InhouseBlog.com

Telling the FBI Your Company Has Been Hacked

Editors — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:40:03 +0000

When your company has been hacked, the FBI may be able to help – but the legal issues involved are not that simple:

As cyber attacks against U.S. companies continue to rise, the government is asking private industry to share information about incursions. So what can and should companies expect when they ring up the government and report a problem?

[Read: Telling the FBI Your Company Has Been Hacked at CorpCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Telling the FBI Your Company Has Been Hacked appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Your Outside Counsel Needs Professional Telepathy

Editors — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:00:23 +0000

If you are looking at rankings and blended rates, you may not be evaluating the right criteria in your outside counsel. As the ABA Journal and BloombergLaw report in an interview with a prominent GC, professional telepathy and other factors may be more important to your organization:

Trevor Faure, Global Leader of Legal Services for Ernst & Young, tells Bloomberg Law’s Lee Pacchia that general counsels at large corporations are looking for four things from the law firms which represent them: professional telepathy, professional prescience, exceptional client service and cost efficiency.…

[Read: Do you have ‘professional telepathy’? It’s what Ernst & Young looks for from firms (video) at the ABA Journal]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Your Outside Counsel Needs Professional Telepathy appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Building international legal teams – Hear from Four GCs

Editors — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:55:33 +0000

Building international legal teams is a necessity for many multinationals – but often can be a complicated task as four GCs discussed recently:

As the business community becomes increasingly internationally driven, more and more legal departments are looking to grow their teams in other countries….four general counsel sat down to talk about best practices in procuring international in-house counsel in “When in Rome: Building an International Legal Department,” an event organized by legal search consultants Major, Lindsey & Africa.

[Read: GCs discuss building international legal teams at InsideCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Building international legal teams – Hear from Four GCs appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Contemplate before Terminating Employees

Editors — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:07:20 +0000

Terminating employees often brings angst to many company executives – fortunately it is an area where in-house counsel can provide guidance to decrease corporate risk and ensure that the process runs smoothly:

The decision to terminate an employee can give any employer anxiety, even if it is undoubtedly for the betterment of the business. This sense of dread is not without warrant; termination can be a legal landmine. Even terminating “at-will” employees requires cautious consideration. You can cover your bases, though, by carefully drafting policies, adhering to procedures, and relying on some common sense.

[Read: Contemplate Before You Terminate: Rules of Termination at The National Law Review]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Contemplate before Terminating Employees appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

6 Things In-House Counsel Must Know About E-Discovery

Editors — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:26:36 +0000

Keeping up with e-discovery trends? Head over to CorpCounsel to read up on the latest from one of the market leaders:

Gabriela Baron, vice president for business development at Xerox Litigation Services, discusses big-picture e-discovery trends, including what clients are putting on their wish lists.

[Read: 6 Things In-House Counsel Must Know About E-Discovery at CorpCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post 6 Things In-House Counsel Must Know About E-Discovery appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Rewriting the Employee Handbook for Social Media

