The hits just keep on rolling at station WBLOG! Competitive bids, RFPs hyperpost (See my post of Oct.12, 2010: competitive bid processes with 7 references and 6 metaposts.). Contract templates, form contracts (See my post of Nov. 8, 2010: templates for common contracts with 11 references.). Core competencies of law…
Portugal’s largest retailer, Jerónimo Martins, had three lawyers in 1999, when its current Head of Legal, António Alves, joined. In the decade that followed, he has built the department significantly. He currently has two lawyers reporting to him directly at the Group holding level “and 10 more reporting functionally in…
Much as I admire and have learned from Stephen H. Kellert, Borrowed Knowledge: Chaos Theory and the Challenge of Learning Across Disciplines (Univ. Chic. 2008), it leaves me doubtful that even in the mid-term there will be recognized, encompassing principals of law department management. Nothing like “laws” exist, in the…
The fourth release of the General Counsel Metrics global benchmark survey has among its 702 participants seven from France. During 2011, that number will surely increase dramatically. Meanwhile, the modest showing impelled me to see whether this blog has offered much about French legal departments. In a mot, “Non!” I…
Historical note on the first female GC in the US. The first woman to become a general counsel of a Fortune 500 company was Mary Ann Hynes, appointed by CCH Inc. in 1979. Thank you, Corp. Counsel, Oct. 2010 at 22 (See my post of Nov. 10, 2007: gender differences…
Despite huge amounts of work on their department’s plates, sometimes general counsel add more for the greater, longer term good. An appeal to the US Supreme court by Wal-Mart, regarding a massive class action certification, has gained 19 companies as allies. As reported in Corp. Counsel, Nov. 2010 at 22,…
The NYSBA J., Oct. 2010 at 36, discusses in an article how law schools need to evolve. In one paragraph, the author mentions three ways that general counsel could wield their influence for the greater good of the profession. They are to (A) “pressure the ABA to change the accreditation…
A large number of references on this blog to law schools have to do with years out of law school as a metric for benchmarks. In this vein are posts that have to do with law schools attended by in-house lawyers as an indicator of ability (See my post of…
Virtually everything on this blog that refers to India falls under the topic of offshoring. Aside from that 800-pound gorilla there are, in fact, some tiny chimps of posts related to India. A few refer to the number of Indian law graduates and lawyers (See my post of Oct. 10,…
General counsel have power. They can hire and fire, pay and promote. They can mentor and support or they can neglect and derail. There lies power. An ad for a DVD from the Stanford Graduate School of Business gives a thumbnail description of some of the risks of misusing power.…