Thursday, July 28, 2005
FIVE SECRETS FOR SUCCESS IN BIG CASES
The early bird gets credibility, access and appreciation
By Bruce Blokell - Law Technology News - July 28, 2005
You know its coming, the half-billion-dollar megatrial that may put your client out of business.
It is in a location remote from your office(s), and you're going to have to support an off-site legal team, local counsel, client representatives and witnesses numbering, at any given time, 10 to 30 people.
It is, as they say, "do or die" time. But, amidst scale, complexity, geographic and personality issues that, you'd swear, are something akin to planning the Normandy invasion, there are five fairly simple steps or "secrets" for litigation support leaders that can put you on the track to enormous success for both your client and your law firm.
1. Become part of the trial team.
2. Get involved at the trial planning stage.
3. Go Local.
4. Stay local.
5. Use your technology.
Although planning and executing litigation support strategies for a megatrial are as complex and convoluted as anything you will ever do at your firm, these five secrets should help form the basis of a solid approach, upon which you can overlay your team's expertise for the benefit of the client. The megatrial is your World Series. Pull out all the stops.
Read the entire article.
Monday, July 25, 2005
AMONG THE GIANTS: SMALLER FIRMS CAN STILL FIND ROOM ON FORTUNE 500 ROSTERS
The Recorder - Brenda Sandburg - July 25, 2005
Last year General Electric Corp. pared back the number of law firms it uses from nearly 500 to 94. Three on the list are in the San Francisco Bay Area -- but they aren't the mega firms you might expect.
The trend toward ever-larger law firms, and the focus on cross-selling, was supposed to squeeze out small and specialty shops.
But general counsel have become more like Hollywood producers, casting marquee names for blockbusters while auditioning lesser-known players for more mundane roles.
While big firms can tout offices around the globe and armies of lawyers, smaller shops have their own allure: lower billing rates, more attention, leaner staffing and, often, deeper expertise in certain specialties. (Read More)
Thursday, July 21, 2005
AVIATION DEFENSE VERDICT FOR HUGH KOSS (NIXON PEABODY)
Nixon Pebaody's Products Group Aviation partner Hugh Koss received a unanimous defense verdict earlier today from a North Carolina federal court jury in a $2.6 million case against French helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter. The suit arose out of a fatal helicopter crash and was brought for the loss of the aircraft and related commercial losses. Hugh was able to get a directed verdict dismissing the punitive damages claim at the close of the plaintiff's case. He then got several other causes of action and our French parent Eurocopter dismissed by the Court at the close of the evidence, leaving only negligence and warranty claims against its US subsidiary American Eurocopter to go to the jury.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
HOW MUCH DOES YOUR CLIENT'S GENERAL COUNSEL EARN?
Corporate Counsel's annual compensation survey, shows what top legal officers are earning in total salary, bonuses and stock option cash-outs. The cash bonus is back, and average salary increases were good.
Peek Through to American Lawyer's Chart of 100 Highest-Paid General Counsel:
