The Pheromone of Client Service
April 28, 2008
Statements like, 'We pride ourselves on delivering outstanding levels of client service' sound great. They are the Pavlovian pablum we whip out when we meet new clients, promote ourselves on our Web sites, write the openings of our RFPs, and attract laterals. The problem is, they're just not true.
Index
April 28, 2008
Everything contained in this issue, in an easy-to-read format.
The Cultural Calculus of Competitive Advantage
April 28, 2008
Mapping and measuring a firm's culture and core competencies is undoubtedly an exhaustive process with numerous stages of analysis. Done correctly, it will likely challenge many of the firm's longest held beliefs and assumptions. For those willing to undergo this rigorous analysis, the result will be a strategic framework that identifies the sources of its competitive advantages and enables the firm's management to focus its efforts on manufacturing and perpetuating the cultural attributes that will sustain the core competencies of the firm.
Compensation for Condemnation of Temporary Easements
April 28, 2008
When the state condemns a temporary easement that encumbers the frontage of a vacant parcel, but uses the easement for only a fraction of the easement's total duration, how should the landowner's compensation be computed? In <i>McCurdy v. State</i>, the Court of Appeals concluded that landowner was entitled to consequential damages for harm to the interior land not encumbered by the easement, but only for the period when the state's use of the easement obstructed landowner's access to the interior of the parcel.
Even Non-Union Employees Have Rights Under the NLRA
April 28, 2008
Even in today's increasingly non-union workplace, management must not ignore laws enacted primarily to protect unions. To do so could have a serious impact on non-union environments. All employers should exercise caution before taking disciplinary or other adverse action against employees for conduct that could be perceived as group activity. Here's why.
The Employment Discrimination Class Action Is Alive and Well
April 28, 2008
Just when some thought it might be safe to presume that class action discrimination lawsuits under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act were on the wane, several recent decisions involving the huge retailer, Wal-Mart, Inc., should give many employers pause for thought.
A New Avenue for Retaliatory Discharge Claims
April 28, 2008
As courts across the country continue to visit the issue of employment-at-will, the results show states continuing to chip away at the once mighty doctrine. Here's a look at one such case in Tennessee.
Background Checks: Handle with Care!
April 28, 2008
Many employers routinely conduct background checks on applicants and employees to verify their prior employment history. Oftentimes, an outside service is used to obtain the critical information and then provide a brief analysis as to its significance. However, as demonstrated in a decision from the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, both the employer and outside contractor can be sued for defamation ...
LAW FIRM MERGERS - THE ROLLOUT
April 25, 2008
LAW FIRM MERGERS - THE ROLLOUT is the final chapter in maximizing the input of marketing leadership. Tell your business targets what they actually need and want to hear. Don't wait until after the merger to think about the similarities and differences in the marketing cultures of the two firms. They are as potentially decisive to business development as your respective financials are to the individual partners.…
