In a recent development, it appears the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is set to reinvigorate a nearly forgotten doctrine from 1949 known as the Joy Silk doctrine. Under the guidance of the Board’s General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, the move seems aimed at reviving a practice shunned more than a half-century ago, namely the requirement…
C3.ai Inc., a software development company, has disclosed details about the severance package of its former General Counsel Richard “Chip” Lutton Jr. According to Lutton’s employment agreement, if he was terminated without a cause within his first year of service, 20% of his restricted stock unit (RSU) awards would immediately vest. As the proxy statement…
In a constantly evolving legal landscape, businesses across the globe need to stay vigilant in their review and refinement of critical documentation, including “standard” employment and separation agreements. There is an increasing urgency for this due to recent trends, most notably a burst of activity from the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and its…
Ron Hauben has recently taken on a role at McDermott Will & Emery as Partner and Co-Head of the Accounting Defense Practice. The firm released public confirmation of this appointment earlier this week on Tuesday. In his new position, Hauben’s responsibilities will include providing accounting firms with regulatory enforcement support, litigation defense, and corporate governance…
Surveys of corporate legal departments across the globe describe an environment of increasingly tight budgets. Corporate legal teams face undue pressure from Biglaw firms, who insist on higher fees despite budgetary constriction. The increasing pressure on budgets, however, hasn’t affected the bottom line of many chief legal officers. On the contrary, they continue to enjoy…
In a surprising legal shift, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) has reintroduced key elements of the long-inactive legal doctrine known as Joy Silk. The re-enacted provisions allow unions the freedom to sidestep the conventional representation election process. This move is aligned with the stated objective of Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo to…
Big Six South Korean firm, Yulchon, is turning heads in the legal industry with recent partner hires designed to bolster both their dispute resolution practice and antitrust practice. The company confirmed in an announcement with Law.com International, that they have drawn new hires from both the Korea Fair Trade Commission and international dispute resolution law…
We start the year off with news already influencing corporate America. 2022 witnessed a challenging economic setting with soaring interest rates and an uncertain forecast that rocked the nation. The effects were particularly prominent within the tech industry, where falling stock prices landed startups and tech giants alike into a cycle of retrenchment and widespread…
The impending departure of Tony O’Malley, the global head of PwC’s legal services division, and the firm’s Australian general counsel, Meredith Beattie, was recently confirmed. The announcement was made by Kevin Burrowes, PwC’s incoming Chief Executive, who expressed in an internal email that the pair would be accelerating their departure ahead of their initial retirement…
In a rapidly changing legal market, Alternative Legal Service Providers (ALSPs) are presenting a credible threat to conventional law firms in Asia. According to a recent survey by Axiom Law, an alternative legal service provider, over 90% of the general counsel that were surveyed anticipate substantial cuts to their legal budgets due to global economic…
For decades, the billable hour has been the cornerstone of the financial models used by corporate law firms. Its prevalence relies on the constant monitoring of time divided into six-minute increments, thereby ensuring there is never a lull in billing between client engagements. However, with rising inflation and interest rates soaring, many of legal industry’s…
For years, the practice of billing clients by the hour has been a touchstone of legal work. However, there has been an increasing level of discussion around the implications of these practices, specifically concerning the billable hour requirements and the potential red flags they may raise. Interestingly, the legal profession’s approach to billable hours has…
Reaching the role of general counsel (GC) has traditionally been seen as the pinnacle of accomplishment for in-house attorneys not looking to transition into other C-suite positions. This notion, however, is gradually shifting with a growing trend of GC roles paving the way for a special adviser position within the corporation. Seen as a strategic…
During the ILTACON event in Orlando, document management company iManage declared the introduction of iManage AI – an Artificial Intelligence (AI) search tool built directly into its cloud platform. The new tool aims to aid customers by enhancing productivity, extracting maximum value from their knowledge resources, and safeguarding data from potential security threats. ILTACON delegates…
iManage, a prominent document management company, has unveiled a new artificial intelligence search engine at the recent ILTACON convention in Orlando. Known as iManage AI, this cutting-edge tool is integrated directly into iManage’s cloud platform with the principal aim of assisting customers in boosting productivity, deriving greater value from their knowledge assets, and safeguarding their…
The legal field is one consistently overwhelmed with documentation. Managing the firehose of legal paperwork can be challenging, whether it’s for a small start-up or a Fortunate 500 company. With this in mind, the right technology can play a significant role in boosting productivity and enhancing the practice of law. Olga V. Mack, Vice President…
In a recent turn of events, Ron DeSantis’s oversight of the Disney Tax District has run into questionable territory. After recruiting a new government for the Reedy Creek Improvement District, DeSantis seemed confident his actions would hinder Florida’s largest private employer’s ability to maintain roads and services around the Disney world parks. However, events may…
In an exciting update from the legal arena, experienced trade lawyer Carlos Véjar, who formerly functioned as the general counsel for international trade at the Mexican Economy Ministry, has reportedly made a significant career switch. Originally at Holland & Knight, Véjar has now moved his allegiance and expertise to White & Case in Mexico. This…
In an act of administrative ping-pong, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has reversed a prior reversal concerning the way they evaluate employer handbooks, according to a recent decision in the Stericycle, Inc. case.[1] On August 2, 2023, the NLRB introduced a new legal standard to determine whether an employer’s workplace policy is “facially unlawful”…
Amid the new age of remote work, corporate legal teams are grappling with the challenge of demonstrating their value and building strong, trustful relationships whilst out of the office, as highlighted in the recent ALM General Counsel Summit in Sydney. According to several statements articulated by prominent general counsels, remote working setups are likely to…
Lloyd’s of London’s general counsel, who has been with the company for 27 years, is stepping down to pursue new opportunities within the Lloyd’s marketplace. As reported by Law.com, Peter Spires joined as a member of the global insurance and reinsurance provider in 1995. Over time, he added more responsibilities to his role before finally…
In the demanding world of corporate law, the emphasis for in-house counsel is increasingly placed on fostering effective relationships, according to three high-profile general counsels. A detailed discussion on ensuring legal teams have a more significant impact outside the confines of the legal department can be found here. In-house counsels are finding that effective networking,…
General Counsels (GCs) speaking at the ALM General Counsel Summit in Sydney, have highlighted the need for corporate legal departments to demonstrate their value within the business setup. This sentiment becomes all the more relevant amidst the transition to work-from-home norms and tightened corporate budgets. While technological advances and generative AI have made remote work…
General counsels (GCs) have cited greenwashing, data breaches, and regulatory changes as some of the major issues causing them concern, according to discussions at the ninth annual General Counsel Summit in Sydney on August 7. These issues loom large in their thought processes and strategic planning due to their potentially disruptive impacts on their respective…
Two years back, the general counsel for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a memo suggesting its primary focus would be on rigorous investigation of workplace policies that might unlawfully impede employees’ Section 7 rights under the National Labor Relations Act. It’s time for corporates and law firms to revisit their employee manuals in…