News

Brexit Planning in a Time of Uncertainty: How In-House Counsel Can Prep (as Much as Possible)

Caroline Spiezio | July 17, 2018

When it comes to Brexit, most everything feels up in the air. But that doesn't mean companies shouldn't be taking concrete steps now.

Analysis

After a Breach, a Company's Biggest Risk Is Its Employees

Rhys Dipshan | July 17, 2018

Simple mistakes by the C-suite and managers can open up a company to regulatory and legal action and cause reputational damage for years to come.

News

Ama Walton Climbs the Charts at BMG Music to Top Legal Spot

Dan Clark | July 16, 2018

The German in-house attorney and music industry vet will also add the title of chief human resources officer to her growing resume.

Analysis

The Long Road to Going Public: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Dropbox's Successful IPO

Caroline Spiezio | July 13, 2018

It took teamwork, preparation and smart technology use to get Dropbox's IPO over the finish line earlier this year.

News

PwC Launches New Local Law Practice in Singapore, Hiring Prominent Partner from a Top Singapore Firm

John Kang | July 13, 2018

Rachel Eng will leave WongPartnership after 23 years and launch a new local firm for the accounting giant. She had been the firm's deputy chair since 2016.

News

UnitedLex Targets UK Law Firm Tie-up on Back of Major US Deals

Ben Wheway| July 13, 2018

The legal services provider is now setting its sights on the U.K. market.

What junior lawyers need to know about artificial intelligence

Jeffrey Catanzaro| July 13, 2018

AI is creating huge opportunities – but it’s important for junior lawyers to appreciate how such technology will impact their careers

ITV to appoint new legal chief as Garard steps down after more than a decade in top role

Joseph Evans| July 12, 2018

Long-serving group legal director Andrew Garard to assist ITV in search for successor

Network Rail to appoint four firms to new 'innovation-driven' legal panel

Hannah Roberts and Joseph Evans| July 12, 2018

Rail operator invites firms to apply for new roster in move away from current traditional panel

BBC pay report reveals salary details for corporation's top lawyers

Joseph Evans| July 11, 2018

BBC GC Sarah Jones listed as taking home £255,000, with head of commercial legal, Peter Ranyard, making £160,000

Legislation roundup: FDI Catalogue, A shares and insurance companies

Susan Mok | July 11, 2018

The negative list for foreign investment is relaxed, foreigners are encouraged to invest in the A-share market and insurance companies are required to include independent directors.

News

Fast-Growing Rubrik Hires First CLO, a Hint it May Be IPO Bound

Caroline Spiezio | July 10, 2018

Peter McGoff, formerly of Box, will lead the company’s global legal and compliance functions, with a focus on expanding into international markets and developing a compliance and governance framework.

Dechert applies to US court to subpoena Sunday Times journalist after ENRC leak allegation

Joseph Evans| July 10, 2018

US law firm follows mining company in applying to subpoena journalist for leaked documents

DOJ's Scott Schools Heads to Uber as Chief Compliance Officer

Caroline Spiezio | July 09, 2018

The former DOJ lawyer looks to be part of Uber's grand plan to clean up its act and its tarnished public image.

European Consumer Org Claims Big Tech Companies' Privacy Policies Not Totally GDPR Compliant

Dan Clark | July 09, 2018

A report indicates that even though many tech companies updated their privacy policies right before the GDPR came into effect on May 25, “there is still room for significant improvements.”

Expert Opinion

A New Kind of General Counsel Innovator

E. Leigh Dance| July 09, 2018

General counsel are advocating on important issues for their organization’s stakeholders, with a far broader scope than legal.

UK Legal Departments Falling Behind in Tech Use, Study Says

Dan Clark | July 09, 2018

New data from Acritas shows that British legal departments are lagging behind the rest of Europe and the U.S. in multiple tech use categories.

'I am able to be me in the legal world' – a perspective on the 'safety bubble' of City law

Salim Stephenson| July 09, 2018

MoFo's Salim Stephenson on the workplace challenges facing LGBTQA+ people - and the progress law firms are making

News

Key Compliance Lesson From Credit Suisse: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Sue Reisinger | July 06, 2018

“It is not enough to have a global statement on paper barring something,” one attorney said of the recent case against Credit Suisse.

