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Features

Collective Bargaining for Legal Fees? Image

Collective Bargaining for Legal Fees?

Susan Beck

For almost a year, lawyers from eight of the largest corporations in the country have been meeting and exchanging information. The group, which first came together last fall, includes in-house attorneys from Cisco Systems Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., FMC Technologies Inc., General Motors Corp. and Microsoft Corp. Together they oversee a collective annual legal budget exceeding $1 billion.

Career Paths for Law Firm Accounting-Financial Professionals Image

Career Paths for Law Firm Accounting-Financial Professionals

Ronald L. Seigneur & Stephen M. (Pete) Peterson

In part one of this two-part series [see the June 2005 A&FP edition], we discussed the pathways available for law firm administrative staff with finance and accounting competence to evolve into consulting roles within the legal services industry. Part two focuses on avenues available for individuals with strong skills in these functional areas to advance within their own or other firms.

Statistical Report Flaws: A Spotter's Guide Image

Statistical Report Flaws: A Spotter's Guide

Joseph S. Danowsky

Statistical reports play an important role in management decisions, so it pays to hone your skills for spotting inaccuracies and distortions. Some flaws are so subtle that even professional statisticians debate their presence, but many errors are easy enough to detect if you just look for them.<br>This article describes some outright errors along with some suspect practices that often lead to error. After examining a few graph-drawing fiascos, the article examines ranking distortions and other problems that can result from either excess precision, ill-chosen scales, or a disconcerting quirk called Simpson's Paradox. Finally, the article discusses a common survey methodology error that leads not only to slanted results but also to the reporting of nonexistent trends.

Am Law 100's New Metric: Value Per Lawyer Image

Am Law 100's New Metric: Value Per Lawyer

Aric Press

For 20 years, The American Lawyer has measured the economics of law firms, first with The Am Law 50 and 75, more recently with The Am Law 200. Throughout, we've kept to the same metrics: gross, revenue per lawyer, profits per partner, and the Am Law Profitability Index (API). These lists helped inform and change the profession. (Note that we didn't say ruin.) We published them again this month with one significant addition that we think reflects the changed nature of the business of law: Value Per Lawyer (VPL).

Features

Better Safe Than Sorry Image

Better Safe Than Sorry

Shaun Catlin

Information technology has become an invaluable business tool around the world. With it, business ' the traditional kind and those that operate over wires (and wirelessly) ' including law firms are able to increase efficiency and lower costs. After all, information technology is the gateway to one of the e-commerce sector's most important assets: Information. <br>But what happens when information cannot be trusted? When it is vulnerable and exposed to Internet threats? When information is secure, it is trustworthy; anything less than that, and it simply loses its value.

Features

Net News Image

Net News

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Recent developments of note in the Internet industry. This month:<p>Google Sued Over 'Click Fraud' in Web Ads <br>Tech Firms Call for Approval of Cybercrime Treaty <br>Commission Proposes Single Online Rights System

Features

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Remedying <i>Grokster</i>

Fred von Lohmann

Don't you hate it when you ask someone a question and, rather than answering it, they choose to answer a different one? Then you understand the frustration…

States Move Forward on Internet Sales Tax Image

States Move Forward on Internet Sales Tax

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Tax officials, state lawmakers and industry representatives agreed last month to establish an 18-state network for collecting taxes on Internet sales, a compact they hope will encourage online retailers and Congress to endorse a mandatory national program.

Features

Spyware: The Scourge Of The Internet? Image

Spyware: The Scourge Of The Internet?

Sam Fineman

The blight of spyware has struck tens of millions of computer users across the globe. In fact, according to a recent nationwide survey conducted by the Pew Internet &amp; American Life Project, 91% of Internet users have changed their online behavior for fear of becoming victims.

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Litigation

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.

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MOST POPULAR STORIES

  • The 'Sophisticated Insured' Defense
    A majority of courts consider the <i>contra proferentem</i> doctrine to be a pillar of insurance law. The doctrine requires ambiguous terms in an insurance policy to be construed against the insurer and in favor of coverage for the insured. A prominent rationale behind the doctrine is that insurance policies are usually standard-form contracts drafted entirely by insurers.
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  • Abandoned and Unused Cables: A Hidden Liability Under the 2002 National Electric Code
    In an effort to minimize the release of toxic gasses from cables in the event of fire, the 2002 version of the National Electric Code ("NEC"), promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, sets forth new guidelines requiring that abandoned cables must be removed from buildings unless they are located in metal raceways or tagged "For Future Use." While the NEC is not, in itself, binding law, most jurisdictions in the United States adopt the NEC by reference in their state or local building and fire codes. Thus, noncompliance with the recent NEC guidelines will likely mean that a building is in violation of a building or fire code. If so, the building owner may also be in breach of agreements with tenants and lenders and may be jeopardizing its fire insurance coverage. Even in jurisdictions where the 2002 NEC has not been adopted, it may be argued that the guidelines represent the standard of reasonable care and could result in tort liability for the landlord if toxic gasses from abandoned cables are emitted in a fire. With these potential liabilities in mind, this article discusses: 1) how to address the abandoned wires and cables currently located within the risers, ceilings and other areas of properties, and 2) additional considerations in the placement and removal of telecommunications cables going forward.
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