The legal department has evolved from the traditional view that it is a cost center or “the department of no.” A panel at last week’s Association of Corporate Counsel annual meeting discussed how legal departments can become stronger partners with their business clients and become a revenue generator – or even a profit center. The …
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ACC 2017 Recap
In the early months of 1848, when news broke of found gold at Sutter Mill in Northern California, a rush of fortune-seekers from across the United States and abroad converged onto a boomtown called San Francisco. Fast forward to this past week where more than 2,600 corporate counsel flocked to San Francisco in search of …
- October 24, 2016
- Alex Cook
How the Tour de France Got Me Even More Hooked on Technology
“Technology cannot forget the importance of the humanity that interacts, uses, and creates it.” One never knows where inspiration will strike or what will spark a lifelong passion. As chief technology officer, Lisa Schlosser has always had an appreciation and passion for technology. But as she attends the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing …
- October 21, 2016
- Leonard Lee
Getting Lean and Mean: Transforming Legal Operations – ACC 2016 Panel
Legal departments are transforming through technology, implementing best practices and continually analyzing the work being performed by lawyers, paralegals and support staff, as well as by their outside counsel. At the 2016 Association of Corporate Counsel annual meeting, a panel titled “Getting Lean and Mean: Transforming Legal Operations” discussed some methods, tactics and strategies legal …
- October 21, 2016
- Jeff McCoy
Survey Reveals Developing Trend in Legal Departments
According to the Thomson Reuters 2016 Legal Department In-Sourcing and Efficiency Report: The Keys to a More Effective Legal Department, more than 40 percent of legal departments indicated the top benefit of increasing efficiency is being able to focus on more strategic work, and many are turning to legal department operations professionals to enable them …
- October 20, 2016
- Jeff McCoy
Themes from the Annual Meeting – ACC 2016
The exhibit floor and sessions at any conference provide an opportunity to truly hear what is top of mind, and the 2016 Association of Corporate Counsel annual meeting offered just that. Through networking conversations with key clients, colleagues and attending sessions, Susan Feingold, head of Law Department Service at Practical Law, part of Thomson Reuters, …
- October 20, 2016
- Jeff McCoy
Thomson Reuters to Discuss Innovative New Diversity Initiatives at 2016 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing
The world’s largest gathering of women technologists gets underway in Houston today. The Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing will draw more than 15,000 people from over 80 countries for discussions, presentations and networking to increase the role of women in technology in industry, government and academia. A broad contingent of Thomson Reuters people …
- October 19, 2016
- Leonard Lee
Raising the Bar for Law Firms: How to Move Outside Counsel into Integrating and Delivering Managed Services – ACC Panel
The traditional hourly billing model still predominates, and many legal departments are still comfortable with their outside counsel using it. But there has been a shift over the recent years to more use of alternative fee arrangements (AFAs), flat fee structures or value-based pricing. At the Association of Corporate Counsel annual meeting, a panel discussed …
- October 19, 2016
- Jeff McCoy
Are Firms Trimming Rates for More Business? Lower Rates May Lead to Higher Demand & Revenues, Says Peer Monitor Report
A new report from Thomson Reuters Peer Monitor finds that large law firms willing to accept smaller rate increases are on average experiencing higher demand and revenue growth. For many years, annual rate increases have been seen as a reliable means for firms to grow their revenues. But in an increasingly flat market in demand …
- October 18, 2016
- Leonard Lee
Insider Threats: Who is Watching Your Employees? ACC 2016
Edward Snowden may be the most well-known example of an insider threat. But for corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations, the risk of insider threats may not even be those that are intentional. In many cases, employees take intellectual property when they leave the organization because they had a hand in its creation and think …
- October 18, 2016
- Jeff McCoy