Q&A

‘The Job in Crypto Found Me’: A Q&A With Robinhood AGC Adele Faure

Caroline Spiezio | July 06, 2018

Faure's in-house role has expanded to include cryptocurrency. Luckily she's got plenty of regulatory experience and "crypto nerd friends" to help her succeed.

Analysis

Why You Shouldn’t Be Complacent About Smart Contracts

Amy Wan, Sagewise| July 03, 2018

The immutability and security of the blockchain make them a powerful tool, but they are not infallible. The blockchain industry needs a solution that allows smart contracts to be judged by their original intent.

News

Due Process and Efficiency: AI Has Complicated Legal Systems in US, China

Caroline Spiezio| July 02, 2018

The U.S.-China AI Tech Summit revealed some interesting issues at the intersection of AI and judicial process.

What 'new law' looks like: six key characteristics of the legal provider of the future

Michael Siebold| July 02, 2018

So-called ‘new law’ providers are proving serious competition to well-established ‘big law’ firms. But what does ‘new law’ look like in practice?

Expert Opinion

I Have 2 Job Offers. Which One Should I Take?

Julie Q. Brush| July 02, 2018

Determining which position constitutes the best career move will depend on your priorities and your goals—and you need to figure out what those are.

News

Want More Money at Your In-House Health Care Gig? Move to the West Coast or Northeast

Kristen Rasmussen | June 29, 2018

A study by the American Health Lawyers Association and Bloomberg Law analyzed trends in the health care industry and found that in-house lawyers in those two regions have on average the highest base salaries.

News

LexisNexis Adds Ravel Visualizations Into Case Law Research

Zach Warren | June 29, 2018

Called Ravel View, the data visualization technology creates a visual map of the cases and language that LexisNexis says judges find most important.

News

Despite GDPR, Looks Like There's No Rush to Buy Cyberinsurance

Dan Clark | June 28, 2018

So, why no cyberinsurance yet? The answer may be that insurers still need to get their policy language in order.

Profile

Women of Legal Tech: Lucy Bassli and Her ‘New Norm’ of Legal Services Delivery

Monica Bay| June 28, 2018

The former Microsoft AGC talks about why she went out on her own with InnoLegal Services, her first seat at the table, and why young women should 'be heard.'

News

Former In-House Counsel Avoids Prison in Financial Fraud Conspiracy

Sue Reisinger | June 27, 2018

William Dawn was in-house counsel at Denver-based Compass Financial Solutions, a financial services marketing firm, from 2002 to 2010. The 80-year-old had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

'Billable hours do not help innovation' – the tech conundrums law firms are grappling with

Legal Week| June 25, 2018

Speakers from KPMG, Freshfields and Baker McKenzie discuss top tech issues at the Legal Week Strategic Technology Forum 2018

News

Intel CEO's Departure Shows Importance of Office Dating Policies, Especially if You're the Boss

Caroline Spiezio | June 22, 2018

Brian Krzanich of Intel resigned from the company over revelations he had dated an Intel employee. His departure says a lot about the considerations companies face these days in dealing with workplace relationships.

News

5 Big Considerations When Finding, Managing Outside Counsel

Dan Clark | June 22, 2018

Lynn Watkins-Asiyanbi, associate general counsel at JBT Corp., and Bindu Cudjoe, deputy general counsel and chief knowledge officer at the Bank of Montreal, shared some recommendations for outside counsel management at an ACC event Friday.

News

EU Copyright Directive Advances: What Does That Mean for Tech’s Legal Departments?

Caroline Spiezio | June 21, 2018

The directive, which passed the EU's Legal Affairs Committee this week and is slated to move to an EU Parliament vote in the future, could create some serious roadblocks for tech companies.

Expert Opinion

Does Compliance Really Have Different Interests Than Legal?

Michael W. Peregrine| June 20, 2018

Recent public comments by well-known compliance consultant Hui Chen provide an important, if not also provocative, perspective on the role lawyers should play as part of a compliance team.

