How to Fix the U.S. Auto Industry: A Dealership Perspective
January 29, 2009
It is widely acknowledged that the financial bailout of the U.S. automobile industry will not be sufficient to return the industry to solid financial condition. Estimates are that manufacturing and distribution capacity is about 30% above likely demand for the foreseeable future, so a broad restructuring and downsizing is probably needed. FBLA asked legal experts what they would do to change laws affecting the relationships of auto manufacturers and auto dealers to accommodate the necessary restructuring.
Revisiting MLF 2008: What You Missed!
January 29, 2009
Last month, Marketing The Law Firm took a look back at 2008 with pared-down versions of one article each from our January to June issues. In this issue, we continue to look back at 2008 with articles from the July to December issues.
Renewable Energy Leasing Opportunities
January 29, 2009
Lately there has been increased interest in the use of sale-leasebacks as a financing mechanism for solar projects. While most of the activity to date has involved solar projects, there is no reason that sale-leasebacks could not be used to finance other types of renewable energy or other energy projects eligible for investment tax credits under Section 48, such as fuel cells, geothermal or certain combined heat and power facilities, as well as integrated gasification combined cycle and other advanced coal-based generation projects under Section 48A or gasification projects under Section 48B.
Document Management With Lextranet 5.6
January 29, 2009
There is no shortage of e-discovery case-management tools on the market. Each has its unique strengths and shortcomings. Most applications provide a plethora of features for managing document workflows, searching the database, reviewing and coding documents and so on. But having the most features doesn't necessarily translate into the strongest solution. User-friendliness, customization and reviewer throughput speed are much more important than having the most "bells and whistles" or a zillion different functions.
Empower Your Browser: New Possibilities
January 29, 2009
The Web browser has evolved into a platform for our digital lives, offering more interactivity while moving further beyond its passive browsing roots (i.e., checking e-mail, paying bills and balancing checkbooks, watching videos, social networking, playing games, networking and even managing a law practice). That is precisely the core of Google's new Web browser called Chrome.
Rules Governing Fax and E-mail Ads
January 29, 2009
The importance of having a robust compliance policy to review the content of proposed advertisements is well-known and widely accepted. But what may not be as familiar is the need for a separate policy focused on the means of disseminating such advertising. Here's why.
Law Firms and Social Networking
January 29, 2009
Along with the viral popularity of social networking Web sites (one of these sites is the fourth most-trafficked Web site in the world), legal blogs, collaboration sites, and informal online education options comes the vulnerability of some risk. Here's what to do.
Activision/Blizzard Merger Shows Video Game Industry Challenges
January 28, 2009
In late 2007, Activision CEO Robert Kotick, the jolly-looking entrepreneur known as one of the smartest and toughest in the business, approached Vivendi Games, which published World of Warcraft through its subsidiary Blizzard Entertainment Inc. Kotick made an offer for Blizzard, but Vivendi countered by suggesting that the two companies merge ' with Kotick at the helm. The merger, which was completed in July 2008, created a publicly traded company, Activision Blizzard Inc., that is the most impressive video game business in the world ' running neck-and-neck in revenues with longtime leader Electronic Arts Inc. ' and surpassing it in profits.
