Competitive Intelligence: A Must Have
November 14, 2005
In today's evolving technological legal market, it is not enough for a law firm to perform tactically, using best practices. Competitive marketing for same client market share necessitates strategic planning. And strategic planning, in turn, mandates Competitive Intelligence (CI) initiatives tag teamed with information analysis.
BI Takes Over Where Canned Reports Leave Off
November 14, 2005
So why don't more firms use Business Intelligence (BI)? Most of them just don't understand what BI is all about. Many firms have a pretty good report writer built into their time-and-billing system and their vendor provides many pre-designed reports, each with selection options. Moreover, many firms have someone on-staff who knows Crystal Report Writer. Isn't this all they need? No, it's not. Today's managers need more powerful and flexible access to financial information than canned or even custom-programmed report writers can deliver in a timely, economical fashion.
LexisNexis Market Intelligence
November 14, 2005
Understanding the business challenges law firms face in obtaining and leveraging Competitive Intelligence is critical for legal IT professionals to help provide the support and expertise marketers need for client development. In addition, keeping up-to-date on new technology tools for law firm marketers will help IT professionals as they drive the technology selection and implementation process.
Should Your Law Firm Jump on the BI Bandwagon?
November 14, 2005
In the past, Business Intelligence occurred on an ad hoc and informal basis in the legal industry. Before the proliferation of a legal trade press, the Internet (and competitor's Web sites), and market intelligence services, information about clients, prospects, and competitors was likely gained on the golf course, at bar association functions, or through the occasional press release issued by a law firm that was an early adopter of marketing. <br>Now a cottage industry has sprung up to support the burgeoning efforts of law firms to understand how to remain competitive, profitable and viable. As evidence of this, within the past year there have been numerous conferences and seminars aimed at teaching law firm management how to appropriately develop and use Business Intelligence, and a number of products and services are being offered to aid firms in their quest for actionable intelligence.
Some Recent Decisions Under CAFA
November 03, 2005
When President Bush signed the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 ("CAFA") into law, the Act's exponential expansion of federal diversity jurisdiction over class actions engendered immediate activity, as defendants defending state court class actions invoked CAFA's amendment of 28 U.S.C. §1332 in an attempt to remove ongoing actions to federal court and federal courts made their first rulings under the Act.
The Class Action Fairness Act: What Is It All About?
November 03, 2005
On Feb. 18, 2005, after the first bill signing ceremony of the year, President Bush approved the Class Action Fairness Act ("CAFA") by signing it into law. CAFA is part of a goal to restore common sense and balance to America's legal system and end frivolous litigation which, President Bush stated, will include legislation to further reform tort law in the areas of asbestos and medical malpractice. "President Signs Class-Action Fairness Act of 2005," <i>www.white house.gov/news/releases/2005/02/20050218-11.html.</i>
News Briefs
November 03, 2005
Highlights of the latest class action cases from around the country.
An 'Electronic Data' Primer for Class Action Attorneys
November 03, 2005
The savvy class action lawyer needs to know how to retrieve electronic information from databases in order to form an intelligent approach to investigation and discovery in consumer class action cases and to be equipped to address jurisdictional, class certification and merits issues.
California Supreme Court Strikes Down Jury Waiver Clauses
November 02, 2005
The California Supreme Court has thrown a wrench into the California trial courts' long-accepted practice of enforcing contractual jury waivers by holding that such pre-dispute waivers do not effectively supersede a party's constitutional right to a jury trial. The court's conclusion is not surprising given the express provisions of the California Constitution, but it nonetheless sent a shockwave through the finance and leasing community.
Sarbanes-Oxley: Bane or Boon?
November 02, 2005
Expenditures to implement the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act ("SOX") are staggering. For instance, <i>CFO</i> magazine recently reported that 225 companies surveyed planned to spend an aggregate $6.2 billion on SOX compliance. It is no wonder, then, that questions are being raised as to the cost of this legislation relative to its benefits. This article examines the proposition that, given proper perspective and attention, SOX compliance can in fact lead to tangible benefits for equipment lessors.
