Drug and Device Injuries
November 27, 2007
People injured by a drug or medical device often sue not only their medical caregivers and the hospitals where the devices were implanted, but also the drug or device's manufacturers. Smart move, but there may be other avenues for recovery that should be explored. There are many players in the process that brings a drug or device to the market, and it may prove valuable to question whether any of these had a role in causing the claimant's injury and whether they can be reached for recovery.
A Novel Approach to Fee Collection
November 27, 2007
Lawyers whose clients refuse to pay their fees routinely file lawsuits and win judgments against them. Attorney Ellen Marshall's disputes with a former divorce client, however, have been anything but routine. Then again, Warren Matthei is no ordinary client. Matthei, a millionaire stockbroker from Summit, NJ, spent nearly a decade in jail ' first for refusing to pay child support to his ex-wife, and later for refusing to pay Marshall's attorney fees.
New Business Valuation Standards for Accountants
November 27, 2007
In June 2007, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) approved new business valuation standards effective for assignments accepted after Jan. 1, 2008 for all member accountants. The AICPA's Statement on Standards for Valuation Services No. 1 (SSVS 1is a solid, well-reasoned set of principles on how to perform and report a valuation analysis. Matrimonial attorneys need to understand the impact of these new AICPA requirements to ensure that their clients benefit from the higher quality of work now expected, and to demand adherence to these standards when exposing poor work done by the casual valuation analyst.
Client Speak: Insiders/Outsiders
November 27, 2007
By now you've heard it thousands of times ' If you want to sell, know your target. If you're a lawyer, don't bedazzle them with nonpareil insights into Markman or Title VII or the best arguments in support of federal preemption in a product case. Your expertise is really a pretty cheap commodity no matter where you graduated law school. C-Suite buyers won't care; in-house counsel, who've heard it all before, are even less impressed.…
Technology in Marketing: Developing a Law Firm Web Site RFP
November 27, 2007
Imagine you want to build a new house and have interviewed three contractors to obtain bids for the job. One bid $100,000, another bid $200,000, and the third bid $500,000. How would you decide between them? The answer is you couldn't make an apples-to-apples comparison unless the contractors were basing their bids on a single set of architectural plans specifying size, materials and other construction details.Yet, when many law firms decide to build a new Web site, they solicit bids from vendors without first developing specifications detailing the desired features and functionality for the site.
Professional Development: Negotiating to Make Rain
November 27, 2007
Research suggests that women are excellent at negotiating for others. They are not as good at negotiating for themselves. Similarly, women lawyers tend to lag behind men in developing business. Indeed, many abhor the prospect of making rain almost as much as the prospect of advocating for themselves. Yet the reality is that women who wish to make partner must also make rain.
The Place to Network: O Come All Ye Rainmakers
November 27, 2007
For most attorneys, December is dominated by celebratory events ' and each one can be an opportunity to make new contacts and further existing ones. People are generally relaxed and in good spirits at holiday parties; therefore they are often receptive to making new acquaintances. By taking a strategic approach to your holiday party planning, you stand to benefit from them greatly.
Career Journal: Insight on Legal Marketing Success from the Industry's Best
November 27, 2007
As 2007 comes to a close, we took the opportunity for our final column of the year to gather insights from six Chief Marketing Officers at large law firms. They have provided us with their views on the ever-changing world of legal marketing, and offered their perspectives and recommendations on how to be successful in this industry.
Two Firms from the Top 20 of the Third Annual MLF 50
November 27, 2007
While this year's rankings were not heavily weighted on advertising and visual communications, I would be remiss if I didn't highlight two firms that did use visual communications to effect image and change. Herein, Thompson & Knight LLP, and K&L Gates.
Corporate Monitors
November 27, 2007
In the wake of corporate scandals and high-profile prosecutions, many companies have avoided prosecution or have otherwise negotiated reduced sanctions in recent years by cooperating with prosecutors or regulators and entering into agreements that often include accepting a monitor. The monitor generally continues to investigate and proposes further changes where appropriate, reporting directly to the government at the company's expense.
