Legal Commentary

OUTLIERS: THE STORY OF SUCCESS

Posted on December 28, 2008
I'm a huge fan of Malcolm Gladwell, and I'm absolutely fascinated by leadership, so I was eager to grab his new book, Outliers: The Story of Success. I know it got trashed by some critics, but ignore them. It's a fascinating study that sets out to debunk the cowboy notion of "self-made men" -- and explores the factors that have come into play to create successful people...

WHAT I HATE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

Posted on December 28, 2008
Anthony Paonita, editor-in-chief of Corporate Counsel magazine, and I are organizing a panel for LegalTech New York that should be a flat-out blast. We've got a GREAT crew of speakers, and a great topic: "What I Hate About Technology - and what i expect my outside counsel, co-counsel, vendors and staff to do about it!" It will be held on Tuesday, Feb...

A SWEET GOODBYE

Posted on December 11, 2008
I received sad but not unexpected news this morning ? my dad died last night. Our family was so blessed ? for the last two years, Daddyo was in a fabulous assisted living home, with warm, caring attendants. Mom and my wonderful brother Bill and his remarkable family were just five minutes away, so Dad was never isolated...

& THE WINNERS ARE:

Posted on December 11, 2008
The results are in for the 2008 LTN Vendor Awards, as voted by YOU, our readers. Full list is here. This year, there are three tiers of winners: gold/silver/bronze.Here's the New Product of the Year:Gold - Acrobat 9 Pro Extended, Adobe Systems Inc.Silver - Tabs3 & PracticeMaster 14...

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POST A COMMENT, FEED A FAMILY

Posted on December 10, 2008
Tyson's using social networking to promote its HungerRelief program. For every post it gets it will donate food to feed Eastern Mass. families. Check it out!

75% OF LAW DEPTS FACE BUDGET CUTS IN 09

Posted on December 09, 2008
Altman Weil has released a new Survey on Law Dept Cost Control that shows that 76% of responding GCS say their law depts face budget cuts averaging 11.5% for '09. And 15.6% say budgets will increase -- but by a smaller percentage than in prior years. More than 80% of respondants cited outside counsel costs, and the unpredictable nature of legal spending...

SAD NEWS FROM SF: JOHN McGUCKIN HAS DIED

Posted on December 04, 2008
Just heard the very sad news that one of my favorite people lost his battle with cancer, John H. McGuckin. I got to know John during my Recorder days, and he was a gem. Modest, generous, good-spirited, kind and smart, he always warmed my heart and treated everyone with dignity and joy...

OZ JOINS WHITE & CASE, WHICH IS RETOOLING

Posted on December 03, 2008
Oz Benamram, formerly of MoFo, has joined White & Case as Chief Knowledge Officer. The firm, according to our sibling blog, The Am Law Daily, is undergoing a major reorganization. "Under a new structure put in place this week, power will shift from 35 individual offices to 14 regional groups, with a renewed focus on 16 different global practices...

IT SECTOR M&A EXPECTED TO GROW IN '09

Posted on December 02, 2008
52% of corporate executives said they expect merger & acquisition growth in the IT sector to outpace overall global M&A growth in '09, according to a survey conducted by mergermarket, MoFo & Updata Advisers. Press release Download Press-Release-IT-Sector-December-08(2) Full report Download IT_Sector_M&A_Spotlight

ABA JOURNAL'S BLAWG 100 IS UP

Posted on December 01, 2008
The ABA Journal has posted its 2nd annual Blawg 100 list. Congrats to our Incisive Media colleagues who made the roster, including:? Legal Blog Watch (Bob Ambrogi & Carolyn Elefant, who also got listed for MyShingle.com.? Am Law Daily ? BLT (the Blog of Legal Times) ? L...

BLACKBERRYS & PDAS SAVE LAWYERS

Posted on December 01, 2008
Bob Ambrogi writes on Legal Blog Watch about three members of our community who survived the horrific attacks in Mumbai, aided by their BlackBerrys and international cell phones. Check it out here. Here's a harrowing excerpt:For Australian lawyer David Jacobs, trapped in a room on the 16th floor of the Oberoi/Trident Hotel, his BlackBerry proved to be his salvation, according to the Sunday Mail...

NEW YORK LAWHELP IN RUNNING FOR PRIZE

Posted on December 01, 2008
Pam Weisz of ProBono.Net checks in to share the good news that The New York LawHelp Consortium has been chosen as a semi-finalist for The Colllaboration Prize -- a new $250,000 award designed to recognize and encourage non-profits. the Consortion developed and runs LawHelp/NY, an online resource that offers detailed, statewide legal aid referrals, "know your rights" information, and other self-help tools for New Yorkers who face legal problems...

WIN A WINE EXPERIENCE

Posted on December 01, 2008
The team at eSentio has extended the deadline to bid on a wonderful "once in a lifetime" wine experience, with proceeds benefiting The Nature Conservatory, a non-profit that works to preserve natural habitats and wildlife worldwide.Destination Cellars has donated a "luxury customized wine experience for two" -- in the Napa Valley, plus a signed bottle of 2003 Paul Hobbs Stagecoach Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon...

WELCOME CECIL LYNN & RALPH LOSEY

Posted on November 18, 2008
I am delighted to introduce everybody to Cecil Lynn III and Ralph Losey, who have both graciously agreed to join Law Technology News' Editorial Advisory Board, and our EDD Update authors team. Lynn, upper right, is of counsel to Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite, and is based in Phoenix...

