The Year in Review: Our Look Back and Look Forward
The year 2004 has been my first full year as Editor-in-Chief of this publication. While there have been challenges, there have also been some rewards. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the first half of 2004 as I present to you selected highlights of <i>Marketing the Law Firm</i> for the months January through June.
Media & Communications Corner <b>Media Relations: A Look Back and A Look Forward</b>
It continues to be a great pleasure for the media relations professionals at Jaffe Associates to contribute our viewpoints on the publicity issues and trends that all of you face each day. Since becoming regular columnists for <i>Marketing the Law Firm</i>, we have covered a number of topics that we hope have been educational and even inspirational. Here, we take a look back at these columns and tell you some of next year's topics.
A Haven For Straight Talk <b>New Year's Resolution: Kicking the Ad-diction</b>
I have a confession to make: I am occasionally wrong. There. I've said it, and I can move on. I've heard that admitting you have a problem is the first step towards a cure, and so I'm well on the road to recovery. Now it's time for our industry to admit it has a problem and take a similar step towards wellness ' Advertising.
Deploying IP Assets as Loan Collateral: An Emerging Trend
Over the last 15 years, there has been a shift toward more creativity in the monetization of intellectual property. Companies are no longer simply utilizing patents as defensive weapons in actions against aggressors in patent assertions and follow-on infringement actions. Strategic licensing securitizations and collateralizations have provided new and thoughtful approaches to effectively leverage the technology asset value inherent in patents and other IP.
In The Marketplace
Highlights of the latest equipment leasing news from around the country.
Strategic Selling Helps Small Law Firms Narrow The Gap And Bring In New Work
Firms that want to be successful in bringing in new business must do more than simply tell prospective clients that they are better than their competition. Law firms must be able to show why they are different, and more importantly, how they will help the general counsel improve his or her bottom line. For a small to midsize firm, keeping up with the large firms who have unlimited marketing budgets can be tough. But technology is allowing small firms like ours to narrow that gap.
Starting From Scratch
The number of new law firms formed by partners that have split off from existing firms is on the rise. As such, these partners, who may never have been involved in technology decisions at their previous firms, have to start from scratch in order to implement the computer systems, e-mail systems, financial and practice management software needed to conduct business.
Law Firm Performance 2004 ' Highlights
For the industry as a whole, the economic performance of law firms in 2004 was quite good. Indeed, given the overall state of the national economy and the dire early predictions of some pundits, the performance of the industry was remarkable. Much of this positive performance was, of course, attributable to the continuing strength of litigation practices as well as, to a lesser extent, bankruptcy and reorganization activity.
Spousal Opportunity: Does It Exist?
Shortly after the entry of a divorce judgment, matrimonial litigants walk away with their respective pieces of the marital estate (sometimes with support or distributive payments to follow) and begin separate lives with separate interests. However, without adequate protections under the law, the value of the marital estate before that pivotal moment (and the value of each litigant's post-termination estate) could have been diminished by the actions of the other spouse. For this reason, some concept of a fiduciary obligation between spouses exists in the majority of the states. Whether in equitable distribution jurisdictions or community property jurisdictions "spouses must manage marital property with care shortly before the termination of the marriage to ensure that the full value of the marital estate gets divided justly according to the prevailing system of distribution.
Net News
Recent developments of note in the Internet industry.<br>This month:<br>Google Sues Internet Marketer Over False Ad Clicks <br>Movie Studios Take Cue From Record Industry ' File Suit against File-sharers <br>Another 761 Added To RIAA Tally <br>Perfect 10 Says Google Removes the Towel
