Law Firm Intelligence: Researching the Economy Part III: The Big Picture
While the macroeconomics is more than a little intimidating, the good news is that researching the economy is not a complicated task. In fact, it can be much more straightforward than internal financial research (covered in the first part of this series) and research on the financial health of companies and industries (covered in the second part of this series). In this, the third and final part in the Researching the Economy series, we focus on a few key sources for macroeconomic information.
Adult Internships
Some people are seeking unpaid internships to obtain on-the-job training in a new industry. While employers may welcome this new trend, it is important to be aware that there are federal regulations governing whether an intern must be paid in accordance with the wage and hour laws that apply to employees of your company. This article briefly examines the applicable test, and discusses some practical tips that may enhance the likelihood that your company's program will pass regulatory muster.
D&O Liability
Delaware courts have recently issued decisions that may impact the number and types of claims brought by shareholders of Delaware companies seeking to hold directors and officers personally liable under various claims, in particular in connection with the current economic crisis.
Capturing the Current Mood
Implicit in all the stories about layoffs or hourly versus value billing, the fundamental question is whether the severity of the economic downturn will permanently change what law firms look like and how they operate. Can they ever again support the notorious salary structures and leverage strategies of the past?
Business Plans: A New Reality
Now that the legal industry is reeling from losses, layoffs and downsizings, lateral hires are being run through an even more stringent gauntlet. Many firms now want to see business plans from all lateral partner candidates.
Trouble in Lease Land
Retail landlords know a tenant is in trouble when rent payments are late or cease altogether, when the tenant's store is not well stocked with new merchandise, or when the physical condition of the store deteriorates. Retail tenants know that a shopping center is in trouble when an increasing number of stores are dark, or the maintenance of the common areas or other services have declined. Here's what to do.
What Tenants Are Asking of Their Landlords in Challenging Economic Times
The current economic slowdown has been particularly hard on the retail industry. Operating retail stores in times of economic uncertainty has placed most real estate professionals in uncharted waters. Tenants are looking to their landlords for economic relief to meet the challenges of operating their stores without incurring unacceptable losses during these turbulent times. This special issue of Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy discusses difficulties arising in the context of retail leasing.
How to Use and Not Lose Experts in Criminal Cases
Rare is the white-collar case today where an expert witness does not play a powerful role. But the vagueness in expert disclosure rules in criminal cases can lead unwary defense counsel to forfeit an expert entirely.
