Justice Dept. Google Subpoenas Anger Privacy Groups
Right-to-privacy groups say that the Government's attempt to force Google to turn over a broad range of materials from its databases has set a dangerous precedent that should worry all Americans.
Is Anti-Spyware Legislation Congress's Killer App In 2006?
Reading the news, one might think the encroaching patchwork of state anti-spyware laws and the proliferation of high-profile cases against surreptitious spyware distributors could finally prompt Congress to take action on spyware in 2006. But a closer look reveals that states, Congress and the Federal Trade Commission have not yet reached a consensus on what spyware is and how best to address enforcement. Even if Congress does act on spyware this year, the legislation is likely to offer an incomplete solution to computer users and, for legitimate online behavioral advertisers, to leave substantial litigation questions unaddressed.
Features
Law Firm's Defamation Claim Trumps Critics' Internet Anonymity
Ruling on one of the most important First Amendment issues of the day, a Philadelphia judge ruled that a valid defamation claim trumps any right to speak anonymously on the Internet.
Associate Break-Even: A Matter of Perspective
In my role as a consultant, I work with clients who wish to make critical business decisions but sometimes suspect the reliability of their internally generated numbers. Last month, Ed Wesemann wrote about just such a situation, when he referred to the common belief that associates do not make money in their first 3 years. Intuitively, this does not make sense to many law firm managers, yet their reports often support this contention.
Flexibility in Flexible Spending
The Internal Revenue Service has provided guidance in Notice 2005-86 on the interaction of the 2.5-month grace period for a health flexible spending arrangement (health FSA) (established earlier by Notice 2005-42) and an individual's eligibility to contribute to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
Building a State-of-the-Art Anti-Bribery Program
Anti-bribery laws have serious consequences for anyone doing business internationally. Violations come to light during routine M&A due diligence, when competitors complain or employees blow the whistle, or when companies voluntarily disclose as a part of their Sarbanes-Oxley reporting obligations. When they do come to light, strong internal controls may shield executives from some liability and restore confidence amongst shareholders and regulators.
Features
Associate Overcompensation?
As described in the following article abridgements from A&FP sibling publications, associate salaries and rates are headed up once again, pressures from cost-conscious clients notwithstanding. I have a possibly discomfiting view to offer on this, but first let's take a look at the bandwagon effect now in progress in some major U.S. legal markets.
Features
<b>Practice Building Skills:</b> Investing in Your Associates
In order for a firm to be competitive in today's market, more and more attorneys in each firm are expected to become rainmakers. There are two primary reasons for this shift.
<b>Commentary: </b>In Law Firm Marketing Today, the Glass Is Half Full
When legal marketers are ahead of their lawyers, or when lawyers are ahead of their legal marketers, their expectations of one another are out of sync. These days, the departure of a marketer, whether by choice or with a nudge, presents an opportunity for a firm to reassess where it is, where it wants to go and how it will get there. Each new marketing hire represents an opportunity for more precise alignment of a marketer's skills and characteristics with a firm's strategic and financial objectives.
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