. and international laws impacting the healthcare industry, the different needs of for-profits and non-profits, and the changes imposed by healthcare reform.

While many corporate legal departments have been increasing costs every year, DuPont Legal has been moving toward a zero expense legal department. There is nothing unique about DuPont’s business model that allows its legal department
to achieve cost neutrality. Outlined in this article are some key tools any corporate counsel can use in order to operate a legal department that is more than just a “cost of doing business” in the United States.

Recent enactment and clarification of China’s new labor contract law has outlined the rights and responsibilities of parties on both sides of the agreement. For American companies who currently employ staff in Chinese facilities — or those considering extending their work into China, this article is a must-read resource on the law principles and their impact on business as we know it.

Research shows that leaders who demonstrate positive recognition toward those they work with have a much higher rate of engagement and success. By defining “positive recognition” and learning how it affects others, in-house counsel can better master how to utilize this kind of acknowledgement and ultimately increase efficiency and communication.

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.

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.

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?

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.