LTN AWARDS - DEADLINE EXTENDED

Posted on November 13, 2008
By popular demand, we have extended the deadline to enter our 2008 LTN Awards to WEDNESDAY DEC 3. Especially in tough economic times, here's an opportunity to showcase your organization's technology stars -- and projects. Toda y, as Doug Caddell (a former winner of IT Director of the Year) says, you can't just sell your legal skills -- who also have to "sell" your technology...

CISCO'S INFRASTRUCTURE IN YANKEE STADIUM

Posted on November 12, 2008
Kewl story today on the Yankee's website about how Cisco Systems Inc. has wired the new Yankee Stadium, which will open in April. Among the infrastructure is Cisco's Telepresence conferencing system, which LTN wrote about last February. Cisco's already installed about $16 million in wiring, as well as about 1,100 high-def video monitors in the stadium...

TWEET TWEET

Posted on November 07, 2008
OK, I've joined another cult. Check out: http://twitter.com/commonscold http://twitter.com/eddupdate http://twitter.com/lawtechnology (lawtechnologynews was too long, and someone's already got LTN) Bob Ambrogi's going to tell you everything you need to know about it in the December LTN, but I'll post a few links here shortly as well from others who have 'splained it...

CALLING ALL CANDIDATES

Posted on November 07, 2008
Both the LTN editorial advisory board and the LegalTech board currently have no minority members -- and we both are committed to changing that. If you are interested -- or can suggest someone we should approach -- drop me a note at commonscold@incisivemedia...

AN HISTORIC DAY

Posted on November 05, 2008
NBC's Luke Russert (Tim's son) had a great analogy, about racial bias crumbling last night like the Berlin Wall. Most of you know that I carefully stay away from partisan politics, because my readers are of all political colors ? but you all know that I'm rabid about diversity, a goal which I believe ? and hope ? crosses all political spectrums...

FRIDAY'S THE DEADLINE!

Posted on November 04, 2008
It's not too late to nominate your firm or law department for the 2008 LTN Awards. The process is simple and painless... Just download the application right here . Categories include:? IT Director of the Year? IT Champion of the Year? Most innovative use of technology in:-- A trial-- A law firm-- A law dept...

VISTA EQUITY BUYS ADERANT

Posted on November 03, 2008
Vista Equity Partners has announced it has completed its acquisition of Aderant Holdings Inc. Terms of the deal were not announced. Michael Kohlsdorf, president and CEO: ?I am fully confident that Vista will help us further energize our business, and I look forward to working with our current management team and dedicated employees to reach the next level of our company?s growth...

2008 FINAL REPORT

Posted on November 02, 2008
O.K. -- This will come as a surprise to most of you, but I am not upset that the boys did not make it to the postseason. Frankly, I was secretly relieved. To be honest, I was exhausted by the end of September. Between the All Star Game, and all the hype about the final season at the Stadium, I was toast...

LED ZEPP - OFF TOPIC BUT BIG FUN

Posted on October 29, 2008
My pal Jon Bream -- veteran music critic of Minneapolis' Star Tribune -- has just finished up an east coast book tour for his brand new coffee table book, Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin: The Illustrated History of the Heaviest Band of All Time, published by Voyageur Press...

MAILBAG #081028

Posted on October 29, 2008
Checkin' the in-box: ? Andrea Tecce of Navigant Consulting checks in to say that the recent inaugural meeting of the Women's Leadership & Mentoring Alliance, held in NYC, was a big hit, drawing about 50 folks for cocktails and conversation.The group plans to host quarterly events on the East Coast, between D...

TODAY'S THE DAY

Posted on October 29, 2008
Got notes today from Russ Curtis, LTN's photo editor, and Ed Jorcyzk, formerly of MoFo's IT team, both Californians. Wonderful news from Russ -- he and his partner, Mark Russell, have decided to tie the knot today. CONGRATS. Here's their letter on why today's the day:Russ and I have been in a loving relationship for 12 years...

Special Discount for GC teams: Mastering Discovery

Posted on October 28, 2008
Heads up, GC teams -- Our legal events team is offering a special discount for the upcoming Mastering the Discovery Process for the General Counsel program, which will be held Monday and Tuesday (Nov 3 & 4) at the New York Marriott Marquis hotel, sponsored by our colleagues at Corporate Counsel magazine...

MORE DISCOURAGING NEWS RE: RETENTION

Posted on October 16, 2008
The National Law Journal continues to cover the difficult issue of diversity within our legal industry. Following the recent report about gender pay discrepancies comes the discouraging news that minority women are rarely successful in attempts to climb BigFirm partnership ladders, writes reporter Karen Sloan: The number of women and minority attorneys at major U...

CMO INSIGHTS

Posted on October 01, 2008
The wise Bruce Marcus checks in to offer a link to his speech at our recent CMO Conference. Marcus offers great advice and has an amazing amount of common sense, which is very refreshing to encounter from professional marketers. Some are fabulous, but too many, in my experience, too often succumb to brain-numbing Firm Speak and the latest management fads...

WALL STREET RAINING IT TALENT?

Posted on September 30, 2008
E-Week Careers suggests that the implosions on Wall Street may be excellent news for folks trying to hire top IT staff. They cite an article from Crain's: Traditionally, Wall Street has been the tech industry's stiffest competition on the hiring front...

GE SUES ITS FORMER ATTY

Posted on September 30, 2008
Our colleague Sue Reisinger of Corporate Counsel has this story out today: Here's the first graf: General Electric Co. has now seen two in-house lawyers end up in court -- as its opponents. In June, GE sued a one-time staff attorney, claiming that she took privileged company tax documents and gave them to two government agencies and a reporter...

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