Sabbaticals Benefit Both Firms and Partners
July 27, 2004
A steadily increasing number of law firms are offering partners the opportunity to take a sabbatical. A few firms are even requiring them to do so. And more lawyers are taking them. It's a "win-win" situation.
The 'Best Of' Women in Law Programs
July 23, 2004
Women in Law initiatives and programs are not a new phenomenon. Many firms nationwide have programs that afford their women attorneys business development, mentoring and career counseling. In writing this article, we spoke to 10 different firms to learn the how's and why's of their women's initiatives. In Part 1 of this article we have profiled the first five firms.
Challenge and Change
July 23, 2004
There is not a single statistic that says that women lawyers have achieved equality in terms of pay, position, power, or prestige ' not one. From its roots in 1987 as the brainchild of ABA President Robert MacCrate and its first chair, Hillary Rodham Clinton, the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession has worked to assess the status of women lawyers and support efforts to help them achieve full and equal participation and opportunities in the legal profession. The Commission's lodestar has been that organized and concerted efforts could make a difference in combating the causes and effects of gender bias, stereotypes, harassment, and inhospitable work environments that have impeded the professional careers and aspirations of women in the bar.
When Diversity Works
July 23, 2004
Of the top litigation firms in the country that boast a blue-chip roster of Fortune 100 clients, how many are composed of more than 50% women lawyers, 25% gay or lesbian lawyers, and a Native American shareholder? I only know of one: Caldwell, Leslie, Newcombe and Pettit (CLNP) in Los Angeles.
Open Source Goes Mainstream: How to Manage the Risk
July 23, 2004
In recent years, numerous articles have been published in legal journals warning of the inherent risks of using open source code in the development of software ' the fear of pirated code, the possible threat of infringement claims, the "viral" effect of the redistribution provisions of the open source license on proprietary code, just to mention a few. Arguments that such risks are merely academic were trounced when SCO Group launched an infringement claim against IBM and its customers. <br>Notwithstanding the dire warnings from lawyers and risk managers alike, companies continue to use open source code for their internal use, and to develop products to be sold or licensed to customers.
Equitable Distribution of Securities
July 21, 2004
Part Two of a Two-Part Article. The first part of this article discussed the initial steps, documents and forms for transferring securities in the course of the equitable distribution of assets involved in matrimonial litigation. This conclusion addresses deferred compensation plans and provides forms for the completion of the transfer.
Making the Case for the Benefits of Uniformity and Predictability
July 09, 2004
Uniformity and predictability are often lacking from judicial treatment of cases involving vicarious liability claims against franchisors, yet uniformity and predictability are the hallmarks of a successful franchise system, and the engines that have driven franchising to occupy such a prominent position in the domestic and worldwide economy.
Ethereal Asset
July 07, 2004
In the past 10 years intellectual property lawyers have become the profession's "it" boys and girls, if not quite rock stars. Law firms want to acquire them and are willing to pay them handsomely. Law students see IP as their meal ticket. And, most importantly, corporations want to retain them, as executives have begun to realize that ' in the words of Federal Reserve Board chairman Alan Greenspan ' "the economic product of the United States has become predominantly conceptual." <br>Intellectual property law is the container that creates value for Greenspan's conceptual assets ' stuff like biotechnology discoveries and circuitry design that is hard to create but comparatively easy to duplicate. IP lawyers are the enforcers of this peculiar brand of law, and frequently they are also the managers of this peculiar brand of asset. IP lawyers are in the catbird seat ' highly desirable free agents as firms chase talent, and highly sought-after corporate counselors. Can the good times last forever?
Offshore Outsourcing: Trends and Issues
July 07, 2004
It's no longer sneaking up on anyone that outsourcing is not only here to stay, but on the rise. A key part in outsourcing ' whether it's help desk or other IT functions or more involved business operations ' is the transfer and/or licensing of intellectual property and technology. This two-part article looks at outsourcing growth and trends, laws and taxes outsourcers need to know, and special considerations involved in transferring IP. Part One provides a fascinating glimpse where outsourcing is headed and why, the different business models outsourcing companies use, and discusses how outsourcers can maintain quality control over the outsourced functions.
Where Do We Go From Here?
July 02, 2004
The increasingly familiar category of "Matter Management" is a niche area in the world of legal technology that has attracted more interest from in-house legal departments and their outside law firms in recent years. It's a category with humble beginnings and dynamic changes ' both in terms of the companies that develop the software and in terms of the features enjoyed by the users. <br>This article takes a brief look at the origins and evolution of matter management technology, and then offer a provocative assessment of what the future holds. Ultimately, it challenges members of the legal technology community to think about what will become more important: fancy technology or software that's easy to use?