Editors — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:48:29 +0000

As a former HR professional, before practicing law, I can recall when employee handbooks were largely a creative writing exercise. Employers penned work rules that fit their business, and so long as they were applied consistently and without regard to the employee’s race, age, religion and the like, they were OK. Those days are gone, and the cause of your next dispute with an enforcement agency is probably lurking in your employee handbook. Savvy employers, especially those with multi-state operations, know that employment actions are regulated at the federal, state and even local level. Access to personnel files, meals and breaks, smoking, time off for jury duty or for other reasons, the timing of final paychecks and many more issues are governed by law and not by employers’ preferences or past practices. The latest additions to this list are policies that address employee behavior and their communications, whether at work or after hours and off premises – including those done via social media. This interest by the National Labor Relations Board will catch some employers off guard, since they mistakenly believe the NLRB’s jurisdiction is limited to employers that have labor unions or are involved in an election process. But unless your workers fall into one of the statutory exclusions, such as air and rail services employees covered under the Railway Act, you will be subject to the National Labor Relations Act. Within the NLRA is section 7, which gives employees the right to self-organize; to form, join and assist a union; to bargain collectively with the employer via their union rep; and “to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection” (and to refrain from these activities). Section 8 of the NLRA goes on to deem it an unfair labor practice (ULP) for an employer to “interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of” their section 7 rights. How can a social media or other policy that mandates respectful conduct toward others be construed to run afoul of section 7? The trend in this regard began with a November, 2010, ULP filed against an ambulance company, American Medical Response of CT, Inc. An unhappy worker called her supervisor a “scumbag” on her Facebook page, and some of her co-worker “friends” posted their agreement, prompting further discussion about the workplace. The employer discovered the Facebook post and fired the worker for violating the company’s Internet use and blogging policies. These policies prohibited employees from making “disparaging, discriminatory or defamatory comments when discussing the company or the employee’s superiors, co-workers and/or competitors.” The NLRB’s position was that the discussion between the employee and her co-workers about their employment was protected, making the termination unlawful. The parties settled the matter, with the employer agreeing to revise its policy, while the terms of settlement with the individual remain confidential. In August, 2011, the NLRB’s Acting General Counsel posted the first of three memoranda focused on social media policies. Each summarizes about a dozen cases, mostly leaving employers flummoxed as to where the line had been drawn between protected and unprotected employee activity via social media. September of 2011 brought the first decision, Hispanics United of Buffalo, Inc., requiring back pay and the rehire of employees who had been fired for their collective Facebook grousing about who worked hard and who did not. Another case decided that same month was more useful, as it contrasted a reason to terminate employment that withstood NLRB scrutiny to one that did not. In Karl Knauz Motors, Inc., a BMW dealership hosted a sales event to showcase the new Series 5 cars. The sales team was mightily displeased with the hot dogs (“over cooked wiener and a stale bun”), chips, a cookie platter and bottled water served to prospective buyers of the luxury vehicles. A few days later, there was a mishap at the Range Rover dealership next door, involving a 13-year old boy who was allowed to take the driver’s seat. He mistakenly hit the gas, ran over his dad’s foot and launched the expensive vehicle into a pond, tumbling a sales rep into the drink from the passenger seat. The two dealerships had common ownership. One of the BMW sales reps posted pictures on his Facebook page and made mocking comments about both the low-brow chow and the water-logged Range Rover. Friends, including co-workers, added their comments. The employer became aware of the posts through complaints of other Land Rover dealerships and fired the salesman. When the case was heard, the discharge was upheld to the extent it was based on the humiliating comments directed toward the Range Rover customer with the errant kid, and not the community kvetching over substandard food. See the difference? To be protected, the activity must be concerted, which means it involves discussion among at least two co-workers, and the subject of the discussion must be terms and conditions of employment. Since the sales team’s Facebook responses and some other discussion expressed concern that sales commissions would be negatively impacted by the serving of less-than-stellar food, those discussions met both of those tests. But the gleeful post of pictures of a doleful teenager, a drenched sales rep and a ruined Range Rover – with snarky comments like “Oops” – had nothing to do with pay, benefits, and other working conditions and did not prompt co-worker discussion of the same. There have been two additional memoranda from the NLRB’s acting GC about social media cases, and the last one includes a revised social media policy that has been blessed by the agency. All three memoranda are available on the NLRB’s website. Several states (including California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri and New Jersey) have banned employers from asking for job applicant and employee social media passwords, and similar bills are pending in other states. In 2012, two U.S. Senators drafted legislation to create a federal ban, and they also asked the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Justice to opine as to whether employer password demands violate federal anti-discrimination and computer privacy laws. To muddy the waters, a September 2012 case involving Costco includes holdings that contradict the advice in the acting GC’s three memoranda, including the effect of a so-called “savings clause.” The acting GC says a savings clause – which tells employees that the employer’s ban does not apply to the extent it conflicts with applicable law – will not save an overbroad policy. The court in the Costco case recommended inclusion of a savings clause in policy statements. It does not appear that the NLRB will dial back its position, despite employers’ protests. It claims that it is simply applying a well-established standard to a new means of communication – ignoring the fact that person-to-person discussions generally do not have the potential to spread like wildfire, the way that a Facebook post or Twitter tweet does. Furthermore, when seeing and/or listening to a complainant, the listener can evaluate the credibility of the speaker by observing body language, hearing an edge in the voice, or by just knowing the person through workplace contact and reputation. Those who partake in social media often have no direct contact with or knowledge of the originating party, especially when the message has been shared to the point of “going viral.” And once harmful messages about co-workers, the management team, customers, the company’s products or services and the company itself are out, there is little hope of effectively containing or controlling them. Employers may get a temporary respite via the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Noel Canning v. NLRB (January, 2013). That case held that the January 4, 2012, recess appointments of three NLRB members (Sharon Block, Terence Flynn and Richard Griffin) were unconstitutional and called into question hundreds of decisions in which they participated, including the Costco and Karl Knauz decisions, which therefore may be invalid due to lack of a quorum. Until these cases percolate into the judicial system, where a court may find the NLRB has misinterpreted sections 7 and 8, here is what employers can do: 1. Confirm whether or not the NLRA applies to your company. Do your workers fall into one of the excluded categories, such as public sector employees or independent contractors? 2. Review your handbook policies on communications and personal conduct. Any policy that broadly bans discourteous conduct poses a risk. In the Karl Knauz case, the Board decided a courtesy rule violated section 8 based on one sentence. The policy said “Courtesy is the responsibility of every employee. Everyone is expected to be courteous, polite and friendly to our customers, vendors and suppliers, as well as to their fellow employees. No one should be disrespectful or use profanity or other language which injures the image or reputation of the Dealership.” The last sentence, the Board concluded, did not leave room for protected, constructive criticism. 3. If you have a broad policy, or no policy, the fix is to narrowly define the kind of conduct that will result in disciplinary action. It could be, for example, disclosure of the company’s confidential information (or that of its customers), or discrimination/harassment that violates your EEO policy. 4. Based on the Costco case, include a savings clause. Expressly state that the policy does not apply to situations where two or more employees are discussing their terms and conditions of employment in a manner that does not violate the company’s policies that relate to disclosure of confidential information, discrimination or harassment. 5. Pull up a copy of the Acting GC’s third (May 30, 2012) memorandum from the NLRB website and use the attached “scrubbed” social media policy as your guide. 6. At this point, there is no federal requirement to inform your employees of their rights under the NLRA. The NLRB wants to mandate a workplace poster to do that, but enforcement of the mandate has been enjoined since April of 2012 by a district court in South Carolina. 7. Train your management team about the NLRB and other employment law basics. This is especially important in organizations where employment decision-making is decentralized and there is no HR and/or legal department safety net to identify and stop risky choices. 8. Keep an eye open for new state law and, potentially, federal law that prohibit employers from asking for or demanding social media passwords from job applicants and employees. Audrey Mross is senior partner and chair of the Labor & Employment section at Dallas-based Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP.

