Features

There is an old adage in the public relations business ' Mark Twain and Voltaire are each said to have coined it ' that goes: 'Never argue with anyone who buys ink by the 500-gallon drum.' The corollary would be: 'Don't ever offer a 'no comment' to the press, either.'<br>Maintaining a productive relationship with the press can, and should, help lawyers in the long run, and in some cases may be crucial to your business goals or those of your client in the future. But the downside to developing open and comfortable relationships with the press is obvious; sooner or later, you will get a call you don't want. Maybe lots of calls. So what do you do when a reporter comes calling, and it's your judgment that an on-the-record response is not in your best interests, or those of your clients?

Features

In recent months, a number of leasing-related issues have arisen with respect to motor vehicle finance transactions. Specifically, the matter of vicarious liability for lessors still appears to be an active and openly debated concern, despite Congress' attempt to pre-empt various troublesome state laws. In addition, other motor vehicle finance issues, such as certain sublease arrangements, insurance issues, and compliance with the International Fuel Tax Agreement, have all become topics of discussion in this leasing sector. In the last few months, however, another auto leasing issue has quietly joined the ranks: whether a motor vehicle lessee may invoke the provisions of a manufacturer's warranty under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act. The answer to this question has been complicated by the recent decisions of two state supreme courts (New Jersey and Arizona), which have come down on opposite sides of this issue within weeks of each other.

Features

The original thought behind the MLF Canadian listing was to have 20 Canadian firms that could be ranked on the basis of their marketing and communications programs. For a variety of reasons, it was decided that the final list should consist of 10 firms, and that these firms should not be ranked, but rather listed in alphabetical order.

Features

By many accounts, the leading Canadian law firms have moved from reluctant marketers undertaking a few traditional tactics, to become law firms with a heightened focus toward strategic business development. It is noticeable how many firms have painstakingly sought out the right senior talent, bringing marketing and business development expertise to lead the effort of growing the business and building competitive advantage. Equally as many firms have engaged the services of agencies and marketing consultants to enhance profile and build brands. As a result, we find the majority of firms have dropped ineffective marketing or business development committees, leaving management of the department and activities to the senior marketing professionals. There remains a group of law firms in the country, however, whose prime marketing goal is largely communications, and whose marketing orientation has not yet matured to more tangible, client focussed and measurable priorities.

Let's say you're the firm's chief marketing officer. You're about to sit down with the managing partner to discuss the firm's marketing efforts and how they fit into its overall business strategy. Here are 10 questions you should be prepared to answer clearly and concisely.

A recent asset finance industry conference I attended showcased the new generation of technology platforms being introduced to the market. Most of the presentations to the inquisitive audience focused on the pure functionality of the various software programs ' their capabilities and limitations.

In the legal industry, it's very clear that paper is here to stay. Whether it's pleadings, filings, evidence, exhibits, or other documents, paper formats are still a dominant factor in many law firms today. As much as we want to reduce its presence for numerous reasons, that tide of paper isn't going away. In fact, for some firms, it continues to rise. That's why law firms of all sizes need non-disruptive strategies that support efficient 'coexistence' of paper and electronic documents and records.

Fulfilling a discovery request is a huge challenge for any company ' the stress of litigation, the expense of dredging through gigabytes and even terabytes of documents and files, and the disruption to every businessperson who may have sent an e-mail about the matter in contention can make for a difficult situation in the best of circumstances. But there are also security concerns. As a corporation's information is moved around, restored and sent to and from outside counsel, highly sensitive trade secrets and private data may be at risk every time discovery materials leave corporate offices.