Merging Firms, Merging Information
For many firms there are significant advantages to increased scale. Broader geographical coverage and increased expertise enable firms to provide a more complete offering to their large clients, who operate in an increasingly global world. Given the sometimes difficult task of opening new offices and the competition amongst firms for partners, many firms choose to grow through merging.
Features
<b>Practice Tip:</b> Find Wireless Nirvana in a 3G Network
The term "3G" proclaims the next revolution in wireless technology. It refers to the much-ballyhooed third generation cellular network services, currently available in the United States from Verizon, Sprint and Cingular. But after all the hype, is 3G living up to its broadband promise?
Big Win For ERISA Plaintiffs
In an important win for plaintiffs in ERISA cases, the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the "doctrine of ratification" cannot be used to justify retroactive application of a change to a pension plan if it would have the effect of reducing a worker's accrued benefits.
What In The World Is Going On With Lawyer Retirement Planning?
In Part One, the author provided an overview of what lawyers (and their firms) were doing about retirement planning, including a discussion on firms that do not use unfunded obligations ' The First Camp. Part Two examines firms that use unfunded retirement obligations, and the current trends in partner retirement planning.
Features
<b>Professional Development University</b> Leadership, Legacy and Self Determination: A PD Exercise for the New Year
I suggest, for the purpose of this brief column, that law firm leaders begin with the end in mind. Once we know where we want to go as leaders, then we can begin to chart a course that may lead us and others to that legacy destination or to one that exceeds our expectations and takes us into uncharted territory.
Employee Blogging: What Employers Don't Know Could Hurt Them
Technology offers employers significant advantages, but it can be a double-edged sword. Technology has created issues that employers have never dealt with before ' and bases for liability employers have never confronted before.
Deconstructing The Grokster Decision
Serendipity used to be a popular notion. While the term may have fallen from favor, the concept itself still makes appearances ' often surprising ones (as one would think). And while serendipity is not something you would expect to be associated with the U.S. Supreme Court, that is precisely where it was last sighted, specifically in the June ruling in <i>Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer v. Grokster</i>.
Hate v. Free Speech
What can lawyers do about vile words in a country where freedom of speech is the first order of business according to the Bill of Rights?
Weaving A Bulletproof Web
An often-overlooked component of a company's intellectual property portfolio is the company Web site. This is especially true in the fast-paced world of technology firms, whose primary emphasis is usually core technology in the form of patents or trade secrets. The Web site, as a matter of course, is the most innocuous of assets, but it's an asset nonetheless. The job of the general counsel's office is to protect it.
Net News
International Music Lobby on the Attack Against Digital Piracy <br>U.S. to Retain Global Control of Domain-name System
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