Category Archives: In the House

Where Have All the Lawyers Gone? Attracting the Next Generation

By Zenneia McLendon on February 5th, 2013 Posted in In the House, In-House Practice, Pro Bono

As law school applications decline, organizations seek alternative ways to attract the next generation of lawyers. Among the deterrents to the potential applicant pool are financial concerns and job opportunity. A recent New York Times article notes that “the number of law school applicants has decreased 20% within the past year,” based on a study… Continue Reading

Doing Business in the GCC: A Region of Competing and Contrasting Opportunities

By ACC Guest Blogger on February 1st, 2013 Posted in ACC Europe, In the House, In-House Practice, On the Road

The business opportunities opening up to international companies in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) are fast increasing, but the six Persian Gulf countries that comprise it have different commercial attractions and potentially competing economic goals, participants learned at a recent Doing Business in the GCC conference held in London…. Continue Reading

Global Compliance Concerns Carry Over Into the New Year

By Zenneia McLendon on January 25th, 2013 Posted in Around the World, In the House, In the News, In-House Practice

Last fall, the US Department of Justice and Security and Exchange Commission released new guidelines to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and the United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office unveiled revisions to the UK Bribery Act policies, giving corporate lawyers plenty to mull over within their departments. These two documents provide guidance and regulation for issues… Continue Reading

The Value Champions Strike Back

By Amar Sarwal on January 15th, 2013 Posted in ACC News, ACC Value Challenge, Client-Firm Value, In the House, In-House Practice

Sequels are quite underrated, particularly the second one in the series. Think about it. We all remember the first iterations of blockbuster movies, as if they were the gold standards, while most sequels are forgettable. Still, sometimes, the sequel outdoes the original. Lists of good sequels abound, but any such list has to include “The… Continue Reading

Part II – A Discussion with Paula Boggs: Retired but Not Tired

By Brent Thomas on January 3rd, 2013 Posted in In the House, In-House Practice, Leadership

After retiring from Starbucks at the age of 53, Paula Boggs journeyed to her vacation home in Santa Fe, where she suddenly found herself free of the obligations that had shaped her professional life. The phone calls, email notifications and meeting reminders were basically nonexistent. She was living the dream, so to speak, but soon… Continue Reading

Practical Tips for New GCs: Learn. Listen. Lead.

By Zenneia McLendon on December 10th, 2012 Posted in In the House, In-House Practice

Last Tuesday, ACC’s Law Department Management Committee hosted a webcast, “Practical Tips for the New General Counsel.” During the online presentation, moderators Kevin Blodgett, senior vice president and general counsel, Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc., and Robin Snasdell, managing director, Huron Legal, outlined 10 practical tips for new GCs. “Begin with the End in Mind” was… Continue Reading

Attorney Client Privilege—Does Subject Matter Waiver Apply?

By Zenneia McLendon on December 7th, 2012 Posted in ACC News, In the House, In the News, In-House Practice

Last week, the Illinois Supreme Court answered the question of whether subject matter waivers should apply to attorney-client privilege, and subsequently, calmed the concerns of ACC and others by rejecting forced disclosure of attorney-client communications. Each day, companies and individuals seek the advice and counsel of lawyers through conversations and communications they assume are confidential… Continue Reading

New Leadership for ACC Europe, Things You Didn’t Learn in Law School and more!

By Zenneia McLendon on December 7th, 2012 Posted in ACC News, In the House, In the News

Here at ACC, we meet the needs of global in-house counsel by providing support through information, networking, education opportunities and advocacy. Each week we update our website with resources and information to help support every level of your in-house career. Check out this week’s resources and highlights of ACC in the news: ACC in the… Continue Reading

Things I Wish I Learned in Law School

By Fred Krebs on December 4th, 2012 Posted in In the House, In-House Practice, Leadership

For my “Introduction to the In-House Practice” class at Georgetown University Law School, I like to have experienced in-house counsel speak to my students. This exposes them to ideas they do not generally receive in other courses, with the added benefit that I always learn something as well. Recently, I asked Mike Dillon, a former… Continue Reading

A Discussion with Paula Boggs: Retired but Not Tired

By Brent Thomas on November 20th, 2012 Posted in In the House, In-House Practice, Leadership

For 10 years, Paula Boggs served as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary to Starbucks Coffee Company. Earlier this year, she bid farewell to the coffee conglomerate and is now retired at the age of 53 — about 14 years ahead of schedule, according to a recent Gallup poll. For Paula Boggs, however,… Continue Reading

ACC – Weekly Review

By Zenneia McLendon on November 16th, 2012 Posted in ACC News, In the House, In the News

A Look Back at #ACCAM12

By Zenneia McLendon on November 14th, 2012 Posted in ACC News, Annual Meeting 2012, In the House, In-House Practice, On the Road

Take a look back at this year’s ACC annual meeting in sunny Orlando, Florida as attendees share their thoughts, experiences and perspective on the value of attending ACC’s annual meeting.