News

Salvador Juncadella Retires From the World of International GCs

Catherine Wilson | June 20, 2018

Salvador Juncadella, a soft-spoken pitch man for international general counsel, is retiring as a consultant at Morgan Lewis in Miami.

News

Across the Globe, 3M Lawyers Take Pride in Pro Bono Projects

Sue Reisinger | June 19, 2018

The pro bono program at 3M is highly active and very international. “Pro bono work exposes legal professionals to new areas of law, and sharpens their legal analysis and client communication skills,” GC Ivan Fong told Corporate Counsel.

News

PwC Legal Continues Asia Expansion; Hong Kong Affiliate Makes Multiple Partner Hires

John Kang | June 19, 2018

Since launching last year, PwC's affiliate firm in Hong Kong, Tiang & Co., has expanded to about 16 lawyers.

News

Meet David Taylor, the Theranos GC and Former Munger Associate Who Just Became the Troubled Company's CEO

Caroline Spiezio| June 18, 2018

Taylor will have his work cut out for him, replacing former CEO Elizabeth Holmes at a company that has been stuck in a downward spiral of legal troubles and bad headlines.

News

CLOC Survey Shows In-House Legal May Rethink Staffing After Associate Raises—Or Maybe Not

Dan Clark | June 15, 2018

A recent survey from the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium took its members' temperature on associate pay. There was frustration expressed about the Milbank raises, but some indicated they'd be understanding—as long as the costs didn't land on the corporate legal balance sheet.

News

In-House Experts Give Mixed Reaction to New Legal Services Venture From UnitedLex, LeClairRyan

Sue Reisinger | June 15, 2018

A group of experts with plenty of in-house legal experience expressed both enthusiasm and some skepticism about the new ULX Partners launch.

Expert Opinion

What's Market-Rate Compensation for a Midlevel Associate Heading In-House?

Julie Q. Brush| June 15, 2018

Moving in-house is an alluring proposition that has been a major driver for the exodus of today’s young law firm associates.

News

Inspired by His Own Deal Career, a Veteran GC Writes Book on Contracts, Negotiations

Caroline Spiezio | June 14, 2018

The book draws from mistakes that Paul Swegle, a 10-time GC, has seen made in the contract drafting and negotiation process.

News

Panic Over GDPR Noncompliance Fines: Is It Overblown?

Dan Clark | June 14, 2018

At the 2018 NetDiligence Cyber Risk Summit in Philadelphia, experts said that companies don't need to worry as much as they are about General Data Protection Regulation fines.

News

How to Succeed In-House (While Really Trying): 5 Tips From Legal Leaders

Caroline Spiezio | June 13, 2018

In-house lawyers from Pinterest, Microsoft, Sophos and more shared their advice for success at a Stanford University conference this week.

Live Coverage

No More Stigma of the ‘Non’: Where Non-Lawyers Fit in the Legal Ops Ecosystem

Zach Warren | June 13, 2018

While there are differences between lawyers and those without JDs, the gulf is not so great that non-lawyers should be excluded from legal tasks, said panelists at the ACC's Legal Operations conference.

Commentary

What You Need to Know About the European Trade Secrets Directive

Peter Lando and Thomas McNulty| June 12, 2018

Companies doing business in Europe or with European entities should understand the new protections afforded trade secrets in Europe, as well as which countries are in compliance and which have not yet made the necessary changes.

Corporate Dating Policies: Thoughts on Balancing Employee Bliss With Employer Interests

Daniel K. Wiig| June 12, 2018

Corporate counsel, in conjunction with human resources management (HRM), should consider drafting and implementing a balanced dating policy that both respects the employee’s personal lives yet protects the employer’s interests in avoiding touchy personnel matters.

News

Female Legal Leaders From eBay, Udacity and More Discuss Best Practices for the Era of #MeToo

Caroline Spiezio | June 11, 2018

At the 15th annual Stanford E-Commerce Best Practices Conference, a group of powerful female attorneys, including in-house lawyers from the tech world, weighed in on diversity and #MeToo.

