LITTLER APPOINTS NEW OFFICE MANAGING SHAREHOLDERS IN CHICAGO AND IRVINE

LITTLER APPOINTS NEW OFFICE MANAGING SHAREHOLDERS IN CHICAGO AND IRVINE

CHICAGO and IRVINE, Calif. (May 3, 2023) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has appointed new office managing shareholders (OMS) in its Chicago and Irvine, California offices.

Shareholder Kwabena Appenteng will serve as OMS of the firm’s Chicago office. He succeeds Paul Bateman, who will continue to fulfill his leadership responsibilities as Littler’s Chief Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Officer and member of the firm’s Management Committee, alongside his active practice.

Shareholder Heather M. Vigil will serve as the Irvine office OMS. She succeeds Jon Miller, who will also continue to focus on his active practice.

“Kwabena and Heather are both natural leaders who have long been champions of the firm’s mentorship and recruiting efforts. As such, they are well positioned to continue our growth efforts in these important markets,” said Erin Webber, Littler’s managing director and president. “On behalf of the firm, I’d also like to thank Paul and Jon for their leadership and numerous contributions to the development of our Chicago and Irvine offices.”

In addition to his role as Chicago OMS, Appenteng will continue to serve as co-chair of Littler’s Privacy and Data Security Practice Group, advising employers on compliance issues related to the California Consumer Privacy Act, European General Data Protection Regulation, cross-border transfers of human resources data, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, biometric privacy laws, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and state and federal monitoring laws, among others.

“I am thrilled to take the reins in Chicago,” said Appenteng. “Paul has laid a strong foundation, and I look forward to continuing to provide growth opportunities for our talented attorneys and professional staff, as well as first-rate legal services and innovative solutions to our clients.”

Vigil will also maintain her thriving litigation practice as well focusing on international employment law, wage and hour matters, and privacy and data security issues. She defends employers in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration and administrative hearings before agencies such as the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Vigil also regularly conducts employee and management training sessions and counsels small, medium-sized and multinational employers on workplace investigations, terminations, disciplinary actions, and other issues arising under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and California Labor Code.

“I’m honored to serve in this role and follow in Jon’s footsteps,” said Vigil. “We have an amazing team in Irvine who, alongside our offices across the state, have the depth and breadth of skills needed to help employers navigate California’s tricky legal landscape. I’m excited to continue bolstering our team and capabilities in the years to come.”

Appenteng is a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the U.S. and Europe, and a frequent speaker and author on topics related to privacy in the workplace. He earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and his B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University.

Vigil earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and her B.A. from San Jose State University.

About Littler

With more than 1,700 labor and employment attorneys in offices around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our diverse global team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers for what’s happening today, and what’s likely to happen tomorrow. For more information, visit www.littler.com.

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Duane Morris Welcomes Trial Partner Sal Subasinghe in Austin

Sal Subasinghe has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Trial Practice Group in its Austin office. Prior to joining Duane Morris, Subasinghe was a partner at Culhane Meadows Haughian & Walsh PLLC.

“Sal adds to the tremendous bench strength of our trial practice and enhances our reputation as a go to firm for high-stakes litigation and arbitration matters,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor.

“This year we have focused our international arbitration capabilities, which reflect the ongoing expansion and investment in our litigation group to serve a global client base,” said Wayne A. Mack, co-chair of Duane Morris’ Trial Practice Group. “Sal’s work on complex dispute resolution and securities litigation truly enhances our reputation as a talented team of innovative attorneys,” added Sharon L. Caffrey, co-chair of Duane Morris’ Trial Practice Group.

“As Austin continues to increase its presence in the global economy, our office is enhanced by Sal’s broad experience in international arbitration and commercial litigation and his work across a diverse industry base,” said Bert Greene, managing partner of the firm’s Austin office. “2023 has been a great year for our team in Austin. Not only are we celebrating five years here, we are accelerating our growth and enhancing our service to our local clients.”
Subasinghe’s practice focuses on high-stakes commercial disputes, securities and shareholder litigation, and government investigations and enforcement actions. He represents clients in international commercial and investment disputes before international arbitral tribunals and courts, and represents corporate directors and officers in bankruptcy adversary proceedings. Additionally, Subasinghe works with board committees on internal investigations and advises companies dealing with material corporate transactions, including fiduciary obligations in mergers and acquisitions.
“I have a growing practice, and the firm’s full-service platform, strong geographic footprint and collaborative culture will benefit both me and my clients,” said Subasinghe.

Subasinghe is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 2014), where he was associate editor for the Houston Law Review and received the LEX Award for Administrative Law, Civil Procedure, Property and Legal Research and Writing, and the Pennsylvania State University (M.S., 2006; B.S., 2005).

About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.




Duane Morris Welcomes Corporate Partner R. Charles Miller in Washington, D.C.

R. Charles Miller has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Corporate Practice Group in its Washington, D.C., office. Prior to joining Duane Morris, Miller was a partner at K&L Gates LLP.

“We are focused on attracting marquee talent, and Chuck Miller, with his deep knowledge of securities law and the regulatory environment for investment companies and advisers, is a great addition to the firm,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor.

“With terrific momentum, we continue to build our practice group and strengthen our corporate platform with new talent,” said Brian P. Kerwin, chair of Duane Morris’ Corporate Practice Group. “The breadth of our capabilities, from M&A, commercial finance to capital markets, securities and private equity, enables this growth trajectory and serves to attract excellent lawyers like Chuck.”

“We’re pleased to welcome Chuck to Duane Morris and have him bolster our local team here in Washington,” said Patrick D. McPherson, managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. “With the recent addition of Nick Stewart in Baltimore, it is terrific to be strengthening our corporate practice in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. Chuck and Nick will be great resources to both offices.”

Miller’s practice focuses on federal securities laws, principally in the area of investment company and investment adviser representation. He has practiced for more than 25 years in the asset management industry and regularly handles a wide variety of regulatory, transactional and counseling matters. Miller has extensive experience concerning the registration, distribution and operation of open-end and closed-end funds and the regulation of investment advisers and broker-dealers. He represents some of the world’s largest financial services companies in addressing complex issues involving fiduciary obligations, innovative share classes, revenue sharing, trading restrictions and affiliation. In addition, Miller works regularly with investment managers and intermediaries in structuring and offering new investment products. In the course of his work, he frequently interacts with the SEC, FINRA, the MSRB and other regulatory agencies. Additionally, Miller has particular experience in working with investment advisers in establishing and operating separately managed accounts, wrap accounts and other investment advisory programs. He is also known nationally for his work with retirement plans and college savings plans (529 plans), and regularly represents investment advisers, broker-dealers and program administrators in setting up and maintaining new retirement plan platforms and 529 plans. Miller is a member of the American Law Institute.

