Recalls of Foreign-Made Products Lead to Increased Scrutiny at Home
June 24, 2009
The increased regulation of safety standards, testing, certifications of compliance, and advertising will likely result in a significant increase in the number of foreign product recalls. This, in turn, will yield increased litigation in the future. Here's why.
Ex-Heller Employees Sue Former Partners
June 24, 2009
Former employees of Heller Ehrman sued at least 179 former partners in April, demanding they fork over $32 million for the largest group of creditors in the defunct firm's bankruptcy.
Partial Plan Terminations
June 24, 2009
Management teams should be aware that reductions in workforce ("RIFs"), while seemingly cost-cutting in nature, can actually yield the opposite result, and can cause unintended and costly consequences with respect to a firm's tax-qualified employee benefit plan.
Advance Conflict Waivers
June 24, 2009
An advance conflict waiver is an agreement, given by your client, to a potential future representation by your law firm that would otherwise be precluded because of a conflict of interest. Law firms increasingly include such waivers in their standard form engagement letters. Here's what you need to know.
Best Practices in Client Relationship Skills
June 24, 2009
There are key activities that lawyers can engage in to promote the health of existing client interactions. All of these activities can be categorized into one of three stages: 1) establishing the relationship; 2) building the relationship; and 3) proliferating the relationship.
Let the Hirer Beware
June 24, 2009
With so many lawyers up for grabs these days, firms have enticing opportunities to bring aboard top talent, sometimes at bargain prices. But let the hirer beware. Lateral hiring isn't without risk, and more lateral hiring means more exposure to claims alleging malpractice and other failings.
Deciphering SEC Enforcement and Its Impact on e-Discovery
June 24, 2009
In October 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first time made public its Enforcement Manual, the agency's internal reference guide for Enforcement Division staff in the investigation of potential violations of the federal securities laws. Law firms and corporations involved in matters before the SEC will find it a valuable resource to aid their understanding of SEC operations.
Insurance for Data Security Breaches And Consumer Privacy Claims
June 24, 2009
Every other day we read about some new data security breach or proposal to regulate the use of consumer's private data. However, there is good news too: Most courts are intolerant of privacy claims brought by plaintiffs who have suffered no actual damage, and most companies have insurance for privacy claims without knowing it.
IP's Impact on M&A and Corporate Values
June 24, 2009
In this far-ranging interview, Susan Perng Pan, Washington, DC-based patent attorney and partner of the intellectual property firm SUGHRUE MION, PLLC, discusses best practices and strategies for in-house counsel to assess, protect, and evaluate the worth of their portfolios, both domestically and globally.
Quarterly State Compliance Review
June 24, 2009
This edition of the Quarterly State Compliance Review looks at legislation of interest to corporate lawyers that went into effect from May 1 through July 1. It also examines recent decisions of interest from the courts of Delaware, Texas, and Washington.