Westfield promotes in-house duo to new roles as Europe GC departs following £18.5bn takeover

Krishnan Nair| June 11, 2018

Retail giant splits Europe GC role into UK and Italy roles after multibillion-pound Unibail-Rodamco takeover

Expert Opinion

Connecting With a Recruiter to Keep Your Options Open

Julie Brush| June 08, 2018

I have a great job, in a good location with good people. But I don’t want to discourage recruiters from thinking of me for special opportunities. What is the best way to do this?

News

It Was a Tough Week for Bank General Counsel Around the Globe

Sue Reisinger | June 08, 2018

Internationally, banks had a tough enforcement week--a timely reminder of the importance of a strong compliance focus in the financial services sector.

Simpson Thacher Beijing Partner Joins Private Equity Firm YunFeng Capital

Anna Zhang| June 08, 2018

Corporate partner Shaolin Luo has joined Shanghai-based YunFeng Capital as general counsel

News

GDPR Making It Tougher to Catch Certain IP Violators, Attorneys Say

Dan Clark | June 07, 2018

GDPR has raised some new issues around domain ownership and infringement. But hold tight—the situation may improve down the road.

How to Improve In-House Effectiveness

Abbott Martin| June 07, 2018

Boosting department effectiveness doesn’t require huge investments in new systems, but instead a leadership and management focus that weighs the creation of system capacity as much as it does the priority matter sitting on your desk.

News

Legal Operations in the US vs. Europe: Is it So Different Across the Pond?

Dan Clark | June 07, 2018

There are some distinctions, experts say, but ops is not as different in Europe as one might expect.

LexisNexis, Australian Human Rights Commission Look to Tame Emerging Tech

Rhys Dipshan | June 07, 2018

Alongside government, academic and legal organizations, LexisNexis will participate in an Australian Human Rights Commission project examining emerging technologies' impact on human rights.

'We Didn’t Buy Carillion to do a Freshfields' – CC’s New London head on Ramping up Newcastle and Creating the Firm of the Future

Georgina Stanley and Hannah Roberts| June 07, 2018

Michael Bates on his 'baptism of fire' since taking up the leadership reins in CC's London HQ

Expert Opinion

Safeguarding Your Company: Obtaining Recovery for Antitrust Violations

Cindy Caranella Kelly and Sarah Gibbs Leivick| June 06, 2018

There are circumstances where litigation may not necessarily be the optimal strategy for obtaining appropriate redress and recovering damages caused by collusion.

Has Hong Kong's Legal Tech Moment Arrived?

Rhys Dipshan | June 06, 2018

A movement is taking hold in the city to bring legal tech into the mainstream and make Hong Kong a legal tech player in its own right. Will it succeed?

RBS puts firms on notice for panel review as Freshfields advises on £2.5bn share sale

Rose Walker| June 06, 2018

Bank tells advisers it will kick off formal review of legal panel in coming months

Ocado general counsel bags £8m after selling one million shares in online supermarket

Joseph Evans| June 06, 2018

Legal chief at online retailer earns multimillion-pound sum with share sale

Ocado general counsel bags £8m after selling one million shares in online supermarket

Joseph Evans| June 06, 2018

Legal chief at online retailer earns multimillion-pound sum with share sale

News

Beyond CLO: Nokia's Maria Varsellona Adds Role as President of Company's Tech, Licensing Business

Caroline Spiezio | June 05, 2018

The Finnish company has bumped its CLO up, giving Varsellona new executive responsibilities.

Expert Opinion

Words to Live By for a Successful Career

Julie Brush| June 05, 2018

Words matter. And if you are a professional who cares about career and personal success, you must appreciate the power of words—their benefits and their dangers.

Taking Company Documents to Support Whistleblowing— When Is 'Self Help' Unlawful?

Kevin Griffith and Ed Ellis| June 05, 2018

Even as federal protections for whistleblowers have expanded, employers can still take strategic actions to address employees taking confidential and proprietary business information to provide to a governmental agency or for use in a whistleblower action.

Expert Opinion

GCs: How to Manage New Hire Expectations

Mike Evers| June 05, 2018

The results from the 2018 Career Satisfaction survey for in-house counsel make it abundantly clear that most of you crave upward mobility.

Commentary

The Power of an Idea

Frank Ramos| June 04, 2018

If you can create an environment in your legal department where ideas are born, germinate, grow and flourish, you will create a legal department that solves not only legal problems, but business problems, sales problems, customer problems and every company problem imaginable.

