The Uber Breach and the Need for an Independent Privacy Function
January 01, 2018
Uber has incurred significant legal and reputational exposure as a result of the way that the company handled the breach. In the coming months, there will be a great deal of information and regulatory and judicial action that will act as guidance, or more precisely, a checklist of what-not-to-do, for companies that suffer a data breach.
How Blockchain Technology Can Drive the Legal Industry Forward
January 01, 2018
A new legal structure that bestows and monitors trust must be employed. Is decentralization of traditional, gigantic central bank repositories of data the answer? Is blockchain technology the new path that the legal industry should take to sustain in the digital age? Let us consider the most significant implications of decentralized technologies to the legal industry.
<i>Legal Tech:</i>Looking Ahead: 2018 Legal Technology Predictions
January 01, 2018
At law firms and legal departments, preparing for the new year should mean looking back at the last year and prioritizing revenue-driving activities, identifying strategies to grow your firm or company while mitigating risk and budgeting for new projects to meet client demands.
Examine KPIs on a Micro-Level to Boost Law Firm Profitability
January 01, 2018
You say your law firm is profitable. How do you know? To fully understand your law firm's results of operations and financial condition, you should measure and examine key performance indicators (KPIs) on a granular level. Looking beyond high-level KPIs can provide actionable information to make operational and strategic decisions.
2017 Roundup: Equity vs. Non-Equity Membership
January 01, 2018
<b><i>Last Year Saw a Number of Interesting Decisions Concerning the Identity, Rights and Obligations of Non-Equity Owners, Including Partners and Shareholders</b></i><p>2017 saw a number of interesting decisions concerning the identity, rights and obligations of non-equity owners, including partners and shareholders. As more firms utilize non-equity members to play vital roles within their firms, it will become more important for them to take note of these decisions and the guidance they provide.
Surviving the Retail Shift
January 01, 2018
<b><i>Looking Ahead: Lessons Learned.</i></b><p><i><b>Part Five of a Five-Part Series.</i></b><p>As Mark Twain quipped, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." So too is the reported retail "apocalypse" and "death" of the shopping center. In fact, U.S. retailers opened 1,326 more locations in 2017 than they closed. When restaurants are added to the mix, there were a total of 4,080 new openings in 2017 and another 5,050 openings planned this year.
Do Mergers Increase Profitability?
January 01, 2018
<b><i>The Numbers Say Yes, But Not for the Reasons Many May Think</b></i><p>Conventional wisdom has it that mergers enhance profitability through increased revenues and reduced costs. However, the numbers contradict this view: post-merger revenues are lower relative to competitor firms than are the sum of the predecessor firms' revenues, and costs per lawyer increase markedly.
Employee Claims in Bankruptcy Pose Significant Liability Exposure
January 01, 2018
<b><i>Lessons Learned From </i>In re FPMI Solutions Inc.</b><p>There are litanies of potential pitfalls for companies that file for bankruptcy without strictly following the requirements of federal or state employment laws. This article discusses the requirements and how to meet them.
Litigation Funding Changes Legal Landscape for Boutique and Small Firms
January 01, 2018
<b><i>The Growth of Third-Party Litigation Funding Has Been a Boon to Small Firms, But Boutique Firms Are Taking a Hit</b></i><p>The growth of litigation funding has widened the pool of law firms that can take on big cases, but their increasing popularity means boutique firms that have traditionally landed multimillion-dollar lawsuits by taking them on contingency or offering alternative fee arrangements are now taking a hit.
Employee Claims in Bankruptcy Pose Significant Liability Exposure
January 01, 2018
When a corporation determines to file for Chapter 11 protection, questions concerning the status of existing labor and employment agreements and viability of employee claims immediately arise. Indeed, there are litanies of potential pitfalls for companies that file for bankruptcy without strictly following the requirements of federal or state employment laws.