“Duane Morris offers a full-service platform, which will be useful to my clients, and I am looking forward to being part of its strong Corporate Practice Group and participating in the firm’s collegial and collaborative culture,” said Miller.

Before entering private practice, Miller was a judicial clerk for Judge Spottswood W. Robinson III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and then for Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court and was previously special counsel in the Office of the General Counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He was previously named “Lawyer of the Year” for the Washington, D.C. area in securities and capital markets law by The American Lawyer. Miller is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., cum laude), where he was editor-in-chief of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review and elected to the Order of the Coif, and Harvard University (B.A., cum laude).

About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.




Davis Wright Tremaine’s National Privacy and Security Practice Adds Experienced West Coast Partner

Davis Wright Tremaine’s National Privacy and Security Practice Adds Experienced West Coast Partner

APRIL 25, 2023 – David Rice, an attorney with more than two decades of experience advising diverse clients on a wide range of privacy and data security issues, has joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as a partner in the firm’s Seattle office.

“Privacy compliance continues to be one of the most difficult and fast-moving challenges for clients across all industries,” said Nancy Libin, Washington, D.C.-based chair of the privacy and security practice at Davis Wright. “Like us, David is known for delivering practical, future-focused, on-point strategic advice. We’re delighted to have him expand our capacity to serve clients in this critical area.”

Over the past 20 years, Rice has counseled major domestic and international organizations on emerging issues in data privacy and data security. He advises clients on compliance, handles incident response, and conducts employee training. His experience encompasses a broad range of international, federal, and state laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), among many others. Rice has also negotiated hundreds of complex information technology contracts that required a sophisticated understanding of data privacy issues.

“Our clients are navigating an increasingly complex landscape in the areas of privacy and data security,” said Pete Johnson, Seattle partner-in-charge and a member of the firm’s technology practice. “Very few practitioners have the experience and depth of knowledge that David does in this space. He will be a tremendous resource to our clients and will further expand the capabilities of our national industry teams, including those supporting our technology, media, entertainment, financial services, and healthcare clients.”

Rice has counseled clients across diverse sectors, including B2C, data brokers, adtech, SaaS providers, healthcare-adjacent companies, and franchise operations. He is a Certified Information Privacy Professional – United States (CIPP/US).

“Davis Wright is synonymous not only with legal excellence but with a culture of collaboration and innovation,” said Rice. “The firm has a clear strategic direction and a smart roadmap for getting there. I’m thrilled to be able to help build the firm’s West Coast privacy presence and to enhance the security and data breach response capabilities offered to Davis Wright’s industry-leading clients.”

Rice joins the firm from the Seattle office of Miller Nash LLP, where he was a partner. He previously worked as an associate at Venable LLP and at a predecessor firm to K&L Gates. He received his B.A. from The George Washington University and his J.D. from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. He currently co-chairs the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Federal Communications Bar Association.

About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm with approximately 700 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. Learn more at www.dwt.com.




The Corporate Transparency Act is poised to have a “significant” impact on businesses

The Corporate Transparency Act is poised to have a “significant” impact on businesses

Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation expert Sandra Feldman says that businesses should begin preparing now

WHAT: New thought leadership from Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation outlining reporting obligations under the pending U.S. Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) features in the most recent edition of The National Association of Secretaries of State’s (NASS) monthly business services news clips roundup. The article reviews the exemptions to the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting obligations enumerated under the CTA, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2024. Business owners, managers, compliance officers, and their legal advisers should start preparing now to ensuring compliance.

WHO: Sandra Feldman, Publications Attorney at Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation, tracks the most pressing and pertinent business entity law issues that impact CT customers of all sizes and industries. The article featured by NASS – the oldest non-partisan professional organization for public officials in the U.S. – is but one example of Feldman’s extensive writings about the CTA and its impact on companies, beneficial owners and law firms. More CTA resources are available to help break down the key components of this new reporting obligation.

Commentary from Sandra Feldman: The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is the most significant piece of federal legislation affecting businesses since the U.S. Securities Laws were in enacted in the 1930s. It requires every corporation, LLC, or other entity formed by the filing of a document with a state or created under the laws of a foreign country and registered to do business in a state (unless otherwise exempt), to file an initial Beneficial Ownership Information report with the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Business entities or individuals that violate the act can expect harsh civil or criminal penalties.

The impact is poised to be significant: by FinCEN’s own estimation, 32.6 million entities will be required to file a report in the first year, with 5 million more having to file each year thereafter. FinCEN further estimates that about 6.6 million updated reports would be filed in the first year and 14.5 million updates would be filed annually thereafter. And that’s not taking into account the impact on the millions of individuals whose personally identifiable information – including an image of their passport, driver’s license or state ID – will be provided to FinCEN, and which must be updated when the information changes.

The burden for companies existing before January 1, 2024 will fall mainly on small businesses, as most will not qualify for one of the exemptions. All existing corporations, LLCs, and other business entities must determine if they are required to file a report. If so, they must report certain information about themselves and they must determine who their beneficial owners are and then obtain the required personally identifiable information from their beneficial owners and, in the case of companies formed or registered on or after January 1, 2024, their company applicant(s)). They also must keep track of this information so that they can file timely updates when necessary.

HOW: Contact Frank Ready at frank.ready@wolterskluwer.com to schedule an interview with Sandra Feldman. Journalists may also publish the quotes above with proper attribution.

For nearly 130 years, Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation has been the leading provider of registered agent services, incorporation services, and legal entity compliance. It is part of Wolters Kluwer’s Financial & Corporate Compliance division and has a global reach into over 150 countries. More than 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies, 95 percent of AmLaw 100 law firms, and 350,000 small businesses trust CT Corporation to handle their compliance needs.
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About Wolters Kluwer
Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software, and services for professionals in healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2022 annual revenues of €5.5 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Media Contacts

Paul Lyon
Senior Director, External Communications
Global Branding & Communications
Wolters Kluwer
Office +44 20 3197 6586
Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com

Frank Ready
Senior Specialist, Corporate Communications, Legal Services
Wolters Kluwer
Office 717-205-3647
Frank.Ready@wolterskluwer.com




Seasoned Commercial Litigator Michael Garfinkel Rejoins Venable’s Los Angeles Office

Washington, DC (April 19, 2023) – Venable LLP is pleased to announce that Michael Garfinkel has rejoined the firm as a partner in the Commercial Litigation Group in the Los Angeles office. Mr. Garfinkel, who previously worked at the firm from 2007 to 2011, is an entertainment and media litigator with more than 30 years of experience.

