Archive for November, 2016
Key Provisions in Software Settlement Agreements
Insight
Keli Johnson Swan of Scott & Scott lists some of the provisions that should be carefully considered before executing a software audit settlement agreement.
eBook: A Guide to the Enterprise Legal Management Paradigm Shift
Insight
Onit has published an eBook that discusses how ELM solutions are positively impacting corporate legal departments like Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), The Home Depot and Under Armour.
Associate Bonus Watch: Cravath Announces Its 2016 Associate Bonuses
News
An eighth-year associate will earn almost $400,000 in total compensation ($280,000 for the first half of the year, $315,000 for the second half of the year, and $100,000 in bonus money), up from $380,000, reports Above the Law.
Cross-Atlantic Merger Could Yield 2,300-Lawyer Firm
News
The merged Sutherland-Eversheds firm would have revenue of more than $900 million, putting it into the top 40 law firms in the world, by revenue, reports Bloomberg Law.
Texas Law Firm With 80-Year History Is Disbanding
News
Some Shannon Gracey lawyers already have formed new firms or joined other Texas firms, according to a report in The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Report: Billing Rates Up, Lawyer Productivity Down
News
Lawyers’ billing rates increased by 3.6 percent this year, with an expected hike of another 4.4 percent coming the following year, according to a Wells Fargo study.
Bailey Brauer Named Among Nation’s Most Feared Law Firms
News
BTI Consulting Group surveyed in-house counsel across the country regarding lawyers whom they never want to face in court. As a result, Bailey Brauer has been named to the 2017 ranking of Most Feared Litigation Firms.
Law Department Operations: Survey Results & Live Webinar
Insight and Event
The 2016 report on a comprehensive survey of law department operations, “Trying to Take the Leap from Small Changes to Major Disruptions,” can be downloaded from Blickstein Group at no charge, and a webinar will discuss the results on Dec. 14.
Trump’s SCOTUS Shortlister Kethledge Doesn’t Mince Words
News
President-elect Donald Trump and Sixth Circuit Judge Raymond M. Kethledge have something in common — blunt opinions, reports Bloomberg Law.
AG Depositions in Climate Change Probe Called ‘Highly Unusual’
News
A federal judge in Dallas has ordered the attorneys general of two Northeastern states to come to Texas next month to be deposed in a lawsuit brought by Exxon Mobil, according to a report posted by Androvett Legal Media & Marketing.
Skadden Publishes 2016 Edition of Energy Law Handbook
Insight
The updates cover such topics as compliance programs, audits and investigations, criminal and civil penalties, FERC market manipulation enforcement, CFTC regulation, antitrust enforcement, reliability, affiliate rules, natural gas, false statements, and more.
China Contracts: Dispute Resolution Clauses
Insight
Dan Harris explains why a provision calling for Chinese contract dispute resolution in U.S. courts can sometimes be a hindrance, compared to a clause requiring dispute resolution to take place in Chinese courts.
Incorporation by Reference of an Arbitration Clause Is a Simple Matter … Isn’t It?
Insight
Drafting an arbitration clause for an agreement may seem like a straightforward matter most of the time, writes Gilbert A. Samberg for Mintz, Levin.
Using Standard Form Contracts May Hurt Your Business
Insight
Not only do these vague business contracts fail to address important issues that may arise between the two parties, they may also lead to confusion over what terms will actually govern the agreement, writes Corey F. Schechter of Butterfield Schechter LLP.
Judge Squelches New Overtime Regs: Now What?
News
Should employers roll back new policies to save money and then face potential liability if the regulation is ultimately upheld? One employment lawyer says the risk might be worth it for nonprofits who often have people doing professional work, but earning in the $35,000 a year range.
‘Chapter 22’ Looms Over Some U.S. Oil and Gas Bankruptcy Survivors
News
Reuters tells the story of “Chapter 22” companies, oil and gas industry firms that return to bankruptcy court after their first Chapter 11 overhaul failed to fix their problems.
Meet the Top Lawyer of the World Series Champs
News
As the top lawyer for the Chicago Cubs, Lydia Wahlke spends most of her time protecting and enforcing the team’s brand, but she still gets to be a fan of the new World Series champions, according to an interview published in Bloomberg’s Big Law Business.
Practical and Ethical Issues for Attorneys Practicing Dual Occupations
Insight
Engaging in a second occupation may appeal to some attorneys, but lawyers must always consider the practical and ethical challenges involved with actively practicing dual occupations, advises Laura Drossman.
Pension & Welfare Plan Overpayments: What’s An Employer To Do?
Event, Dec. 6, 1 p.m. EST
Tax and employee benefits counsel must often advise their clients on best practices for handling potentially costly pension and welfare plan overpayments. Overpayments made in self-funded group health plans due to excessive charges by out-of-network providers and pension-plan overpayments on account of administrative errors may require potential contributions by the employer and lead to costly liability.
Facts in Law Firm Discrimination Suit No Bellwether on Gender Pay
Insight
Sarah Bradbury, senior counsel at Dallas litigation boutique Estes Thorne & Carr PLLC, comments on the recent $100 million discrimination lawsuit against Chadbourne & Parke over claims that female partners are paid less than their male counterparts.