The post Rewriting the Employee Handbook for Social Media appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

The Top 50 Global Risks

Editors — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:58:42 +0000

Aon has released the results of its global risk management survey identifying the top 50 global risks – and it cites many areas where law departments can assist their companies in risk readiness:

As it does twice per year, Aon released its Global Risk Management Survey, which, among other things, pinpoints a significant decline in risk readiness among many of the more than 1,400 survey respondents. In fact, risk readiness for the top 10 risks dropped 7% from the 2011 survey.

[Read: The Top 50 Global Risks at The National Law Review]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post The Top 50 Global Risks appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Legal hiring on the rise

Editors — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:49:42 +0000

Legal hiring is on the rise – is this a sign of a continuing trend from a sector that has been hard hit by the recession?

Jobs in the legal sector are at their highest level in four years, after two months of gains. The legal sector added 2,100 jobs in April and 3,500 jobs in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics./p>

[Read: Finally, some good news for the profession: Legal-sector jobs reach a four-year high at the ABA Journal]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Legal hiring on the rise appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Litigation Funding: Are lawsuits the newest commodity?

Editors — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:54:20 +0000

Litigation funding – a new trend that could lead to an increase in litigation against companies as the hurdle of litigation costs can be defrayed by cutting others in on the proceeds of a successful litigation (although the legality of these types of arrangements remains an issue):

Several publications, including The Economist, The Wall Street Journal and Crain’s Chicago Business, have recently highlighted the increase in third-party litigation funding. This attention likely stems from the outsized returns that early entrants are reporting and the arrival of new competitors in the field.

In a third-party funding scenario, outside investors offer to fund a lawsuit in exchange for a share of the payout, which can range from 30 to 60 percent. Such investors run the gamut from hedge funds to more traditional financing sources. Australia and Canada have already been experiencing a surge in litigation funding, particularly in the class-action arena.