“Mike is a skilled litigator with a proven track record of being able to effectively navigate the most complicated disputes for his clients. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the firm and our office,” said Mitchell Evall, a co-partner-in-charge of the Los Angeles office.

Daniel P. Hoffer, a co-chair of the Commercial Litigation Group and a co-partner-in-charge of the Los Angeles office, said, “As we continue to expand upon our capabilities and grow our litigation group, adding Mike to our team made a lot of sense. He has a broad range of experience across a variety of disciplines and is highly respected in the industry.”

Mr. Garfinkel represents studios, production companies, talent agencies, advertising agencies, and artists in matters involving intricate industry-specific agreements, trademark, copyright and right of publicity disputes, trade secrets, and defamation. He also represents a variety of clients in commercial litigation, including limited liability company and partnership disputes and consumer class action defense.

Commenting on his return to Venable, Mr. Garfinkel said, “I fondly remember my early years at Venable when the Los Angeles office was still in its infancy. Today, the office has grown tremendously and has become a powerhouse in the entertainment industry. I felt that now was a great time to return, and I am looking forward to expanding my practice in the LA market.”

Mr. Garfinkel received his J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Michigan.

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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 850 professionals across the country, including in California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients’ objectives in the United States and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit https://www.venable.com/.




LITTLER ATTORNEYS PARTICIPATING IN 2023 DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

LITTLER ATTORNEYS PARTICIPATING IN 2023 DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

(April 17, 2023) – Eleven attorneys from Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, have been selected for the 2023 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows and Pathfinders programs and the National Employment Law Council (NELC) Academy.

“Littler is well-represented through this exceptional group of attorneys and their participation in these enriching programs offered by the LCLD and the NELC,” said Erin Webber, Littler’s managing director and president, and Paul Bateman, Chief Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Officer, in a joint statement. “Our partnerships with these organizations are just one example of how we provide intentional and meaningful professional development opportunities as part of our continued goal to empower our attorneys to own and direct their careers at Littler.”

LCLD Fellows and Pathfinders:
Shareholder Brandon Mita (Washington, D.C.) was selected to serve in the 2023 LCLD fellows class, while Associates Adriana Foreman (New York), Alan Persaud (Miami) and Grace Waddell (Los Angeles) were chosen as 2023 LCLD pathfinders. Founded in 2009, the LCLD has grown to an organization of more than 400 members, who serve as either general counsel of major corporations or managing partners of the nation’s leading law firms. Launched in 2011, the LCLD Fellows Program is designed for diverse, high-potential, mid-career attorneys to gain professional and personal development opportunities, leadership training, relationship-building opportunities and more. The goal of the LCLD Pathfinder Program is to provide diverse, high-potential, early-career attorneys with practical tools for developing and leveraging: internal professional networks through relationship-building skills, foundational leadership skills, and an understanding of career development strategies.

NELC Academy:
Associates Cyle Catlett (Chicago), Daniel Kim (Chicago), Jacqueline Menendez (San Jose), Ariel Perez (Houston), Alan Persaud, Lehoan (Hahn) Pham (Minneapolis), Alan Sims (Los Angeles) and Veronica Zamago (Los Angeles) have been selected to serve as academy fellows for the NELC. This will be Kim, Menendez, Persaud, Sims and Zamago’s second year as academy fellows. The NELC Academy provides advanced skills training and mentoring for minority employment defense lawyers with less than four years of experience practicing management-side labor and employment law. The purpose of the academy is to provide advanced skills training, expose participants to the NELC’s national network of experienced minority labor and employment attorneys, encourage mentoring relationships, promote the NELC to attorneys who will soon be eligible for membership, and to create a pipeline for future NELC leaders.

As a firm committed to supporting attorneys from underrepresented groups and their professional goals, Littler provides mentoring and sponsorship through its award-winning Career Advocacy Program and SOAR Program and business development training through external partnerships, like those with the LCLD and the NELC. The firm also offers a number of other internal programs and initiatives, including affinity groups and the Women’s Leadership Initiative, aimed at continually fostering a culture of belonging and empowerment where anyone can succeed. A comprehensive overview of Littler’s ongoing programming and initiatives can be found in the firm’s 2022 Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Annual Report and on Littler.com.

About Littler
With more than 1,700 labor and employment attorneys in offices around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our diverse global team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers for what’s happening today, and what’s likely to happen tomorrow. For more information, visit www.littler.com.

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Duane Morris Welcomes Corporate Partner Nicholas C. Stewart in Baltimore

Nicholas C. Stewart has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Corporate Practice Group in its Baltimore office. Prior to joining Duane Morris, Stewart was a partner at Saul Ewing LLP.

“Expanding our Corporate Practice Group remains a priority, and as its workload continues to increase, I’m very pleased with the group’s great performance and trajectory,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor. “Along with attracting terrific talent like Nick, we continue to add new clients who are seeking innovative work and experience in fund formation and management and other transactional work.”

“Our team offers a one-stop shop when it comes to private investment fund transactions, fund formation and management and regulatory counsel, and we’re expecting 2023 to be another strong year,” said Brian P. Kerwin, chair of Duane Morris’ Corporate Practice Group. “Nick’s experience certainly adds to our capabilities in an important way, and we are expecting to add more talent in the near term.”

“We’re excited to add a new partner to our Baltimore office, expanding our service offerings to private investment funds, and increasing our firm’s presence locally,” said Michael C. Hardy, managing partner of the firm’s Baltimore office.

Stewart focuses his practice on formation and management matters for middle-market funds and emerging managers. He represents a range of private funds, including private equity, venture, hedge and real estate funds, with respect to their formation and operation. Formation services include fund structuring and fundraising strategy, document preparation, investor negotiations and relations, and related regulatory compliance. For fund management, Stewart provides counsel for general operational matters and for inflection points, from financings, lines of credit and capital calls, to interest transfers, fund restructurings and leadership successions.

