Managing the Risks of Doing Business in Latin America
October 08, 2004
This is the second article of a two-part series about managing the risks of doing business in Latin America. Last month's installment described Latin America as a region blessed with impressive worker productivity and natural resources, but also troubled by pockets of political and economic unrest. The article concluded that Latin America represents a fertile business frontier for equipment leasing and finance companies that are willing to manage risks proactively. It covered potential market entry risks and suggested strategies for reducing exposure. This month's article explores operational and exit-strategy risks to consider before expanding into Latin America. Risks are summarized in the Risk Map for Doing Business in Latin America (Table 1), published last month, which I developed based on experiences in the region. The map is intended as a checklist that outlines typical risks and management strategies. However, as every business is unique, companies should also attempt to identify additional risks and/or their own approaches.
e-Leasing: Building an Effective Process
October 08, 2004
Improved operational efficiencies and the potential for lower-cost market penetration and expansion are just a few of the more common business justifications for adoption of an e-commerce process. These same justifications, as well as others, are sure to resonate with the equipment leasing industry. An initial consideration in adopting any e-commerce process is an analysis of relevant e-signature and e-record laws and the risks inherit in electronic transactions.
Online: Web Site Advocates Health Care, Prescription Drug Access
October 06, 2004
The Community Catalyst created the Prescription Access Litigation Project ("PAL") in 2001 to use class action litigation and public education to end pharmaceutical price inflation. The Community Catalyst is a national advocacy organization that encourages consumer and community participation in the molding of our health system to ensure quality, affordable health care for everyone. Visit the Web site at <i>www.communitycatalyst.org.</i>
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.
Avoiding The Top 10 Legal Difficulties Facing Home-based e-Commerce Ventures
October 06, 2004
With the Internet being everywhere, it's no surprise that it penetrates every aspect of a home-based e-commerce venture, along with Internet law, which has developed in lock step with the Internet. <br>And as more people chagrined by the fickle economy turn to their own residential Internet connections as conduits for electronic business, these entrepreneurs find themselves exposed to legal difficulties previously reserved for large traditional businesses. <br>To succeed, this new generation ' and older commercial operations that have adapted to the Information Age ' must know about Internet law, as do counsel who advise them.
Sale-Leaseback Transactions in the 'Corporate Scandal' Era
October 06, 2004
In the era following Enron, Worldcom, Tyco, IMClone and Martha Stewart, when fraudulent actions, or even alleged fraudulent actions, can cause significant stock market losses, those operating "on the edge," if found guilty of "going over the edge," may face a sentence that could include incarceration as well as economic punishment. Since the corporate scandal trials almost always involve financial re-engineering, it is no surprise that these trials and the concomitant publicity would have an impact on sale-leaseback transactions ("SLTs") and those planning such transactions. It thus should be expected that in the post-Enron era, all financial and accounting transactions will be examined with a heightened degree of scrutiny, particularly those with an aroma of fancy accounting. Corporate executives and outside advisers now know that it is much harder to obtain a free pass for bad accounting. With the stakes for advising aggressively on SLTs having been significantly raised, it follows that SLTs are now becoming increasingly more difficult and complicated to complete.
Is Your Online Presence An Afterthought?
October 01, 2004
Googling" has become the preferred way to check out a potential date, anonymously, and without the target's knowledge. You just put the name into the popular search engine to see whatever may appear, good or bad. <br>But what would a potential customer find if it did the same thing for your business, or your key employees? Would a prospective hire or acquirer be scared away by your firm's online tracks?
Forget Your Firm; Market Your Partners!
October 01, 2004
Recently, at the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Deval Patrick, the General Counsel (GC) of the Coca-Cola Company, said: "We are not hiring law firms, we're hiring lawyers." <br>Many, many GCs say the same thing. Seriously, by now this has become cliche in the legal services market: time and time again, in-house General Counsels say they hire lawyers not law firms. So why in the world do firms spend so much time and money marketing the firms rather than the attorneys and (at most) practice groups that are the actual marketplace products?
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.
