Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
The Truth Can Hurt Even More When It's Too Late
An industry-leading company recently commissioned two outside firms to perform an objective assessment of its corporate ethics program. Each assessment was extensive, involving interviews with anyone who wanted to talk, and people selected by the teams, ranging from middle management to the CEO. Collectively, the two assessments had interviews or focus groups with over 1000 people at every major location. This probably represents the most comprehensive assessment of ethics program effectiveness factors completed in 2003. (One of the assessments was completed by the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP. The assessment team was led by former Senator Warren Rudman, and their findings were published on Nov. 3, 2003. The other assessment was completed by Ethical Leadership Group, and their findings were published on Oct. 23, 2003.)
A number of their findings would allow any company to conclude that its ethics program was excellent, and report, “We've got ethics covered” to its board. The findings included:
- The company had a Vice President for Ethics and Business Conduct, an Ethics and Business Conduct committee, an Ethics Process Council and designated ethics personnel in each of the business units.
- Ninety-eight percent of employees interviewed recalled receiving ethics training during the past year.
- An ethics hot line had been established, and 98% were also aware of its existence.
- Ethics posters were prominently and widely displayed in the workplace.
Fundamental Issues
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment
On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.
Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office
A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.
Bit Parts
Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights
Risks of “Baseball Arbitration” in Resolving Real Estate Disputes
“Baseball arbitration” refers to the process used in Major League Baseball in which if an eligible player's representative and the club ownership cannot reach a compensation agreement through negotiation, each party enters a final submission and during a formal hearing each side — player and management — presents its case and then the designated panel of arbitrators chooses one of the salary bids with no other result being allowed. This method has become increasingly popular even beyond the sport of baseball.