[Read: Litigation: Are lawsuits the newest commodity? at InsideCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Litigation Funding: Are lawsuits the newest commodity? appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Mastering the Role of Lawyer-Statesman for Your Organization (IC SuperConference, May 6-8, Chicago) (Adv)

Editors — Fri, 03 May 2013 20:50:33 +0000

Two important characteristics to consider as an aspiring in-house lawyer:

1. A strong in-house legal team will develop systems to stay ahead of emerging global trend, ethical standards, and public policy.

2. To be a successful General Counsel you must provide perspective and advice as a business person, not a lawyer.

Hear from the CLO’s and GC’s who have embodied this critical course of action and have served high performers for high integrity organizations. These super experienced experts comprise the 13th annual InsideCounsel super speaker faculty who will address the most current corporate legal topics, ethics and compliance issues, and many other critical discussions that are directly impacting the role of today’s leader of legal departments.

InsideCounsel’s 13th annual SuperConference (upcoming May 6-8 in Chicago) is a highly a constructive learning and networking environment. Legal professionals will gain the opportunity to elevate the quality of their performance and learn ways to become a strategic partner within his/her organization. In two-and-half days attendees will earn up to 12 or more CLE credits, network with hundreds of peers and legal service providers. The SuperConference kicks off on Monday – click here for onsite registration details. Key topical items on the agenda include:

Topic #1 360 Degree View: Union & Corporate Legal Departments in the Wake of an Election
Pat Cleary, president and CEO of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations and Robert King, president of the United Auto Workers will present their view of the future – from a corporate view and from the view of labor unions. Following both presentations, Messrs. Cleary and King will jointly field questions from the audience, offering a unique view of labor relations in the 21st Century.

Topic # 2 Global Regulatory Reform: Emerging Government Focus and Evolving Case Law
Revelations about widespread Libor manipulations over the past year have shone a spotlight on international financial regulations and the adverse effects of noncompliance. In the year ahead, it’s reasonable to expect some crystallization of new regulations and regulatory agencies, and law practitioners must adapt their business models to a fluid landscape across national borders and multiple jurisdictions. Managing data involved in cross-border litigations or regulatory matters is no exception, and electronic discovery practitioners should prepare to face increased regulatory scrutiny.

Topic # 3 The CLO’s Role in Counseling the Board and Management
With rapid change come new challenges for a company’s directors and management. The chief legal officers play a major role in advising, counseling and working with both groups to navigate risk and liability issues. This session will focus on practical strategies the address the biggest issues facing directors and management, including duties, liability and corporate governance.

More than 30 A/GCs from the nation’s largest companies will be presenting. To learn more about our speaker faculty and the full agenda of topics visit www.icsuperconference.com. The SuperConference kicks off on Monday – click here for onsite registration details

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Mastering the Role of Lawyer-Statesman for Your Organization (IC SuperConference, May 6-8, Chicago) (Adv) appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

In-house counsel’s growing social media usage

Editors — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:51:56 +0000

Social media usage is up amongst in-house counsel – head over to InsideCounsel for full details and read up on what your peers are doing online:

According to the survey results, only 27 percent of in-house counsel respondents are not using new media tools. That is a 16 percent increase over 2010’s respondents—43 percent of whom were not yet on the social media bandwagon. Blog readership among in-house counsel is on the rise with 55 percent of respondents reading lawyer-authored blogs. Many in-house counsel are now consuming business media not on the traditional computer, but on smartphones (53 percent) and tablets (39 percent).

[Read: In-house counsel's growing social media conscience at InsideCounsel]

Note: InsideCounsel is an InhouseBlog advertiser.

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post In-house counsel’s growing social media usage appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Choosing Outside Counsel: An Objective Formula?

Editors — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:45:57 +0000

Some consultants have come up with a four-part formula for choosing outside counsel. Does it make sense? Continue reading over at AboveTheLaw.

[Read: Inside Straight: An Objective Formula For Choosing Counsel at Above The Law]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Choosing Outside Counsel: An Objective Formula? appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

GCs Talk Top In-House Counsel Issues at ABA Conference

Editors — Wed, 01 May 2013 08:35:49 +0000

What are the top in-house counsel issues today? A recent ABA conference sheds some light on what GCs are thinking:

Compliance, cybersecurity, and social media policies are on the minds of general counsel, according to a panel of GCs who discussed the issues at last week’s ABA Section of Litigation’s 2013 Annual Conference.

