0 results for 'Baker Donelson'
Behind the Scenes: Lobbying Battles of 2001
Lobbying, a unique hybrid of government, law and business, compels us to measure success differently. Great lobbying campaigns can have any of a number of outcomes, many often shaded in gray. What matters is how the game is played. Here is a particular angle on 10 of the most important issues before Congress in 2001, a rundown of the players and a nifty illustration of the old maxim "politics makes strange bedfellows."
Executive Compensation: It's Hot and About to Get Hotter
Executive compensation is about to become a hot topic, due to the SEC's proposed overhaul to the requirements for executive compensation disclosure. Now the method by which executives get to a particular level or form of compensation is as important as how much they receive. The proposed SEC rules, much like SOX, are simply the latest reaction to the perceived failings of corporate directors. Corporations need to prepare to follow these rules sooner rather than later, says attorney Gary M. Brown.ABA Delegates Pass Measure to Shield Experts' Drafts From Discovery
In the closest tally of its annual meeting in Honolulu, the American Bar Association decided last week to push for a federal rule change to protect expert draft reports from discovery. After vigorous debate, the ABA's House of Delegates voted 207-137 to recommend adding to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 26(a)(2) a privilege for draft reports and communications between attorneys and their experts. The measure will be forwarded to the U.S. Supreme Court's advisory Committee on Civil Rules.Some Talks, but Atlanta Firms Won't Merge
Merger talks between Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart and Ford & Harrison have started and stopped. The Atlanta-based labor and employment firms confirmed they were considering a union until recently, but neither would specify a reason for the breakdown in talks. Both firms have expanded rapidly into new territory over the past five years; the merger would have created a 300-attorney firm with a strong geographic reach.
Recommind's MindServer Legal: Google for Law Firms?
Law firms are realizing that internal search systems are invaluable practice tools for saving time, enhancing work quality and even helping to raise the bottom line. Our columnist, attorney Ari Kaplan, says MindServer Legal is a welcome player in a field that includes names familiar to many law firm CIOs, like Autonomy Corp., DolphinSearch Inc. and Thompson Elite. Kaplan took a good look at the product at the recent LegalTech show in New York, and he liked what he saw.
Sun Shines on Select Law Firms
Five years ago, Sun Microsystems worked with about 400 outside law firms. In the last few months, Sun has dramatically pared down its roster of outside counsel to nine firms that handle all its routine work. Apart from the cost-cutting and organizational motivations, Sun GC Michael Dillon says the law firm business has changed. The traditional law firm billable-hours model is "disjointed" from business reality, he said, and the race to meet New York associate salary standards "just exacerbates the problem."Jones Day Taps Long-Timer to Head Atlanta Office
Lizanne Thomas will become the new leader of Jones Day's Atlanta office. She will replace George T. Manning, the partner-in-charge for Atlanta since 2000, who is moving to Dallas to run the firm's office there. "I view my mission as, primarily, vision and growth," says Thomas, who joins a very small group of women in Atlanta running offices of major law firms. She forecasts that finance and restructuring practitioners will be in hot demand over the next few years.
Firms Act to Keep Partners From Jumping Ship
Lateral movement of partners and practice groups has increased among big firms in recent months, and the growing trend has firms trying a variety of approaches to foster loyalty. Giving partners a vote in all "material initiatives" is critical, says one administrative partner: "If you all know where the ship is headed, you're more eager to get on the oars and take it there." But, as firms become larger and reflect a more corporate structure, issuing an oar to every partner seems to be getting tougher.Judge Rejects Fraud Claims by SEC Against Investing Firm
A federal judge has rejected charges by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Atlanta that a Tennessee investment company defrauded 350 investors of more than $20 million. U.S. District Senior Judge Marvin H. Shoob determined that Merchant Capital and the limited partnerships it established to buy and sell credit debt are viable businesses and that the conduct of Merchant Capital's principals "was at all times appropriate, legal, ethical and forthright."
Law Firms Mull the 'Gen Y' Equation
Attorneys from "Generation Y" -- those born in 1978 or later -- are often smart and well-educated, but they're getting a reputation for what some law firm leaders say is a flabby work ethic, an off-putting sense of entitlement and a lack of loyalty. But is it a bad rap? Some research shows that younger workers are simply less "work-centric" and more interested in a personal life than older generations. "It may be more in the eyes of the observer than in the associate," said one firm chairman.Trending Stories
- 1A Novel (and 'Funnier') Ranking System for Law Schools: How Many Mentions in the Times
- 2Ex-Judge Tatel Regrets Focusing Clerk Hiring on Applicants from Elite Law Schools
- 3Insights on M&A Trends: Midyear 2024 Expert Roundtable
- 4Dallas Firm That Won $45M Talc Verdict Scored Again: Jury Hits J&J With $260M
- 5Law.com's Top 100 Verdicts of 2023
More from ALM
- Morgan & Morgan Class Action Attorneys Detail Pathway to Success Within Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Practice 1 minute read
- Holwell Shuster & Goldberg Partners Leverage 'Hostile' Witnesses to Secure $101 Million Verdict Against Walmart 1 minute read
- Legal Speak at General Counsel Conference Midwest 2024: Mike Andolina, Partner, White & Case 1 minute read
Resources
Good Legal Technology is Good Business: A Case for Bringing Employment Issues In-House
Brought to you by LexisNexis®
Download Now
Insights and Strategies for Effective Succession Planning in AM Law 100 Firms
Brought to you by Gallagher
Download Now
State AI Legislation Is on the Move in 2024
Brought to you by LexisNexis®
Download Now
2024 ESI Risk Management & Litigation Readiness Report
Brought to you by Pagefreezer
Download Now