Last week, a premier gathering of legal minds took place at the General Counsel Conference Midwest 2024 in Chicago. As had been expected, the conference managed to draw a significant audience of in-house counsel from vast multinational companies across the US. Professionals across the legal industry shared practical insights and solutions that today’s general counsels…
Last week, the General Counsel Conference Midwest 2024 was held in Chicago, drawing senior-level in-house counsel from multinational companies located across the U.S. According to the diligent coverage by Legal Speak, the conference presented a great opportunity for key industry insights to be shared, with discussions centering around the management of C-Suite relationships, handling a…
Last week, Chicago was host to an enlightening assembly of legal minds at the General Counsel Conference Midwest 2024. The event garnered a significant attendance of senior level in-house counsel from various multinational companies in the US. At the center of discourse was Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Davis, a valued Mergers and Acquisitions partner at Burke, Warren,…
Contract management. Compliance updates. Discovery responses. Intellectual property portfolio management. These rote, often-time-consuming tasks can all be part of an in-house counsel’s day-to-day schedule. The pressure on General Counsels (GCs) and in-house legal teams is rising as corporations globally deal with an increase in legal workload, due to a host of factors including regulatory shakeups,…
In a status quo where both federal and state laws govern labor and employment, the business of in-house legal teams for companies can never cease to be complex. The past year has been particularly challenging given the multiple new federal regulations and state laws that have been enacted. New federal rules, finalized during a race…
ClaimScore, the startup that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to identify fraudulent claims in class action lawsuits, has recently completed a seed funding round, raising $3.15 million. The round was led by ROC Venture Group, a private investment firm situated in Naples, Florida. Launched in 2022, ClaimScore has positioned itself as the sole software solution dedicated…
In the heart of Chicago, senior in-house counsel from multinational companies across the U.S gathered for the General Counsel Conference Midwest 2024. Among the bustling crowd was Betty Jang, founder and general counsel of BYJ Law, who served as a panelist on “Operating in the Gray: Balancing Risk Tolerance with Business Objectives”. Legal Speak co-hosts…
The business landscape has greatly evolved over the years, with more and more key stakeholders including regulators, investors, and clients demanding transparent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures from corporations. Consequently, in-house legal teams have found themselves in the middle of this ESG conundrum, with ever-rising responsibilities and expectations. In addressing this challenge, three steps…
The global legal community has been deeply shaken by a recent tragedy at the Baker McKenzie Sydney office where an associate committed suicide away from firm premises. As reported in the Australian Financial Review, the individual has not been publicly named. Following this tragic incident, Australian authorities have conducted a standard procedural check at the…
On an informative episode of The Jabot podcast, Kathryn Rubino interviews Catherine Dawson, General Counsel at Affinipay, about her career transition from Biglaw to in-house counsel. Having a keen interest in technology, Dawson delves into the significant benefits of incorporating AI into legal practice. Insights about task automation and increased efficiency abound. With the bold…
Providing sound legal advice is, of course, a baseline expectation for all private practice lawyers. Many partners have even gone a step further to understand their clients’ full business operations to provide comprehensive guidance. However, the question that emerges is what truly sets apart a lawyer whom a general counsel would seek out for a…
Ascending the legal career ladder often inspires images of relentless litigation, endless hours of document review, and the ambition to make partner at a prestigious law firm. However, there exists another, often overlooked, pathway to growth in the legal profession: in-house counsel. Trepidation often surrounds the decision to move from law firm life to an…
Welcome to today’s legal news roundup for esteemed lawyers, robust law firms, and dynamic in-house counsels alike. A notable development is the engagement of Alex Spiro, Quinn Emanuel’s “celebrity” partner by New York City Mayor Eric Adams for representation in sexual assault allegations lodged by an NYC Transit Police Department colleague from many years ago….
David McAtee II, the longstanding general counsel of AT&T Inc., has observed another consecutive increase in his pay package. According to Bloomberg, McAtee earned nearly $12.4 million in 2024’s total compensation, an approximately 10% increase from the previous year. McAtee’s tenure as AT&T’s head in-house counsel spans almost a decade. He has navigated a broad…
In recent corporate news, a reprieve has been granted to legal teams as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suspends its newly proposed climate disclosure regulations. The pause comes as a result of a pending court lawsuit challenging the said regulations. On another note, an in-house chief counsel now faces charges relating to the…
Corporations could find themselves in the throes of a dangerous cycle; excessive workloads drive away in-house counsel, and as more people leave, the work builds up, exacerbating the already excessive workload and driving more people away. This cycle, if allowed to spin unchecked, could escalate quickly, warns a report from Axiom and Wakefield Research. Legal…
Within many companies, the role of in-house lawyers transcends legal responsibilities; they are the company’s crucial guardians, navigating complex terrains of regulations and risk assessment. As important as technical proficiency is, the defining factors of an in-house counsel’s value extend far beyond this realm. Alongside a solid foundation in legal research, analysis, contract review, and…
Dina Segal, the Chief Legal Officer at Gusto, recently shared insights regarding her journey from Biglaw to in-house counsel, along with her experiences as a working mother, in an interview at Above the Law. Segal emphasized the importance of understanding the business you’re working in when transitioning to an in-house legal role. She also highlighted…
Welcome to this daily roundup, dedicated to bringing you top legal newsworthy stories catered for lawyers, law firms and in-house counsels. Hogan Lovells recently provided counsel to some of the new investors involved in the $1.7 billion purchase of the Baltimore Orioles. Among the investors advised were Michael Arougheti, CEO of Ares Management, and co-heads…
Kevin Rhodes, the Chief Legal Affairs Officer for multinational conglomerate 3M, has been recognized for his detailed efforts in mitigating both litigation and regulatory risk for the company. According to 3M’s compensation committee, as revealed in the corporation’s newly released proxy statement, Rhodes’ effective actions have significantly reduced risk and uncertainty, propelling him onto the…
Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news catering to legal professionals, encompassing law firms and in-house counsel around the globe. Today’s highlights include some significant events and moves in the legal world. Erin Morrow Hawley, a professor at Regent University and Kirkland & Ellis alumna, has taken a…
Amid increasing attention towards mental health within the legal profession, a recent Canadian survey has revealed that half of the in-house counsel respondents have observed a rise in stress and anxiety over the previous year. This reflection of the legal professionals’ mental health state comes in light of amplified responsibilities and heavier workloads for in-house…
Ivana Kovacevic, the group general counsel of Australian gaming, wagering and media company Tabcorp, firmly advocates the benefits of legal tech. One of Kovacevic’s key tips for general counsel keen on garnering support for legal tech in their corporations is the introduction of eSignatures. This simple yet effective tool has brought about significant improvements across…
Welcome to this daily news rundown, providing some of the most significant stories affecting legal professionals, law firms and in-house counsel globally. A recent article reveals that certain state attorneys general have launched health care fraud cases against insurer Centene, which were derived and put into motion by a group of “powerful private lawyers”. Leveraging…
Ivana Kovacevic, group general counsel for Australian gaming, wagering, and media company Tabcorp, provides some sage advice for fellow general counsels seeking to encourage legal tech adoption within their organizations: start with eSignatures. She points to the benefits of applications like DocuSign, which she says serves the business side of operations by streamlining the signing…