Private funds also look to Stewart for assistance with various transactions, including acquisitions and investments, follow-on financings and sales of portfolio companies. In addition to his fund work, he serves as outside counsel for other businesses, including with respect to strategic transactions and corporate governance matters. Stewart works with clients in an array of industries, including technology, real estate, workforce and education, health care, telecommunications, and food and beverage.

“Duane Morris understands the importance of providing the full suite of services required by fund managers to successfully raise, deploy and harvest capital, and is willing to invest in it,” said Stewart. “I’m excited to join this talented team of fund attorneys who are not only highly sophisticated and experienced, but also provide high-touch services to clients. I think the continued growth of the funds team shows just how valuable that is.”

Stewart is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School (J.D., with honors, 2010), where he was on the editorial board of the Public Contract Law Journal and a J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Public Service Fellow. He is also a graduate of the University of Maryland (B.A., cum laude, 2006).

About Duane Morris

Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.




Wolters Kluwer’s LegalVIEW Insights Report reveals that legal departments can minimize substantial AmLaw rate increases

PRESS RELEASE

Wolters Kluwer’s LegalVIEW Insights Report reveals that legal departments can minimize substantial AmLaw rate increases

Data from ELM Solutions’ LegalVIEW database suggests there’s room to negotiate, even amongst the industry’s biggest firms

February 15, 2023 — Corporate legal departments have long regarded the regular substantial rate increases of some of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the United States as an inevitability beyond the reach of negotiations. But a new study featured in Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions’ ongoing LegalVIEW Insight Report series suggests that in-house legal teams actually hold substantial pricing negotiation power with large and small law firms alike, with even seemingly monolithic firms demonstrating some room for negotiation.

Leveraging the more than $155 billion in legal invoice data used in ELM Solutions’ LegalVIEW database, the LegalVIEW Insights 2023-1 report published this month revealed that approximately 32% of the timekeepers comprising the powerhouse law firms that form the Am Law 100 received no rate increases at all during the period July 2021 to June 2022. Furthermore, approximately 13% of all timekeepers saw the average rate they charge across all clients decrease, a shift that most likely can be attributed to a timekeeper losing a high-paying client or onboarding a new client at a lower rate.

“What this suggests is that timekeepers working at some of the industry’s largest firms are willing to work for less than what many of their clients have already resigned themselves to paying,” said Nathan Cemenska, Director of Legal Operations and Industry Insights at Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions. “The pricing power wielded by some of America’s largest firms is not immovable, and can be successfully challenged by corporate legal departments willing to adopt a comprehensive approach to better understanding their legal spend and rate management practices.”

Additional highlights from the LegalVIEW Insights 2023-1 report include:

  • Rate increases in excess of 10% were achieved by approximately 21% of law firm timekeepers. However, 40% of law firm timekeepers received no increases at all.
  • The average rate increase experienced by associates was 62% higher than the rate increase seen by partners, which could reflect in part firms optimizing associate hours and rates in an effort to boost profit margins.
  • Rate increases vary widely among business sectors, with financial companies continuing to pay the highest rates of any industry. Law firm timekeepers billing into financial companies in 2022 secured an average rate increase of 5.9% – well over the 2.8% increase they obtained in 2021.

ELM Solutions, part of Wolters Kluwer GRC, is the market-leading global provider of enterprise legal spend and matter management, contract lifecycle management and legal analytics solutions. The company provides a comprehensive suite of tools that address the growing needs of corporate legal operations departments to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs. Corporate legal and insurance claims departments trust its innovative technology and end-to-end customer experience to drive world-class business outcomes.

Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions was named a leader in both the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Legal Spend Management 2020 Vendor Assessment and IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Matter Management 2020 Vendor Assessment. The company’s award-winning products include Passport®, one of the highest rated ELM solutions in the latest Hyperion MarketView™ Legal Market Intelligence Report and TyMetrix® 360°, the industry’s leading SaaS-based e-billing and matter management solution. CLM Matrix, meanwhile, was named a “strong performer” in The Forrester Wave™: Contract Lifecycle Management For All Contracts, Q1 2021 report. ELM Solutions’ LegalVIEW® portfolio of legal analytics solutions is based upon the industry’s largest and most comprehensive legal spend database, with more than $155 billion in invoices.
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About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (Euronext: WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2021 annual revenues of €4.8 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Media Contacts for Wolters Kluwer GRC
(Including Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions, Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation, Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions and Wolters Kluwer Finance, Risk & Regulatory Reporting)

Paul Lyon
Senior Director, External Communications
Global Branding & Communications
Wolters Kluwer
Office +44 20 3197 6586
Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com

Frank Ready
Senior Specialist, Corporate Communications, Legal Services
Governance, Risk & Compliance Division
Wolters Kluwer
717-205-3647
Frank.Ready@wolterskluwer.com




Katten Launches New Practice Focused on ESG Risk and Investigations

Katten announced today the launch of its ESG Risk and Investigations practice led by partners Johnjerica Hodge and India D. Williams. The two will leverage their considerable experience in environmental, social and governance (ESG), corporate compliance and internal investigations to further build on the firm’s capabilities in the ESG space, which focuses on adopting environmental and social policies that promote sustainability and mitigate risk in a manner that creates long-term value for clients and investors.

“We are excited to welcome India to Katten, to work alongside Johnjerica in leading this essential practice area for Katten and our clients,” said Katten Chairman Roger P. Furey. “As ESG issues are becoming more and more important, we are pleased to be further developing this growing practice area that will benefit a great number of our clients.”

Katten’s ESG practice addresses the myriad of white collar, compliance, corporate and insolvency needs public and private companies in the United States and abroad have. Specifically, firm attorneys help companies identify their ESG-related risks, establish the necessary policies and procedures to establish or enhance their ESG programs, and provide in-depth, independent assessments of their impact on, among other things, racial equity, civil rights, human rights, workplace culture and gender pay parity.

“As a legal partner to our clients, the Katten team proactively identifies potential ESG issues before they arise. A savvy offensive strategy reduces risks and lowers legal spend, but we also know how to play defense as well, so if an ESG issue emerges, we want to be our client’s first call,” Williams said.

Williams, who joined Katten last week from Kirkland and Ellis, has deep experience in negotiating high-dollar finance deals, handling white collar investigations, and advising corporate and capital markets clients on ESG enforcement actions, Nasdaq board diversity litigation, and climate change regulations. Last year, she was a keynote panelist and spoke at a roundtable on ESG & Racial Equity Audits at the Driving Diversity in Law & Leadership Conference.

