Alternative Secretarial Approaches to Legal Support
August 02, 2014
Most law firms above 100 to 150 attorneys outsource many of their basic services. Mail, messenger, records and photocopy staff are now commonly supplied by a group of national and regional vendors. However, one key service that is not supplied by any vendor ' and in most of our individual business case analysis proved to be one of the most inefficient services that law firms supplied ' was that of secretarial support.
Planning a Merger?
August 02, 2014
A successful merger should improve the firm's competitive position and add value for your clients ' due diligence is key to that success.
General Schemes vs. Specific Claims
July 02, 2014
The <I>qui tam</I> provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private individuals ("relators") to bring suit on behalf of the federal government and keep a percentage of the proceeds, continue to be some of the most potent weapons in the government's antifraud arsenal.
Planning a Merger? Avoid Pitfalls through Proper Due Diligence
July 02, 2014
After reaching an all-time high in 2013, the pace of U.S. law firm mergers and acquisitions is showing no signs of slowing down. With all of these deals in the news of late, you may be considering whether a merger or acquisition might be an appropriate growth strategy for your firm.
Proactive Trust Planning to Protect Your Clients
July 02, 2014
Planning for trusts has evolved substantially over the years. "Modern" trusts are more comprehensive, flexible and protective than those that were more typically completed only a few short years ago. Understanding the characteristics of modern trust drafting is critical to achieving better protection for clients.
New French Employment Legislation One Year Later
July 02, 2014
On June 14, 2013, France enacted the so-called "Employment Securization Law." This affects the operations in France of companies whose headquarters are located in other countries, such as the United States.
The Death Benefit Only Plan for Non-Profits
July 02, 2014
The Death Benefit Only (DBO) Plan for Non-Profits is an arrangement in which the employer, a 501(c) non-profit organization, agrees to pay the actuarially determined cost of the current death benefit on a permanent life insurance policy to be owned by the employee or employer. The employer and employee enter into a written agreement that ordinarily requires the employer to make premium payments as long as the employee works for the employer.
Disability Funding of Pension Contributions
June 02, 2014
Although pension plans are thought of primarily as a source of cash income for the elderly, they typically serve other functions as well. For example, they usually contain early retirement features and often provide pensions to workers who lose their jobs because of disability. The high proportion of pension plans with disability retirement features is dramatized in data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' annual survey -- none of these programs had provisions to make up employee contributions and employer matches where the employee becomes disabled during their employment years.
Using 'Sharing Origination' Credit to Motivate Partners to Develop Business
June 02, 2014
In today's competitive practice environment, client origination looms large in its significance to the success of a firm's future. Hence, strong incentives should be provided to partners for "bringing new business from potential and existing clients through the door." Below, several kinds of Origination Credit are examined.
QDRO or Buyout: Preparing Today for A Secure Tomorrow
June 02, 2014
Some 84 million Americans work for companies that maintain ERISA-covered retirement plans that are divisible by Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs), which guarantee the non-worker spouse (the non-owner) a share of the pension. Or the couple can opt for a buyout (sometimes called an immediate offset), by which one spouse trades away pension rights for another asset.
