Accounting for Intangibles: From IP to CEO
November 29, 2007
The track to the CEO's office has changed as the key determinants of competitive advantage have changed. Over the past few years, sales, marketing, engineering, and most recently, finance have serially been the corporate lines through which proto-CEOs have risen through the ranks. With intangibles now providing the competitive advantage, perhaps the next trend in CEO-spotting will take place in the IP suite.
Hakim v. Cannon Avent Group: What's the Spillover?
November 29, 2007
This article examines <i>Hakim v. Cannon Avent Group</i>, which arguably expands the law on claim scope disclaimers. Thus, based on <i>Hakim</i>, when filing an RCE or continuation to broaden claims, care must be taken to ensure that any possible disavowal is unequivocally rescinded. Succinctly asking the examiner to reconsider prior art and noting that the current amendments broaden the claims, after a clear disavowal of claim scope is present, may not always be enough.
25 Years of CAFC Inequitable Conduct Jurisprudence
November 29, 2007
This article examines four recent Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit cases that shed light on the CAFC's current inequitable conduct jurisprudence and provide insight into how certain conduct may be interpreted by the court today.
WHAT DID NOT WORK III
November 28, 2007
WHAT DID NOT WORK III. This is the third in a series of comments on why in-house counsel rejected law firm business development efforts. In a recent discussion with a group of outside attorneys, they pointed to the following: 1. Make sure your team members talk to the client, not to themselves. Prospective clients want to see how you work together in responding to their questions and deal with strategic issues. Don't be talking "under your breath"'
Movers & Shakers
November 27, 2007
Epstein Becker & Green (New York): Steven Skwara and Robert Penezic join the health care and life sciences practice as partner and as senior counsel, respectively. Skwara was at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, serving as associate general counsel and as director, fraud investigation and prevention. Penezic was at Broad and Cassel's Fort Lauderdale, FL, office. …
Verdicts
November 27, 2007
Recent ruings of importance to you and your practice.
Med Mal News
November 27, 2007
The latest information you need to know.
'Sorry Works' -- or Does It?
November 27, 2007
Sacred cows make great steaks, as one wit quipped. The usual way of doing things is being stood on its head and, in the realm of medical malpractice claims at least, is being replaced in many cases by fresh approaches and claim resolution templates. Specifically, historical norms of adversarial claim approaches are being supplanted by 'apology programs,' which receive increasing interest and publicity.
Drug and Device Injuries
November 27, 2007
People injured by a drug or medical device often sue not only their medical caregivers and the hospitals where the devices were implanted, but also the drug or device's manufacturers. Smart move, but there may be other avenues for recovery that should be explored. There are many players in the process that brings a drug or device to the market, and it may prove valuable to question whether any of these had a role in causing the claimant's injury and whether they can be reached for recovery.