Hodge and Williams are co-authoring a book on ESG slated to be published this year. Both have received certificates from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania after completing programs on “ESG Risks and Opportunities” and “ESG and Social Activism” as well as from University of California, Berkeley, School of Law on “Sustainable Capitalism and ESG.” The two recently taught a course together as adjunct professors at the University of Alabama School of Law, their alma mater, that focused on the role of racial equity audits in the ESG movement. They are scheduled to team up again on another course, “ESG: Human Capital Management and Racial Equity Audits,” at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School.

“We intentionally created a group that is diverse in so many ways: race, gender, age and experience. Because of that diversity, we understand the social issues and business implications our clients face. When you combine our diversity with our focus on the breadth of issues within the purview of ESG, we are poised to handle the range of ESG needs our clients face — both now and in the future,” Hodge said.

In addition to Hodge and Williams, the cross-functional ESG Risk and Investigations team includes Gil M. Soffer, Litigation department co-chair, former federal prosecutor, senior DOJ official, and member of the Racial Justice Diversity Committee for the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; Leslie D. Minier, Chief Diversity Partner and founder of the firm’s diversity committee; Danette R. Edwards, a Securities Litigation partner and former Senior Counsel in the SEC’s Enforcement Division; and a deep bench of other Katten attorneys who concentrate on white-collar defense, internal investigations, appellate litigation and regulatory compliance.

This practice will complement services the firm already provides to clients in monitoring regulatory and enforcement trends related to ESG, working with asset managers to integrate ESG considerations into fund structures and strategies, creating and bolstering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)-focused programs, and counseling on board composition and other corporate governance matters.

Katten is a full-service law firm with approximately 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm’s core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals. For more information, visit katten.com.




Clausen Miller Continues Texas Expansion with Dallas Office Opening

Clausen Miller is continuing its expansion in Texas with the opening of a Dallas office. The news comes on the heels of the firm launching a Houston office in August 2022 with Ramy Elmasri serving as the Texas managing partner, and is further evidence of the firm executing its strategic plan to deepen its bench in the Southwest.

This latest office – Clausen Miller’s 12th worldwide – will service clients and expand the firm’s service offerings in insurance coverage, litigation defense, appeals, subrogation, and technology and cyber law. The new office will be located at 325 N. Saint Paul Street in Dallas.

Attorney Ron Burnovski, who has a long history of insurance defense victories in Texas, California and New York, all states in which he is licensed, joins the new office.

“After launching our Texas presence in Houston last year, it became clear that our firm’s way of partnering with clients resonated with insurance carriers and businesses in the Lone Star State, and we moved quickly to meet their needs,” said Dennis Fitzpatrick, Clausen Miller President & CEO.

“We are delighted to have Ron in Dallas as we continue expanding in strategic markets to better serve our clients,” said Texas Managing Partner Ramy Elmasri.

A trusted advisor to insurance carriers in all stages of claims litigation, Ron focuses his practice on first-party coverage, managing all manner of claims from those involving pandemic-related business interruption to weather to construction defect.

“Clausen Miller has a tremendous reputation across the country, and it’s truly remarkable how the firm’s success in Houston over the past six months inspired the opening of an office in Dallas today. I am delighted to spearhead the office and look forward to recruiting new talent in Dallas while servicing clients in the Dallas market and beyond,” said Ron.

Clausen Miller is an insurance and defense law firm recognized as one of the top 10 Insurance Practice firms in the nation. Clausen Miller has offices in Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Orange County and San Francisco, California; Florham Park, New Jersey; Michigan City, Indiana; Appleton, Wisconsin; Stamford, Connecticut; Tampa and Boca Raton Florida; Dallas and Houston, Texas; and London, England with affiliates located in Belgium, France, and Italy. Clausen Miller represents large commercial and personal lines insurance carriers, including reinsurers, throughout the United States and in Europe. Clausen Miller’s attorneys generally practice in all areas of Insurance Coverage, all areas of Professional Liability and Casualty Defense, Subrogation, and Appeals.




Joseph Bender Appointed to IRS Advisory Council for Three-Year Term

Washington, DC – February 13, 2023 – Difede Ramsdell Bender (DRB) is pleased to announce that member and co-founder Joseph “Joe” E. Bender has been appointed to the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council. During his three-year appointment, Joe will advise the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organizations and Government Entities (TE/GE) Division.

The IRS Advisory Council serves as an advisory body to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and addresses matters concerning tax-exempt organizations and government entities with the Commissioner. The Council also provides an organized public forum for discussion of relevant tax administration issues between IRS officials and representatives of the public. The Council proposes enhancements to IRS operations; recommends administrative and policy changes to improve taxpayer service, compliance and tax administration; discusses relevant information and reporting issues; and conveys the public’s perception of professional standards and best practices for tax professionals.

During his tenure on the Advisory Council, Joe will continue his practice with DRB. For nearly 30 years, Joe’s practice has focused on federal and state tax law, the last fifteen of which have concentrated on investments (both leveraged and unleveraged) by tax-exempt organizations including pension funds, university and educational organizations, and medical and religious organizations. Joe advises on various tax issues arising from these investments, including unrelated business income tax (UBIT) and unrelated debt-financed income (UDFI), as well as tax issues involving real estate investment trusts (REITs).

About Difede Ramsdell Bender

DRB is a boutique law firm representing institutional clients in complex commercial real estate transactions, private fund formation, tax structuring, compliance and general corporate matters.

DRB attorneys hail from highly regarded national firms with the goal of delivering excellent counsel and representation to a select group of clients. The firm prides itself on the decades-long relationships that stem from providing representation that protects and advances clients’ interests in an effective and efficient manner.

For further information, contact Joe Bender at 202-534-3230 or Jbender@drbl-law.com.




Difede Ramsdell Bender Opens New York City Office

Difede Ramsdell Bender (DRB) is expanding its platform with the opening of a New York City office. The office is spearheaded by veteran attorney Lawrence J. “Larry” Hass who joins the firm as a member and will lead DRB’s New York-based real estate investment funds practice. He joins the firm from Paul Hastings, where he was a senior partner in the firm’s global private investment funds practice for more than 30 years.

“For nearly a decade DRB has served national sponsors and institutional investors in commercial real estate transactions and helped clients create, structure and negotiate private investment funds from our Washington, DC office,” said James R. Difede, managing principal of DRB. “Establishing a presence in New York will allow us to better serve those clients from a major financial market and look to additional growth opportunities. We are thrilled to have Larry leading that effort for the firm.”