[Read: GCs Talk Top In-House Issues at ABA Conference at CorpCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post GCs Talk Top In-House Counsel Issues at ABA Conference appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Even more websites lawyers love

Editors — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:13:48 +0000

Even more websites lawyers love – check out the additional sites to see if there are any that can help you and your law department:

We previously shared with you a few of our favorite sites from the always crowd-pleasing session “60 Sites in 60 Minutes” at ABA Techshow. Below we’ve got a few more from the session’s speakers Britt Lorish, Eric Mazzone, Lincoln Mead and Mark Rosch.

[Read: More websites lawyers love at the ABA Journal]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Even more websites lawyers love appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Developing Informed Litigation Budgets (Free CLE, Webinar, 5/8/2013)

Editors — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:16:03 +0000

The Practical Law Company has a new webinar – Developing Informed Litigation Budgets – that will provide guidance on developing informed litigation budgets. Free CLE is available in certain jurisdictions. The webinar will be held Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 1:00pm- 2:15pm EDT. Register below.

Corporate legal departments are under pressure to minimize their overall litigation spend and exposure. While it is impossible to predict how costly a case may be when it first arises, today’s business climate demands detailed, accurate litigation budgets and thorough planning that diminishes surprises during a case’s life cycle.

Join Practical Law Company for a free 75-minute webinar in which trial partners Marcellus McRae and Kahn Scolnick, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP explain how to use early case assessment and value-proposition tools to develop informed budget estimates.

In this program, attendees will learn:

How to use issue spotting to develop a game plan.

How to create a budget that prices out each stage of litigation, from pre-filing to appeals.

The specific steps to take for assessing and evaluating the cost of a case after learning of a potential or actual lawsuit, including:

o establishing the client’s optimal outcome;

o calibrating the client’s risk tolerance; and

o identifying, preserving and reviewing ESI.

From managing client expectations to calculating time estimates for specific tasks, this webinar will clarify how an early, aggressive and in-depth case assessment may be one of the most important investments a company can make.

CLE credit available for CA and NY; pending for CO, FL, IL, TX and VA (see registration page for more details).

Presenters:

Marcellus McRae, Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Kahn Scolnick, Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Melissa Lorenzo-Hervé, Editor, Litigation and International Arbitration, Practical Law Company (Moderator)

Following the webinar, you will receive links via email to related Practical Law resources. If you are not currently a Practical Law subscriber, you will be given access to these resources via a no-obligation one week free trial** to Practical Law’s online service.

**Participation is at the sole discretion of Practical Law Company. Register for the webinar today.

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Developing Informed Litigation Budgets (Free CLE, Webinar, 5/8/2013) appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

FTC Enforcement Actions – What to Expect

Editors — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:16:54 +0000

Want to get insight on possible FTC enforcement actions in the coming year? Read up on the latest FTC releases to get a sense of hot button areas to keep your eye on:

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) newly appointed Chairwoman Edith Ramirez just issued the agency’s Annual Highlights Report.

[Read: Regulatory: FTC annual highlights reveal key trends at InsideCounsel]

Note: InsideCounsel is an InhouseBlog advertiser.

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post FTC Enforcement Actions – What to Expect appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

The 2013 Am Law 100

Editors — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:06:53 +0000

The 2013 Am Law 100 is out – check out the stats at CorpCounsel to see how your outside counsel are doing:

In fiscal 2012, The Am Law 100, which has a new leader in gross revenue this year posted modest gains on all the key metrics.

[Read: The 2013 Am Law 100 at CorpCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post The 2013 Am Law 100 appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

IP in China: Growth and Opportunities for U.S. Companies (Free Event and CLE, 4/30 NYC, 5/2 Chicago)

Editors — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:25:28 +0000

Looking for a free event with CLE for in-house counsel? Interested in IP in China? Check out this upcoming event and register today!

A delegation of Chinese business leaders and IP attorneys together with US in-house counsel, will discuss IP protection and brand protection in China, the best strategies for filing and litigating patents in China and elucidating details whilst debunking myths regarding business culture in China.

Speakers at the forum include:

· Commissioner Bruce Lehman, chairman, IIPI

· Steven Duke, economic officer, US Consulate General Shanghai

· Andrew Hirsch, general manager & general counsel, Fuelcor

· Professor Peter K. Yu, Kern family chair in IP law, founding director, IP Law Center, Drake University Law School

· C. Frederick Koenig III, chair, SIPO/US Bar Liaison Council

· Jeffrey Lindsay, head of IP, Asia Pulp & Paper Shanghai

· Janet B. Linn, chair-person, New York City Bar Association, Committee on Patent Law

· Gene Dorris, CEO, PROWAY

· Mony R. Ghose, associate chief IP counsel, Becton, Dickinson & Company

The attendance is free of charge for in-house counsel and the forum offers 6.5 CLE points. Register today!

