Mediating with Insurance Companies
April 28, 2008
In mediations involving insurers, lawyers and mediators need answers to unique questions: What kind of insurance exists? Why was it obtained? Do parties perceive it as a 'blank check'? How and when does the topic of insurance come up and who raises it (parties or mediators)? Does it raise unique issues, such as multiple representation, confidentiality and conflicts of interest?
Commercial Medical Practice: The Walk-in Clinic
April 28, 2008
Last June, the AMA requested that state and federal agencies initiate investigations into the growing retail-based health clinics run by major pharmacies across the country. The Association claims that there are potential conflicts of interest at these clinics, because the primary goal is profit-making by luring patients to the pharmacy to fill the prescriptions written by the in-house health provider.
Litigation
April 28, 2008
Recent rulings of interest to you and your practice.
Ruling Adverse to Foreign Same-Sex Union Is Vacated
April 28, 2008
In vacating a lower court ruling, New York's Appellate Division, Second Department, wiped off the books the sole remaining decision refusing to recognize same-sex marriages solemnized in other jurisdictions.
Senior Divorce: Special Circumstances
April 28, 2008
Seniors are divorcing with greater frequency. Divorce is different for seniors than for younger married couples. The issues of visitation and child support that dominate divorces of many younger couples are not present; instead, seniors face their own unique issues with which professionals must grapple. This article is a discussion of some of the many nuances that are more unique to seniors ' and some of the planning implications those advising seniors should consider.
Mother Loses Custody after Tour in Iraq
April 28, 2008
A New York appellate court affirmed a family court ruling that granted primary physical custody of a child to his father after the mother went through a period of absence and upheaval starting with her tour of duty in Iraq.
From Test Tube to Testate
April 28, 2008
As the definition of family becomes increasingly complex, so does the definition of children and further descendants. Who is (and who is not) deemed to be a legal child of a marriage has implications throughout family law. How the law treats adopted children, those born out of wedlock, those born as a result of egg and sperm donation, those born via surrogates and even children conceived after the death of a parent affects support obligations,'
Technology in Marketing: YouTube for Lawyers 101
April 28, 2008
There is no question that online video has become one of the hottest mediums on the Web. For example, a recent Accustream iMedia study found that user-generated video captured 22 billion page views in 2007. Importantly, the interest in online video is not limited to young viewers, but is also shared by a significant and growing audience of older, more educated, and more affluent viewers.
Client Speak: Understanding the Client
April 28, 2008
As someone who has operated extensively on both the buyer and seller sides of the legal profession, I'm naturally prone to preaching the 'understanding your client' doctrine as a key best practice for all marketing and business development efforts. While I've taken some pains, in this publication and elsewhere, to define what 'understanding your client' actually means, it's important to remind ourselves that the process of getting to know your client requires really in-depth listening ' and that it often presents a few genuine surprises and problems along the way.
Practice Building Skills: Straight from the GC's Mouth
April 28, 2008
One of the major mistakes the authors see attorneys and law firms make when they pitch business is that they spend too much time outlining their experience and what they can do for their client (the pitch), and they don't spend enough time asking their potential client what is important to them when hiring an attorney.