Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

What Lies Ahead for 2006

By Robert W. Denney
January 04, 2006

It doesn't take great foresight or a crystal ball to recognize that law firms will face some serious challenges in 2006. Coming events have already cast their shadows. Some of the challenges have existed for several years. Others are new. What they add up to are two basic questions most law firms must answer: “Do we recognize the challenges facing us?” and “How are we going to address them?” This article discusses several of these challenges and, where possible, suggests some alternatives for meeting them.

The issue of ethics is now one of the most troubling and confusing challenges. Many states continue to issue opinions that indicate the use of technology for client development is governed by ethics rules. Some of these states are adopting more relaxed rules regarding client development, largely as a result of the ABA's Ethics 2000 initiative. At the same time, however, other states  ' including Texas, South Carolina and Missouri ' have adopted changes in their rules that impose greater restrictions, particularly for personal injury lawyers. And, as of this writing, none of these diverse (dare we say “contradictory”?) rules have addressed the subject of blogs that, of course, are spreading like a prairie fire.

State ethics rules must take priority but these create even more challenges for firms that have multi-state locations. Must they follow the rules of the state in which their “headquarters office” is located or must they follow different rules in different states? Or can they “shop around” and decide to follow firm wide the more relaxed rules in one of the states in which they have offices? The answer to that question is probably “no” but who knows for sure?

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York Image

In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?

Fresh Filings Image

Notable recent court filings in entertainment law.