InhouseBlog is a media sponsor of the event.

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post IP in China: Growth and Opportunities for U.S. Companies (Free Event and CLE, 4/30 NYC, 5/2 Chicago) appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

How Patent Reform Has Impacted Your Business + Free Happy Hour (5/7/13 – NYC – Free CLE)

Editors — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:51:18 +0000

The latest New York In-House Counsel Meetup – How Patent Reform has Impacted Your Business – will be held May 7, 2013 – and not only is there free CLE – but free Happy Hour – woot!

In September 2011, Congress passed the most sweeping changes to the U.S. Patent Law in the past 50 years. These changes have been phased in over the past 18 months, with the most recent changes being implemented in March 2013. In this presentation, key aspects of the America Invents Act will be reviewed, and the impact of their implementation discussed. Whether you are an experienced IP counsel or a corporate generalist, this must-attend meetup will leave you with a clear and thorough understanding of what these sweeping changes are and what implications they hold for your business.

Mr. Macedo is the author of The Corporate Insider’s Guide to US Patent Practice and a Partner at Amster, Rothstein & Ebenstein LLP. He represents a wide variety of clients on all manner of intellectual property and technology-related issues, including patents, trademarks and copyrights.

Doors open and Networking begins at 6:30.
The presentation will be from 7:00 to 8:00. A complimentary happy hour hosted by the firm will follow the presentation at a location nearby!

An application for one (1) hour of New York CLE credit will be submitted.

Due to limited space, priority will be given to members who are currently employed as in-house counsel. Register today!

Note: InhouseBlog is a media sponsor of the event.

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post How Patent Reform Has Impacted Your Business + Free Happy Hour (5/7/13 – NYC – Free CLE) appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Mastering the Role of Lawyer-Statesman for Your Organization (IC SuperConference, May 6-8, Chicago) (Adv)

Editors — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:09:17 +0000

Two important characteristics to consider as an aspiring in-house lawyer:

1. A strong in-house legal team will develop systems to stay ahead of emerging global trend, ethical standards, and public policy.

2. To be a successful General Counsel you must provide perspective and advice as a business person, not a lawyer.

More than 30 A/GCs from the nation’s largest companies will be presenting. To learn more about our speaker faculty and the full agenda of topics visit www.icsuperconference.com

Mention the code from this blog post “InhouseBlog1” and save $100 through 4/30/13. InsideCounsel is an InhouseBlog advertiser.

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Mastering the Role of Lawyer-Statesman for Your Organization (IC SuperConference, May 6-8, Chicago) (Adv) appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

New General Counsel Navigator Tool for Busy Generalists

Editors — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:39:38 +0000

The marketplace for advisory tools for in-house counsel is heating up, as Wolters Kluwer Law & Business has released its General Counsel Navigator tool which promises to get in-house counsel guidance in a jiffy on a myriad of issues facing law departments:

If your legal department only had 15 minutes to answer a question on privacy, corporate governance, or intellectual property, what kind of information would you want at your fingertips? That’s the driving concept behind new software for in-house counsel being released today…

[Read: General Counsel Navigator Tool for Busy Generalists at CorpCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post New General Counsel Navigator Tool for Busy Generalists appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

ACC Guide to European Outside Counsel Value

Editors — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:30:45 +0000

The Association of Corporate Counsel is at it again in its service to in-house counsel and law departments. This time, they’ve released a digital resource on European outside counsel value which could be a great resource for law departments worldwide:

The Association of Corporate Counsel released a new digital resource, Guide to the ACC Value Challenge in Europe, an international offshoot of the group’s ongoing efforts to better align the services outside counsel provide with what they charge for those services.

[Read: ACC Guide to European Outside Counsel Value at CorpCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post ACC Guide to European Outside Counsel Value appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Will your insurance provide coverage when you need it?

Editors — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:02:27 +0000

Will your company’s insurance provide coverage when you need it? In-house counsel need to work with their internal and external insurance advisors to ensure that their company has the appropriate coverage and limits in place and that the various policies involved will work together when they are needed:

If a company’s insurance coverage is not structured correctly, the level of coverage may prove to be irrelevant when addressing a live claim.