Post-Merger, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner Sells Stake in Lawyers on Demand

Joseph Evans| May 30, 2018

Since spinning off in 2012, the business has grown rapidly, merging with Australian contract attorney outfit AdventBalance in 2016 and expanding to more than 600 lawyers and consultants.

Rising Vacation Management Company Hires First CLO

Anna Ward | May 30, 2018

A vacation rental management company based in Oregon announced the hiring of an experienced IPO attorney as its first chief legal officer on Wednesday.

News

European Billionaire's Investment Group Hires New GC

Dan Clark | May 29, 2018

Waypoint Capital Group, the business associated with the investments of the billionaire Bertarelli family, announced on May 22 that Ron Cami would take over as general counsel.

News

Australia's AMP Appoints David Cullen as Group General Counsel

Sue Reisinger | May 29, 2018

AMP Ltd., Australia’s largest wealth manager, has appointed David Cullen as its new group general counsel. Cullen replaces Brian Salter, who was terminated last month.

More than 80 firms set to bid for £320m Crown Commercial Service panel

Rose Walker| May 29, 2018

Government panel, which covers regional and full service work across the UK, set to commence in August

News

Noble Energy Hires Rachel Clingman as Legal Chief

Stephanie Forshee | May 25, 2018

Clingman takes over the role after former GC Arnold Johnson abruptly departed last November.

News

Everyone's Worried About GDPR, but It May Be the Y2K of Data Privacy

Dan Clark | May 25, 2018

The message that lawyers have for companies nervous about GDPR compliance and heavy fines: For now, keep calm and carry on.

Why Blockchain Poses an Unusual Challenge for GDPR Compliance

Gabrielle Orum Hernández | May 25, 2018

Many of GDPR’s biggest mandates are fundamentally incompatible with blockchain technology. How can blockchain operators find common ground with the new regulation?

News

Global Trade Sanctions Picture Growing Tenser and Murkier for General Counsel

Sue Reisinger | May 24, 2018

Recent action by the U.S. on the sanctions front has given American companies reason to be leery. Sometimes, with cross-border transactions, it's tough to even know which country's legal regime to follow.

Global Trade Sanctions Picture Growing Tenser and Murkier for General Counsel

Sue Reisinger| May 24, 2018

Recent action by the U.S. on the sanctions front has given American companies reason to be leery. Sometimes, with cross-border transactions, it's tough to even know which country's legal regime to follow.

The GDPR and China's Cyber Law: Following One Doesn't Mean Following Both

Ian Lopez | May 24, 2018

The General Data Protection Regulation and China's Cybersecurity Law are aligned in many ways, though there are enough divisions that privacy counsel should be wary in creating a plan to comply with both.

The 5 Secrets to Setting up a Legal Operations Function

Zach Warren| May 24, 2018

If you don’t already have a legal ops function, odds are that you’re looking into it. You should be; there are many benefits of a well-constructed legal ops function.

News

Facebook Names Data Protection Officer as GDPR Deadline Nears

Caroline Spiezio | May 23, 2018

Stephen Deadman will be stepping in as data protection officer for Facebook at a time when the company's data practices are under more scrutiny than ever.

3 Reasons Why AI Requires an Essential Human Component in RegTech

Kayvan Alikhani, Compliance.ai.| May 23, 2018

In the best interest of accurate data, enlisting a team of industry or topic-focused experts will give the AI the direction it needs to better analyze and classify data.

How Mexichem's GC Brought His Team Together by Building a Global Compliance Program

Sue Reisinger| May 22, 2018

Francisco Hernandez of Mexichem took a group of disparate lawyers spread throughout the world and shaped them into a global legal function using a rather surprising tool--ethics and compliance.

AmEx's GC Laureen Seeger Opens Up About Diversity, Mentoring, and Pay Equity

Stephanie Forshee| May 22, 2018

In an interview with Corporate Counsel, the high-powered GC shared why diversity and inclusion are so important to her and what she and AmEx are doing to level the playing field.