At DRB, Larry will concentrate his practice on assisting clients in the structuring, formation and offering of investment funds, and the management, operation and regulatory compliance of those funds. Prior to private practice, Larry served in several federal government positions. He was an attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, assistant counsel for Fiduciary Responsibility in the Solicitors Office of the U.S. Department of Labor and special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor.

“With strong roots in DC and New York and an outstanding national reputation, Larry is the ideal lawyer to launch our entrance into the New York market,” said Catherine Groves Ramsdell, member of DRB. “Larry’s significant experience in private real estate investment fund formation, as well as his in-depth knowledge of pension fund regulation and securities laws, will be especially valued by our clients.”

“We have worked with Larry for a number of years, and I welcome both his technical expertise and his practical approach that will be a fitting addition to the Firm,” added Joseph Bender, member of DRB.

“I have co-counseled with DRB on numerous matters over the years and have always been impressed with the quality and sophistication of their work. DRB is a hidden gem combining real estate transactional and investment fund practices on par with the largest law firms with the high-touch client service of a boutique,” Larry said. “When considering how best to continue to serve my clients and to carry my practice into the future, DRB was a natural fit.”

Committed to growing, developing and diversifying the real estate investment community, Larry serves as legal counsel of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) and is a past member of its Board of Directors. Additionally, he is a founding member and legal counsel for the PREA Foundation.

About Difede Ramsdell Bender

DRB is a boutique law firm representing institutional clients in complex commercial real estate transactions, private fund formation, tax structuring, compliance and general corporate matters.

DRB attorneys hail from highly regarded national firms with the goal of delivering excellent counsel and representation to a select group of clients. We pride ourselves on the decades-long relationships that stem from providing representation that protects and advances clients’ interests in an effective and efficient manner.




Building a Data-Driven Relationship with Law Firms

Building a Data-Driven Relationship with Law Firms
By Alex Kelly, COO at Brightflag

Billable hours have been a cornerstone of the legal industry for generations, but as many corporate legal teams shift toward more value-based pricing models, the typical client-law firm relationship may be poised for tremendous change.

Instead of relying on time increments and task codes provided by their law firms, many companies are establishing more holistic performance criteria, particularly amid a rising need for outside counsel. Nearly a third of teams surveyed in the ACC’s 2021 Law Department Management Benchmarking Report reported that they engaged more law firms last year than in the year before.

Analyzing granular data on a host of factors to compare law firm services, corporate legal teams are identifying efficiencies, setting benchmarks and establishing expectations to reset relationships.

This data-driven approach to better manage outside counsel services is beneficial for both camps. The heightened transparency helps the in-house legal team make better decisions on resource allocation and helps outside counsel identify its strengths and shortcomings relative to its peers. Both sides become more accountable on the work they do and how.

Ensure strategic clarity

Marching forward with a data-driven approach to outside counsel management can be a delicate endeavor. Without sufficient motivation from both sides, progress will inevitably stall. But objectivity is a principle all can appreciate.

Today’s legal teams can access data across scores of categories: Spend by month, spend by matter, billing guideline compliance rate, spend by vendor, and timekeeper breakdown, to name a few. The data allows the legal team to establish benchmarks for costs based on comparisons among firms.

With clearer data about matter duration, hours worked and timekeeper roles, alternative fee arrangements become an increasingly viable option. Equipped with the knowledge that a particular kind of motion takes about two hours to draft and four hours to edit, approve and close, the corporate legal team and law firm can agree to a fixed fee for that specific request in the future. These alternative fee arrangements create substantially more predictability in the legal budget.

By analyzing such granular data, the legal team can begin to quantify “value” with objective benchmarks. The law firm gains insights into its own practices, as well. Why are they charging differently than other firms on similar matters? Why is the time spent differently? Who on staff is doing the work? Why? Such insights can compel law firms to reevaluate their own ways of doing business.

Commit to align on the principles

The client-law firm dynamic under a data-driven approach flourishes with a commitment to align on how outcomes will be achieved through shared principles. Factors such as identifying priorities, how a given matter should be done and who will handle it are mutually agreed upon.

The legal team establishes what it sees as best practices. In turn, the law firm has an opportunity to elevate its own operations based on the granular data it likely has not had before.

When both parties are clear in how best the work should be done, the partnership moving forward can be much more beneficial for each.

Communicate clearly and often

Success hinges on open communication. The legal team should be open and transparent about its expectations and how the law firm is meeting them. The legal team created a strategy and communicated it. Consistent evaluation should follow.

The legal team can do pulse checks on what’s working and reward outside firms that are meeting or exceeding expectations. Evaluating outcomes will lead to continual changes along the way.

Although a snapshot of data from the corporate legal department can provide value, the best insights come from observation of the data over time. The legal team should integrate data insights into its review process with external firms and ask the firms to explain why its staffing decisions were necessary.

Data can show whether a firm is substantially above or below the average cost to handle matters in a given country. Data analysis also can demonstrate an overreliance on partner hours for simple tasks or judge external firms against previously agreed upon DEI benchmarks.

With actionable data in hand, legal teams can much more easily compare law firms and shop for the best, most efficient ones for particular matters. Law firms, in turn, should welcome the opportunity to gauge their work against competitors and make the case for their continued partnership.

Both parties can be on the same page every step of the way. Did delivery match expectations? How did the vendor compare to peers doing similar work? If changes need to be made, collaborate on new expectations going forward. Performance reviews, based on quantitative and qualitative data, allow both sides to communicate their perspectives.

Good communication maintains a good relationship with external law firms, but it also holds both the legal team and the law firm more accountable. The data-driven approach reframes the relationship based on objectivity. Clarify your strategies. Align on goals. Communicate the good and bad. In the end, both parties benefit.

About Alex Kelly
Alex Kelly is the COO and co-founder of Brightflag, the AI-powered legal operations platform. Prior to founding Brightflag, Kelly advised financial institutions and global enterprises as a corporate lawyer within a large international law firm. Kelly is responsible for growing and enabling every corner of the Brightflag team as the company aims to fundamentally redefine how corporate legal services are procured and delivered.




REAGAN SAULS AND BETH MORRIS JOIN PARKER POE’S EDUCATION LAW GROUP IN ATLANTA

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP is pleased to announce that Reagan G. Sauls and Beth F. Morris have joined Parker Poe’s Atlanta office as counsel. Sauls and Morris will join the recently expanded Education Law group and further highlight the firm’s commitment to adding top legal talent and serving clients in the education industry throughout the Southeast.