ACC – Weekly Review

By Zenneia McLendon on November 9th, 2012 Posted in ACC News, In the House, In-House Practice

Here at ACC, we meet the needs of global in-house counsel by providing support through information, networking, education opportunities and advocacy. Each week we update our website with resources and information to help support every level of your in-house career. Check out this week’s resources and next week’s events: Advocacy Actions Massachusetts and Minnesota go… Continue Reading

The New “Brazilian Way”: Doing Business in Brazil

By ACC Guest Blogger on October 20th, 2012 Posted in Annual Meeting 2012, Around the World, In the House, In-House Practice

Tiffani Alexander is managing editor of the ACC Docket, the award-winning journal of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). She earned her BA in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has a MA in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago. Tiffani can be contacted at Alexander@acc.com. As the sixth… Continue Reading

You Cannot Do It Alone!*

By Fred Krebs on October 17th, 2012 Posted in Annual Meeting 2012, In the House, In-House Practice, Leadership, On the Road

Last month, I closed my post Great Leaders Need Great Followers with a comment about the importance of “developing your own network of people whose judgment and discretion you can rely on.” Let’s expand on that thought. You should develop your own network because it is crucial to your success. You cannot do it alone!… Continue Reading

#ACCAM12 – At A Glance

By In-house Access on October 12th, 2012 Posted in Annual Meeting 2012, In the House

It has been one week since the conclusion of this year’s annual meeting in sunny Orlando, Florida. Take a look back at some of the highlights, including a Tweet-up held in ACC’s 30th anniversary lounge. We look forward to seeing you next year for ACC’s 2013 Annual Meeting! October 27-30, Los Angeles, CA Register today!

Managed Justice: Why the Trial of Gu Kailai Matters to Foreign Corporations in China

By ACC Guest Blogger on October 5th, 2012 Posted in Around the World, In the House, In-House Practice

James Zimmerman is an American lawyer living and working in China since 1998, and the author of the China Law Deskbook (American Bar Association, 3rd Ed. 2010). It came as no surprise when, on Aug. 20, 2012, Gu Kailai, the wife of ousted Communist Party official Bo Xilai was found guilty of murdering British businessman… Continue Reading

Renewing My Vows to ACC

By ACC Guest Blogger on September 30th, 2012 Posted in ACC News, In the House, In-House Practice, Leadership

Joe Aronds is an Assistant Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. in New Jersey, President of the New Jersey Corporate Counsel Association, and writer and illustrator of a monthly law-related cartoon, Overruled! When an in-house employment opportunity presented itself to me, the first thing I resolved to do was join… Continue Reading

Great Leaders Need Great Followers *

By Fred Krebs on September 24th, 2012 Posted in ACC News, In the House, In the News, Leadership

ACC’s celebration of 30 years of service to the in-house legal community gave me an opportunity to reflect about reasons for its success. I believe the essential factor was the many outstanding leaders and members willing to share their knowledge so others could learn from their experience. One such person was Bill Lytton, the 2002… Continue Reading

Men Want to Have Fun, Too

By Amar Sarwal on September 5th, 2012 Posted in In the House, In the News, In-House Practice

That’s all they really want Some fun When the working day is done Girls – they want to have fun Oh girls just want to have fun Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about how women can achieve a better work/life balance in their careers. Starting with a provocative piece in the Atlantic Monthly,… Continue Reading

Learning the Business: My First Year In-house

By ACC Guest Blogger on August 15th, 2012 Posted in In the House, In-House Practice, Leadership

Rachel Okolski currently serves as assistant general counsel and manager of legal resources at the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) in Washington, DC. Her responsibilities include providing legal counsel to the organization, as well as managing the development of ACC’s legal resources and educational programs on topics related to compliance & ethics, corporate & securities… Continue Reading

Redefining the International Legal Department

By ACC Guest Blogger on August 10th, 2012 Posted in ACC Europe, ACC News, In the House, In-House Practice

Guest blogger: Gian-Reto Schulthess is the author of the German Blog The Business of Law. Until 2011, he was employed with Adecco, where he was head of the Corporate Law Department within its Group Legal function in Zurich, Switzerland. He is an ACC Country Rep for Switzerland. ACC and Laurence Simons have recently released the… Continue Reading

The Strategic Advisor & New Enterprise Development … Voilà!

By ACC Guest Blogger on July 17th, 2012 Posted in In the House, In-House Practice

Guest blogger: Jay R. Grant is SVP & assistant general counsel at Univision Communications, Inc. He serves as the legal department representative to the Office of the Chief Executive Officer in New York, and provides integrated legal and business solutions for Univision’s current and new enterprises. One, two, three … Voilà! This is the speed… Continue Reading

We Are the (Small Law) Champions (of Value-Based Fees)

By ACC Guest Blogger on July 9th, 2012 Posted in ACC News, In the House

Guest blogger: Russ Dempsey is vice president and chief legal officer for United Retirement Plan Consultants. Russ has been recognized as a 2012 ACC Value Champion. He is the immediate past president of the Central Ohio Chapter of the ACC. Russ holds both a JD and an LL.M. in taxation from Capital University Law School…. Continue Reading