Media & Communications Corner: A Profile of Heather Bock, Chief Professional Development Office, Howrey, LLP
February 26, 2008
When Howrey decided to fill its Chief Professional Development Officer position with a professional in the field, instead of with a partner as had been the norm, it turned to Heather Bock. With a PhD in Organizational Behavior, training experience at Accenture, and human resources consulting experience with Fortune 500 companies, Heather was the ideal candidate to help the firm align its attorneys' skills with its business strategy.
Courageous Leadership
February 26, 2008
A 1999 Notre Dame study stated that 'lawyers suffer from depression, anxiety, hostility, paranoia, social alienation and isolation, obsessive-compulsiveness, and interpersonal sensitivity at alarming rates.' Lawyers topped the list (of 104 professions studied), suffering from (major depression disorders) at a rate 3.6 times higher than non-lawyers who shared their key socio-demographic traits. How can we change this?
News Briefs
February 26, 2008
Highlights of the latest franchising news from around the country.
Op Ed
February 26, 2008
Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Anne "Betiayn" Tursi poses a provocative and important question in this thought-provoking editorial.
Court Watch
February 26, 2008
Highlights of the latest franchising cases from around the country.
New Franchise Disclosure Guidelines Coming Soon from FTC
February 26, 2008
On Jan. 29, Dale E. Cantone, Deputy Securities Commissioner of the State of Maryland and Chair of the Franchise and Business Opportunity Committee/ Project Group of the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. ('NASAA') since 1996, provided his unique perspective on developments in the regulation of franchise sales to the Franchise & Distribution Law Committee of the Maryland State Bar Association. Cantone said the FTC has signaled that it expects to issue its long-awaited Compliance Guides during March 2008.
Litigating with the EEOC
February 26, 2008
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has a statutory obligation to conciliate in good faith with employers prior to initiating litigation. This is a well-known obligation, but it is not always carried out in a manner that is fair to employers. In recent years, employers have become increasingly frustrated with the EEOC's approach to conciliation, particularly where it seems that the EEOC is more concerned with pursuing litigation than with attempting to eliminate alleged discriminatory practices voluntarily through conciliation.
Protecting Personal Data in Franchise Systems: New Notification Laws
February 26, 2008
Over the past four years, 38 states have enacted laws mandating consumer notifications if there is a theft of personal data from a company's computers. The Federal Trade Commission ('FTC') has brought enforcement actions against companies for not properly protecting sensitive personal data. These state and federal laws are in addition to general privacy laws and policies that require advanced disclosures to those giving personal information. How can a franchisor or multi-state franchisee comply with 38 state laws and with the FTC determinations? This article provides an overview of how to reduce potential liability.
Arbitration Under Duress
February 26, 2008
The use of mandatory arbitration provisions in employment contracts has grown in recent years as employers seek to avoid what is perceived as 'time-consuming' and 'costly' litigation in state or federal courts. Of course, whether or not arbitration actually saves time or money is an issue open for debate. One only has to receive the pre-hearing invoice from three panelists at $500 per hour to question the latter benefit.
The Latest on 'No Match' Letters
February 26, 2008
Part One of this article described the background, key provisions and legal challenges to the 'No-Match' regulations. The conclusion herein offers strategies for employers.