Sauls has represented school districts in Georgia for more than 15 years. She handles a variety of matters, including personnel matters and hearings, responding to Department of Education complaints at both the state and federal levels, addressing allegations of discrimination through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, special education litigation, and advising boards of education on policies and procedures. She previously was part of a Georgia-based law firm, where she handled all legal matters related to education.

Morris has represented school districts in Georgia for more than 17 years. She handles matters involving state and federal litigation; personnel matters; transactional matters; and administrative complaints involving the Department of Education, the Office for Civil Rights, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Her practice also focuses on issues involving children with disabilities. Morris also serves on the executive board of the State Bar of Georgia’s Child Protection & Advocacy Section. She previously practiced at a Georgia-based law firm, with a focus on all education-related matters.

“We are thrilled to have Reagan and Beth join our Atlanta office,” said Nina Gupta, partner in Parker Poe’s Education Law group in Atlanta. “Their dedication to our clients in the education industry, particularly the schools throughout Georgia, is unwavering. Their combined depth of experience will continue to elevate our Education Law group and service to our clients.”

Sauls earned her law degree from American University Washington College of Law and her undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University. Morris earned her law degree from the University of Georgia, where she graduated with honors and served on the Moot Court team and executive board. She earned her undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Georgia.

About Parker Poe

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has more than 275 lawyers in eight offices in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. The firm provides legal counsel to many of the largest companies and local governments in the Southeast.
Parker Poe is a member of two leading international legal networks: TerraLex and the Employment Law Alliance. TerraLex and the ELA have chosen Parker Poe to help guide clients through global business challenges.
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Netflix, Comcast Legal Heads Earn $20M Collectively

“Netflix Inc. and Comcast Corp., two of the largest U.S. media companies, collectively gave almost $20 million in total compensation last year to their top lawyers,” reports Brian Baxter in Business & Practice.

“David Hyman, Netflix’s chief legal officer and corporate secretary since 2002, received nearly $10.5 million in total compensation, a 28% increase from 2019.”

“Thomas Reid, hired by Comcast in 2019 to be its chief legal officer and corporate secretary from his role as chairman and managing partner of the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, had a nearly $9.3 million pay package.”

“The disclosures, made by both media giants in their annual proxy statements filed April 23, follow similar disbursements to law department leaders at other major entertainment companies. Those include billionaire Barry Diller’s IAC/InterActivCorp, which noted earlier this month that its former legal chief Gregg Winiarski received more than $22 million in total compensation during 2020.”

Read the article.




Skills Of Creating a Drama Free Workplace, HR – 2020

Overview

Workplace drama sucks the productivity out of a team or organization. It also creates an inhospitable environment where healthy people don’t want to work so they leave. Good, productive people leave the organization.

In fact, the best people, the highest performers, the self-directed, the most creative, those that need little oversight, are most likely to leave. Why? So much time and effort is required to navigate through all the drama. High performers just want to get the job done, but the drama is a barrier. Managers and leaders spend way to much time trying to tamp it down, or worse, let it continue to happen, but find work-arounds.

Drama can be anywhere on the spectrum between easily seen and difficult to recognize because it is so nuanced. When it is the latter, it can be very insidious, working its way throughout the organization without raising a lot of flags, until the negative results start becoming obvious.

Because it is often so pervasive it can seem like it would be hard or nearly impossible to eradicate. Its not. Creating a drama free environment has to start with identifying that the current workplace has drama, and then making a commitment to eliminate the drama, which usually starts with understanding the benefits.

The benefits include higher productivity, more harmonious culture, which attracts and retains top talent, less leadership time spent addressing the symptoms of drama, more time developing and executing strategy.

There is no *quick fix* for a drama-filled environment, but changes can be undertaken immediately and positive results can be realized immediately. It doesn’t even have to start at the top, team members can begin to transform the environment with their own commitment and actions. Although to change the organizational culture, senior management has to buy-in and commit to making changes.

This webinar details a comprehensive plan for eliminating drama in the workplace.

Why you should Attend

Do you feeling Frustrated? Overwhelmed? – with the constant Drama in your workplace. Discouraged that you can’t avoid it and don’t know how to make it stop?

Drama takes many forms:

incessant gossip – its divisive and unproductive AND you wonder what they’re saying behind your back
personality conflicts that create constant tension and bickering
people who are aggressive
people who are passive
people who are passive-aggressive (these are maybe the hardest to deal with)
meetings that are supposed to be collaborative are dominated by a few individuals
people feeling stressed and overworked

You end up feeling Irritated, Confused and even Helpless to do anything about it. Workplace drama is so ubiquitous its sometimes hard to believe its possible to have an environment with no drama.

Imagine going to work and not having to deal with all this Drama! It’s hard to do, but stick with it – all those drama-filled situations that are coming into your mind right now – just remove the drama from the situation – what does it feel like?
It is possible.

The Drama Free Workplaces webinar will give you the understanding, skills, tips, techniques and tools to deal with the drama, conflict, stress, gossip, and aggression while maintaining your own sense of calm and peacefulness.

Think about it:

How much more work you’ll get done?
How much calmer you will be, and with more energy you’ll have at the end of the day?
How much more you’ll enjoy your job and going to work?
This webinar is designed for anyone who works where there is drama

Areas Covered in the Session

A 5-step process to eliminate unproductive drama from your world

  1. Strategies to redirect drama
  2. Specific skills to address aggression, passivity and passive-aggressive words or actions
  3. A model to recognize the 3 roles people play to create drama and how to deal with each of those roles
  4. How to recognize even the most subtle forms of drama and how to nip them before they escalate
  5. How to elegantly declined invitations to participate in drama

Who Will Benefit

People from all organizational levels can benefit from these strategies – The ROI for Senior People will be the highest as they have the most impact on organizational culture – CEO, Senior Exec, Leadership, Management, Supervisors

Event link : https://www.traininng.com/webinar/-201326live?generalcounselnews-SEO
Contact Info
Traininng.com LLC
Email: traininngdotcom@gmail.com
Phone: US: (510) 962-8903
Phone: Zurich: +41 – 43 434 80 33
Website : https://www.traininng.com




Ways Of Resolving Conflict, Effective Mediation – 2020

Overview

If you avoid arguments, lie to keep the peace, or believe that hiding behind your desk is better that disagreeing than this webinar is for you. Conflict is not a bad thing, in fact it can a truly positive tool in your professional toolkit if you let it. By taking hard conversations, feedback, and discomfort and transforming it with mediation and compassion you can grow in ways you never before imagined.

