Malpractice in the Line of Duty: Who Catches the Bullet?
January 28, 2005
A traditional requirement in many sophisticated equipment leasing and financing transactions is the closing opinion, in which an attorney or law firm is requested to opine on a variety of relevant topics, ranging from proper corporate or partnership approval of the transaction in question, to the legality, validity and enforceability of one or more material agreements. Oftentimes, there may be multiple closing opinions issued in respect of the closing, with certain opinions being rendered by internal counsel for one or more of the transaction participants, and another set rendered by external counsel.
In The Marketplace
January 28, 2005
Highlights of the latest equipment leasing news from around the country.
'Insourcing' HR Gives Law Firms Extra Services
January 28, 2005
Employee health benefits were the number one reason Louis Reisman, managing director of Los Angeles-based Weinstock, Manion, Reisman, Shore & Neumann, began investigating the concept of Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs). That was back in 1987. Now almost 20 years later, the decision to utilize a PEO continues to be among the best he has made for his firm.
'Get The Coach On The Phone!'
January 28, 2005
No part of a legal education teaches attorneys how to supervise support staff, or their fellow attorneys. The future of any law firm is highly dependent upon a firm's ability to attract, hire, train, and retain the best talent. One of the primary reasons that attorneys leave their places of employment is an unsatisfactory relationship between the lawyer and his or her supervisor. How many of us have watched senior attorneys hold on to aspects of their work that would offer a junior person a great opportunity for development? <br>Coaching can help attorney supervisors assess and evaluate their supervisory style, to determine how to fill voids in their employment management education, to encourage better results from their associates, and to create working teams that best meet clients' needs.
Around the Firms
January 28, 2005
Movement and news among major law firms and corporations.
Your Future: Is There A Merger There? Are You Going To Follow The Lemmings Or Set Your Own Course?
January 28, 2005
A recent article in the <i>National Law Journal</i> piqued my attention. It hit on a point that many middle market firms must consider too often. The article in the Jan. 10, 2005 issue is titled "Mergers? Not Here Thanks." Many firms not listed as mega-firms are asking the same questions ' should we take an offer to merge with a larger firm? Here are some questions every partner and firm should ask before considering combining with any other firm.
Reducing Law Firm Overhead Costs
January 28, 2005
A law firm management's primary focus, like most professional service firms, is new business, billing a high percentage of partners' and associates' time and, of course, collecting a high percentage of billings. Under pressure to increase revenues and grow the bottom line, executives often overlook smaller firm overheads such as office supplies and related items, printing, stationery, overnight delivery, telecom and copiers. <br>The truth is that management just does not have the time or resources to regularly review expenses and reduce these costs. Selecting a professional firm to perform the cost reduction work most often represents the best solution.
The Changing Face Of e-Discovery Tools: Concept Folders And e-Mail Mapping
January 28, 2005
Most of you are familiar with the problems and opportunities associated with electronic discovery. In the face of these challenges, new e-discovery products have been hitting the marketplace and old, established providers are scrambling to respond. Innovation is leading the way, and two new technologies have emerged. <br>Concept folders and e-mail mapping are two new techniques that can help attorneys manage electronic documents during litigation by organizing a document set and finding critical connections buried in large e-mail collections.
