Identity Theft and Your Income Taxes
February 28, 2015
In 2013, 13.1 million people were victims of some sort of identity-theft. Often, you may think of identity theft as being confined to credit card or ATM fraud, yet there is an epidemic of fraudulent electronically filed tax returns. Identity-related tax fraud is the third-largest theft of federal funds after Medicare/Medicaid and unemployment-insurance fraud.
Addressing Value Challenges With Collaborative Workspaces
February 28, 2015
Today's law firms face unprecedented challenges in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving marketplace. Corporate clients, under intense pressure to cut costs and increase efficiency within their own organizations, are no longer willing to simply pay an hourly rate for services rendered in good faith. They are unapologetic in demanding increased accountability and demonstrable value from the legal teams who represent them.
The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014
January 31, 2015
On Dec. 19, 2014, the President signed into law the long-awaited year-end tax package, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (TIPA). This law extended to the end of 2014 many but not all of the individual, business, and energy provisions that expired at the end of 2013. In addition, the law provides for a new tax-advantaged savings program to aide in meeting the financial needs of disabled individuals, called the " Achieving a Better Life Experience" (ABLE) program.
The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014
January 31, 2015
On Dec. 19, 2014, the President signed into law the long-awaited year-end tax package, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (TIPA). This law extended to the end of 2014 many but not all of the individual, business, and energy provisions that expired at the end of 2013. .
Billing Rates Rise, Discounts Abound
January 31, 2015
The price of a billable hour has risen by more than 10% in four years, as large corporate law firms focused on their most expensive work and saved clients' money elsewhere.
Top 10 International Employment Law Issues
January 31, 2015
This article compiles and describes, with varying degrees of specificity, what appear, to this author, to be the top 10 global employment law issues facing employers in 2015. They are listed in reverse order.
Pricing It Right: Restructuring Billing
January 31, 2015
As pressure on pricing continues, Big Law firms are buying (or building) analytics technology and hiring pricing specialists ' people who use market data, internal firm data and economics/pricing experience to ensure that firms are smart about bidding on work. The mission: Educate clients about the value the firm brings, while making sure to charge enough to make a profit.
Getting to Zero
January 31, 2015
The question of how to manage paper records ' both onsite and off ' is probably the greatest hurdle faced by many of our clients. For most areas of back-office operations not running optimally, firms can outsource or hire a new manager and typically solve the problem. This is not the case for paper records.
Data Breaches: Why Prevention Isn't Enough
January 31, 2015
Cyberattacks and data breaches are an all-too-common fact of modern business. The news is full of stories about major U.S. banks and retailers being hacked, and the perpetrators are stealing the financial and personal information of clients, customers and others. While the masterminds and motives behind such attacks are not always immediately apparent, one thing is clear: Counsel must understand that traditional network security approaches are no longer enough.
Recent NLRB Actions Force Employers to Change Established Policies and Practices
January 31, 2015
This article highlights recent NLRB decisions and actions that have broadened the scope of employees' rights under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), summarizes the December 2014 final rule changing the representation election process, and provides an update on the court decisions in the <I>Noel Canning</I> case, which cast doubt on some recent NLRB actions.
