Professional Development: Enhancing Your Culture of Business Development
In this current economic environment, many firms must sharpen their focus on business development. This article discusses the results of research conducted across many firms; it will identify areas of potential weakness that can hamper your ability to nimbly respond during these challenging times.
Marriage, Trust and Postnuptial Agreements
Postnuptial agreements are flexible documents that provide couples with an alternative to marital counseling or even divorce. As demonstrated herein, it is extremely important that these documents are carefully drafted and that close attention is paid to the fiduciary relationship existing between the parties.
'Standards and Premises of Value'
Appraisers are frequently utilized to assist matrimonial courts in determining the value of property subject to equitable distribution within a marital estate. Here's what you need to know about the all-important Standards of Value.
<b><i>Case Study:</b></i> A Windows Server 2008 Early Adopter Talks About Taking The Plunge
In October 2007, we began discussions for a long-term IT solution; one that provided flexibility, security and offered centralized access to our software applications. We wanted our professionals working on local workstations and remotely be able to share, view and access the same, latest information and files. Under the advisement of our local IT vendor, The Computer Hut LLC, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, our firm agreed to deploy Windows Server 2008 with the Terminal Services (TS) RemoteApp.
The Tao of Daubert
All too often, the outcome of a "child custody dispute" will turn upon the recommendations contained within the custodial or parenting plan evaluation of the psychological expert. This first of a two-part article contains: 1) a brief review of <i>Frye v. United States,</i> and <i>Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc.</i>, standards; 2) an exploration of why evaluations are so rarely challenged by <i>Frye/Daubert</i> hearings; and 3) the foundation for a meaningful review of the evaluation under either <i>Frye</i> or <i>Daubert</i> standards.
<b><i>Case Study:</b></i> Mechanics Bank Removes Legal Risk From Delivery of Board Materials
As general counsel and assistant corporate secretary at Mechanics Bank in Northern California, I always considered my financial institution's method for delivering its board books to our corporate directors in advance of their board meetings was fraught with peril and legal risk. The fact is that it was no different than what many corporations ' banking and otherwise ' do when distributing board materials in advance of their meetings.
Getting Search Engine Optimization Right
On Aug. 13th, a techie blogger named Oilman posted an article entitled, "Shame Shame Shame Findlaw," accusing the legal behemoth of violating Google's guidelines. Within hours, Findlaw was pilloried by the Search Engine Optimization blogosphere. Google dropped FindLaw's Page Rank from a 7 to a 5. The controversy unveiled Findlaw's SEM Advantage program ' which was essentially an agreement to sell a link from FindLaw.com to a law firm's Web site for up to $2,500 a month for the sole purpose of improving that site's search results, and is in violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines.