This webinar will show you have to use conflict for good, tools for effective mediation, and give you confidence in using disagreements to strengthen your team.

Why you should Attend

Most people don’t like conflict and those who do like it are often overly combative. But what if you could face conflict without fear or aggression? If you have effective tools to mediate disagreements and know when to walk away you can. As leaders we cannot avoid conflict all together, it is a natural part of life and business.

In this webinar we will discuss the best tips for approaching conflict and mediating with positive impact making hard conversations easier.

Areas Covered in the Session

  • The good side of conflict
  • How to approach hard conversations
  • What mediation is
  • Compromise and common ground
  • Leaning into conflict competency

Who Will Benefit

Anyone

Event link : https://www.traininng.com/webinar/-201251live?generalcounselnews-SEO
Contact Info
Traininng.com LLC
Email: traininngdotcom@gmail.com
Phone: US: (510) 962-8903
Phone: Zurich: +41 – 43 434 80 33
Website : https://www.traininng.com




Best Way Of Payroll Management, HR Management- 2020

Overview

What’s the best way to avoid expensive and time-consuming payroll errors? Why, avoid them, of course! In this webinar, you’ll learn tips and methods to verify all your payroll variables before you commit a final payroll to your IT team or your outside processor! You’ll learn: how to create the most efficient checklists for your pre-processing checks; the best way to create your calendar for a full year, encompassing all pay frequencies as well as holidays and days that will affect a specific cycle; how to create your own reports for audit purposes; as well as how to use your payroll vendor’s available reports for your best results.

Running a payroll preview, verifying your totals, creating a comparison – these are all strategies to be used to ensure that your payroll is as accurate as you can make it. The webinar will touch on all aspects of payroll “ins” and “outs”. These include hires, terminations, leaves, pay increases, benefit deductions and changes, and employer payments. The importance of regular reconciliations and audits will also be discussed.

Why you should Attend

Whether you’re new to payroll or not, you can use tips on how to make your processing easier, more accurate and less stressful. Using everyday tools like the calendar, some relatively simple reports and a good communications process to ensure that your payroll process remains professional, timely and error-free.

The webinar will include ideas on how to maintain a schedule, how to deploy your team members and how to keep your process painless. Regardless of the size of your company, you’ll be able to learn something about process improvement by taking this webinar!

Areas Covered in the Session

  • Yearly calendar dates
  • Using pre- and post-processing reports
  • Importance of input controls
  • Balancing/auditing/comparing payroll for proof of accuracy
  • Timekeeping reports
  • Payroll Preview Verification
  • Segregation of duties
  • Communication with other units
  • Payroll changes-tracking
  • Pay Frequency audit

Who Will Benefit

  • Payroll Associates
  • payroll Supervisor
  • New Payroll Manager
  • Internal Auditor

Event link : https://www.traininng.com/webinar/-201211live?generalcounselnews-SEO
Contact Info
Traininng.com LLC
Email: traininngdotcom@gmail.com
Phone: US: (510) 962-8903
Phone: Zurich: +41 – 43 434 80 33
Website : https://www.traininng.com




Ease-of-Use and World Class Security Powers Zapproved’s Rapid Growth in Corporate E-Discovery Market

PORTLAND, OR–(Marketwired – January 30, 2017) – Zapproved, Inc., a pioneer in developing cloud‐based software for corporate legal departments, today announced results for 2016 that saw strong adoption by corporations of Zapproved’s e-discovery software suite. During 2016, Zapproved increased its customer base by more than 60 corporations, of which 30 percent were in the Fortune 500. Ninety-four percent of Zapproved’s customers are in-house legal teams at corporations or public agencies showcasing the long-term strategic focus on corporate needs using a true cloud architecture.

Zapproved continues to be on the forefront of security by gaining third-party certifications to validate security and data privacy. The company is the first cloud e-discovery software company to become SOC 2 Type 2
certified along with Amazon Web Services, the company’s hosting provider, to ensure the integrity of the software system. Zapproved recently extended the SOC 2 Controls to align with the security rules of HIPAA to provide for the protection of electronic protected health information (ePHI). During 2016, Zapproved also self-certified and committed to the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield
framework requirements, and initiated its FedRAMP certification.

“Over the course of the last five years, we have had greater than 99 percent customer retention because we design software that makes our customers productive immediately and that they trust. Because our software is intuitive to use they feel comfortable doing more which is driving a transformation in their e-discovery practices from crisis management to an efficient, routine business process,” said Monica Enand, Zapproved CEO and founder.

Zapproved’s Z-Discovery suite provides a complete set of software that starts with legal hold notification to review and production. Now in-house legal teams can easily address everyday e-discovery challenges such as internal investigations, HR matters and regulatory compliance, from start to finish, and are able to increase their efficiency and improve their litigation and regulatory response.

“Corporate legal teams are focused on controlling their data security and lowering e-discovery costs which in turn is driving adoption of our broader suite of products. With Zapproved’s Z-Discovery suite they can implement a much more secure method for handling extremely sensitive corporate data while concentrating on reviewing the right data, right away,” Enand added.

Learn more about how Zapproved can help improve internal e-discovery and compliance processes at Legaltech New York January 31 to February 2, 2017 at booth 1400 or visit zapproved.com.

About Zapproved, Inc.
Founded in 2008 in Portland, Ore., Zapproved, Inc. is a pioneer in developing cloud‐based software for corporate legal departments. The Z‐Discovery Platform returns power to in‐house corporate legal teams and helps them navigate electronic discovery with minimal risk and cost, and it sets new standards for scalability and intuitive design. The company’s flagship product, Legal Hold Pro, is widely adopted by Fortune 500 and Global 2000 corporations and has earned recognition as the Best E‐Discovery Legal Hold Product at the 2015 and 2016 Legaltech News Innovation Awards, Best of the National Law Journal 2014 – 2016. Zapproved was recognized in Deloitte’s 2016 Technology Fast 500, the 2014 Inc. 500 as one of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S., and was named as a “vendor to watch” in the 2015 Gartner Magic Quadrant for E‐Discovery. Zapproved is EU-US Privacy Shield certified and is SOC2 ® Type 2 certified which validates that Zapproved’s systems have controls in place to protect against unauthorized access (both physical and logical).