New U.K. Rules Mean Telemarketing Just Got Harder
October 06, 2004
Since June 25, companies in the United Kingdom will for the first time be able to avoid receiving "cold calls" ' unsolicited telemarketing calls ' by registering their phone number on a statutory list that bars the calls. <br>This has caused some consternation in the U.K. telemarketing industry, but it should be seen as just the latest development in information privacy in Europe.
PR's Return On Investment
October 01, 2004
Last year's first Annual Law Firm Media Performance Report broke new ground with data that examined, on a market-by-market basis, the relative aggressiveness with which U.S. and global firms utilize media coverage as a component of their marketing strategies. <br>The greater depth of focus for this year's study obviously required an analytic approach beyond simply computing media appearances.
Improve Professional Development: Conduct A Formal Associate Program Evaluation
October 01, 2004
Gone are the days of the Internet chat rooms for disgruntled associates. Gone are the multitude of public surveys where law firms learned, only after survey publication, how poorly associates rated their firms in terms of professional satisfaction. <br>These days, associates are less vocal about their dissatisfaction with their firms and the opportunities afforded them for professional development. Nonetheless, associates are still on the move, and firms continue to struggle to find effective ways to retain them. <br>Firms have made significant investments in improving their associate programs, including hiring Professional Development Administrators. Now, rather than ignoring issues related to professional development and satisfaction, firms are evaluating all aspects of their associate programs. They no longer want to leave the surveying to someone else.
The Unauthorized Practice Of Law: A Bottomless Ethics Pothole
October 01, 2004
The unauthorized practice of law (UPL) issue is the modern law firm's ultimate bottomless ethics pothole. In today's world, common sense would seem to dictate that a Maryland lawyer could close a complex commercial transaction for a Maryland client in foreign jurisdictions like Florida or New York. The fact that more than a few states would disagree with this proposition is what makes the UPL issue the bottomless pothole that it is.
Around The Firms
October 01, 2004
Movement among major law firms and corporations.
The Mutual Fund Scandals: What's A Plan Sponsor To Do?
October 01, 2004
There is an industry-wide epidemic amongst mutual funds of both insider trading and market timing to the diminution of the ordinary stakeholder, including defined contribution plan account balances. Late trading is the clearly illegal practice of placing orders after the day's close at 4 p.m., and market timing is the disruptive (but not necessarily illegal) practice of trading quickly in-and-out of a fund. <br>This article is intended to assist plan fiduciaries (<i>eg</i>, law firms sponsors of pension plans and law firm clients) regarding how to behave in a fiduciarily appropriate manner.
The Cost of Cooperation
September 30, 2004
Cooperation with government investigators has long been important for companies under the specter of an investigation. Under current agency policies and practices of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and relevant provisions of the Sentencing Guidelines for Organizational Offenders, a "cooperative" corporation can realize substantial reductions in penalties or even avoid an enforcement action altogether. Seaboard Corporation in 2001 and HomeStore, Inc. in 2002 are excellent examples -- both were able to avoid SEC enforcement actions because of the extent and nature of their cooperation with investigators. The multi-million dollar question is what will be defined as "cooperation."
Prosecutions for Violation of Export Controls on Dual-Use Items
September 30, 2004
Since 9/11, the government has stepped up the enforcement of laws and regulations relating to the control of exports, especially so-called "dual-use" items that have both military and non-military applications. Department of Commerce policy "seeks to keep terrorists and other criminals from possessing sensitive technologies -- in essence, to prevent export violations before they occur," according to Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement.
Oogles Of Google
September 08, 2004
Stories abound as the popular search engine goes public.
Courthouse Steps
September 02, 2004
Recently filed cases in entertainment law, straight from the steps of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