[Read: Litigation: Will your insurance be there when you need it? at InsideCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Will your insurance provide coverage when you need it? appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Top 10 Annoying Cliches Lawyers Love

Editors — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:50:10 +0000

Cliches lawyers love – certainly you can add to the list – use the comments!

A handy list of business phrases that lawyers, consultants, and marketing folks love to throw around, but that few people actually understand.

[Read: Top 10 Annoying Clichés Lawyers Love at CorpCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Top 10 Annoying Cliches Lawyers Love appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Judge holds himself in contempt when his own cellphone rings during court

Editors — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:35:17 +0000

A judge holds himself in contempt – who says the judiciary doesn’t police itself and hold itself accountable to its own rules?

When a cellphone rang Friday during a prosecutor’s closing argument in a domestic violence trial, a Michigan judge didn’t have to look far to find the culprit. It was Chief Ionia District Judge Raymond Voet himself who was to blame…

[Read: Oops. Judge holds himself in contempt when his own cellphone rings during court hearing at the ABA Journal]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Judge holds himself in contempt when his own cellphone rings during court appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

At no cost, get the world’s largest law department benchmark survey

Editors — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:22:49 +0000

This just in from General Counsel Metrics:

General Counsel Metrics conducts the world’s largest benchmark survey on staffing and spending metrics of law departments. Last year it had 1,001 law departments.

There is no cost to complete the quick, confidential survey and get the standard releases. Use this link https://novisurvey.net/n/GCMetrics2013.aspx and enter your six FY2012 figures on staff and spending (lawyers, paralegals, and other staff as of December 31, 2012; inside and external legal spend; revenue).

GC Metrics holds all data held strictly confidential. Only aggregated and normalized information is reported, such as median lawyers per billion dollars of revenue, with the first release in June.

If you have any questions, please write Rees Morrison, President of General Counsel Metrics, at benchmark@ReesMorrison.com.

To get the latest release, participate in the law department benchmark survey today.

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post At no cost, get the world’s largest law department benchmark survey appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Rethinking Defense in Patent Troll Cases

Editors — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:45:35 +0000

Patent troll cases – certainly the bane of many companies and their in-house legal departments. CorpCounsel has a recent article that may be helpful in thinking about defense issues:

Whether your company’s goal in a “patent troll” case is to obtain a fair settlement or to go to trial, lowering the cost of defense will help your company fend off the trolls.

[Read: Rethinking Defense in 'Patent Troll' Cases at CorpCounsel]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Rethinking Defense in Patent Troll Cases appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

March was a good month for legal jobs

Editors — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:38:16 +0000

After months of disappointing data, March shows an increase of legal jobs. Perhaps Spring is here?

The legal sector added 2,000 jobs in March, according to new data from the U.S. Labor Department. The number was the highest one-month gain in the sector in nearly a year…

[Read: March was a good month for legal-sector jobs, data indicates at the ABA Journal]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post March was a good month for legal jobs appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

ABA President Laurel Bellows: ‘Talking about work-life balance is fraud’

Editors — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:45:09 +0000

Work-life balance is a challenge – but for some prominent lawyers it may be best characterized as a fraud:

Work-life balance? Fuhgeddaboudit. For ABA President Laurel Bellows, a visit to a restaurant or a vacation with family always includes a work component. Bellows tells the Chicago Grid that she is “wired wherever I go,” including vacations.

[Read: ABA President Laurel Bellows: ‘Talking about work-life balance is fraud’ at the ABA Journal]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post ABA President Laurel Bellows: ‘Talking about work-life balance is fraud’ appeared on InhouseBlog.com.

Websites lawyers love (and you will too)

Editors — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:57:16 +0000

Websites lawyers love – a famous session at the ABA Techshow and one that will undoubtedly reveal a few gems you haven’t stumbled across yet:

The always crowd-pleasing session “60 Sites in 60 Minutes” closed the ABA Techshow Saturday as speakers Britt Lorish, Eric Mazzone, Lincoln Mead and Mark Rosch shared their top websites for lawyers.

[Read: Websites lawyers love (and you will too) at the ABA Journal]

-> Click to subscribe to InhouseBlog's FREE Weekly Newsletter featuring in-house counsel news and jobs.

The post Websites lawyers love (and you will too) appeared on InhouseBlog.com.