On the Hot Seat: Five Must-Haves for Today's Am Law 100 Chief Operating Officers
Over the years, the structure of law firms has shifted from a geographical model to a practice group model. Rather than placing leaders in each geographical office, law firm practice group leaders have more power. As law firms have evolved in size, reach, and complexity, so too has the need for seasoned executives to manage the business of law.
Compensation Remains One of the Most Important Decisions for a Law Firm
With associate compensation dominating the headlines over the past several months, partner compensation has managed to slip under the radar. This isn't particularly surprising, however, given how uncomfortable discussions regarding partner pay can be for lawyers and their firms.Despite the tendency to delay or even avoid such conversations, partnership compensation remains one of the most scrutinized decisions in a law practice.
When a Lessee Files for Bankruptcy
A Chapter 11 debtor's motion for an order approving use of Cash Collateral or for Debtor-in-Possession (DIP) Financing usually happens as part of the so-called first-day hearings held within a few days after commencement of the case. The problem for creditors and equipment lessors is that while the debtor may have sent your client a notice of the bankruptcy case, the notice sometimes goes to the payment lock box or to someone who doesn't even know what bankruptcy is, much less that the order being sought is key to your client's future payment.
Litigation Funders Planning a New Role: Law Firm Ownership
Since litigation finance hit the scene just a couple decades ago, the business has evolved from investing in single lawsuits to groups of claims to purchasing judgments at bankruptcy auctions. Now, some litigation finance firms are preparing for an even bigger change to their business model: Injecting cash directly into law firms in the form of an equity stake that isn't tied to any specific case.
Post-Petition Interest in a Solvent Case
<b><i>What Interest Rate Controls?</b></i><p><p>In today's low-interest rate environment, the difference between a contractual interest rate and the federal judgment rate can be quite significant. It is not surprising, therefore, that this issue has become hotly litigated in cases involving solvent Chapter 11 debtors.
Workplace Violence
<b><i>Minimizing Risk and Protecting Employees</b></i><p>According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), approximately 2 million employees are victims of workplace violence each year. Violence in the workplace must be a top concern for employers, as no organization is immune from workplace violence and no organization can completely prevent it.
The New Anti-Bribery Compliance Standard
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) introduced a new standard for anti-bribery compliance, known as “ISO 37001,” in September. This represents a significant step toward the continued development and standardization of international anti-bribery compliance. By the end of the year, companies can obtain an independent certification from a third-party auditor, attesting to the fact that their internal compliance programs conform to ISO 37001 requirements. So is it worth your time? It depends.
Lower Pay for Women Partners
In the face of a glaring pay gap between male and female law firm partners, some firm leaders point to the emphasis on origination credit (bringing in new business) as the key culprit. But moving away from such a model may not be so easy.
