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Practice Tip: 'It's NOT Electronic Paper'
December 27, 2004
As the courts and clients struggle with the growing complexities of electronic information, the federal judiciary has begun exploring proposals aimed at addressing the challenges of electronic discovery. While several of the current federal proposals are still open for comment, it is worth taking a moment to consider the fundamental properties of electronic data and how conventional thoughts on evidence do or do not apply. As comforting as it would be to think of electronic evidence as just digital paper, the reality is that there are some inherent properties of electronic evidence that make it fundamentally different from conventional evidence.
Challenges And Adjustments In A Merger
December 27, 2004
There is a drama that is acted out every day on the stages of hundreds of law firms throughout the world. Firm A, which may have been a local, regional or even national firm, has recently merged into (read "acquired by") Firm B, a larger national or international firm, and the partners from Firm A are adjusting to being part of such a huge firm. <br>There are many pluses to becoming part of a much larger firm ' but there are also many differences and challenges. If the merger is to be successful, the partners in Firm A must anticipate the differences and challenges and Firm B must recognize them.
Around the Firms
December 27, 2004
London firm DLA and the partners of Piper Rudnick started off December with a vote to merge the two firms, and thus the New Year brings about the world's third-largest law firm measured by lawyers ' and fifth-largest measured by revenues.
Making Merged Firms Work As One
December 27, 2004
Finding a merger candidate can be a daunting process. However, integrating a merged group of attorneys into a "new" firm's culture, practice environment and organizational structure so that attorneys from both firms work as one may be a greater challenge.
Codifying Competencies
December 27, 2004
When law firms recruit, train, evaluate and promote lawyers, what ideal do they have in mind? What model of lawyer performance are they pursuing: what balance of knowledge, skills and capabilities, work management, ethics, character and commitment, client service and business development? Attempting to put into words our notion of successful performance is a prerequisite to consistency in how we recruit, train, evaluate and promote. It would also appear to be a pre-requisite to fairness and effectiveness in setting expectations among new lawyers and helping them achieve those expectations.
Net News
December 27, 2004
Recent developments of note in the Internet industry.This month:<p>FTC Spotlights Proposals on Peer-to-Peer Risks <br>Record Industry Sues 754 For Internet Song Swaps<br>Google Wins Trademark Suit Over Advertising Policy
Commentary: Copyright Bandits At Large
December 27, 2004
The Supreme Court will soon decide whether to hear one of the most important commercial cases to reach the Court in decades. <i>MGM v. Grokster</i> raises a copyright challenge to the Internet-based services that enable millions of users around the world to swap digital copies of sound recordings and movies with a few clicks of a mouse. At stake is the legitimacy of our copyright system in the digital age.
A Busy Year In The Courts For Internet Communications
December 27, 2004
Case law in 2004 in the area of Internet communications has something in common with the hurricane season that recently ended: It has been an unusually active year.
High Court Appears Open To Ending Interstate Wine Sale Barriers
December 27, 2004
The Supreme Court late last year appeared hostile toward state barriers that impede interstate wine sales, likely foreshadowing a win for small wineries in their long battle against the system that controls sales of alcoholic beverages nationwide.
AOL Online Safety Study Shows Major Threats, Perception Gap
December 27, 2004
The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a not-for-profit, public-private partnership focused on driving awareness and promoting education of cyber security, and NCSA member America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, recently released the results of one of the largest and most comprehensive in-home studies ever conducted on the security of computer users.

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