Most US and EU Companies Not Ready for New Data Privacy Law, Survey Says

Sue Reisinger| May 21, 2018

With the Friday GDPR deadline approaching, the report said 63 percent of U.S. respondents stated they will be largely or completely compliant. The report said there is “a mixed picture across Europe,” however.

For More Diversity, In-House Legal Leaders Say: Be Intentional, Show Bottom-Line Benefits

Kristen Rasmussen| May 21, 2018

On May 18, a group of attorneys from major companies gathered in the Atlanta offices of Greenberg Traurig to share their experiences with building diversity.

Digital Wealth Management Firm Personal Capital Names First GC

Stephanie Forshee| May 21, 2018

"My experience helping technology companies grow and stay ahead of the increasingly complex legal and compliance matters as they scale will allow me to add value right from the start," said new general counsel Allison Amadia.

The Security Challenges with Bringing Blockchain In-House

Rhys Dipshan| May 21, 2018

Properly securing blockchain-enabled technologies such as smart contracts requires not only traditional cybersecurity protections, but also coordination across multiple different teams.

After 38 Years at Dow, GC Charles Kalil Announces Retirement

Caroline Spiezio| May 18, 2018

Associate General Counsel Amy Wilson will step in as general counsel-elect after Kalil's exit later this year.

News

Kate Logan Takes the Mic as Warner Music's New International General Counsel

Caroline Spiezio | May 18, 2018

Logan will be in charge of WMG's legal affairs around the world, including in North Africa and the Middle East, where the company recently added a new division.

Changing Minds and Tech Platforms: What Makes a Lean Lawyer

Rhys Dipshan| May 18, 2018

Legal professionals are being challenged to become lean and efficient lawyers. And for most, that means deploying legal technologies, new workflows, and particularly, a new way of thinking.

Will the GDPR Apply to U.S. Government Agencies?

Rhys Dipshan| May 18, 2018

Though the GDPR applies to both public and private entities, the U.S. government will likely rely on ad-hoc agreements to meet some of its obligations instead of fully complying.

News

Chinese Foreign Trademark Applications Set to Outnumber Those Submitted From US by 2020

Dan Clark | May 17, 2018

A new study from CompuMark indicates the United States should watch its back with global trademark applications.

GDPR Could Be a 'Spark for New Business Models,' IBM Survey Says

Dan Clark| May 16, 2018

59 percent say the GDPR is a chance 'for transformation or a spark for new data-led business models.'

Corporate Law 2.0: What It Means to Be a 'Chief Legal Innovation Counsel'

Rhys Dipshan| May 16, 2018

Former GE executive counsel Farrah Pepper discusses her move to Marsh & McLennan as its new chief legal innovation counsel, where she says her primary job is to make things "click."

Novartis GC to Step Down after Admitting $1.2m Contract with Trump Lawyer was an Error

Anna Ward | May 16, 2018

Pharma company's legal chief takes "personal responsibility" to end public debate over contract with Michael Cohen

Weetabix Hires Former Shoosmiths Partner as New Head of Legal

Anna Ward | May 16, 2018

Food company behind brands such as Alpen and Ready Brek recruits new legal chief

Uber Legal Chief Explains Decision to Scrap NDAs for Sexual Harassment Claims

Stephanie Forshee| May 15, 2018

Chief legal officer Tony West on the rationale behind his company's new policies on how it deals with claims of sexual harassment and assault

Expert Opinion

India: An Emerging Economic Powerhouse and the Need for In-House Counsel

Pooja Mahbubani| May 14, 2018

With sustained economic growth above 7 percent and an exploding start-up culture, the Indian economy is booming. And thanks to the ongoing economic liberalization brought about by the Modi government, it’s never been more accessible for foreign companies.

Co-op Group Overhauls Legal Panel with Seven Firms Appointed to New Combined Roster

Rose Walker| May 14, 2018

Two firms win new appointments as Co-op Group combines corporate, commercial and property panels

News

Not Just GDPR: Questions Abound as EU Cybersecurity Directive Comes Online

Rhys Dipshan | May 11, 2018

Since each EU nation can implement the Network and Information Security (NIS) directive in its own way, there is uncertainty over what local and international companies will be covered.