Law Department Administration

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Interview with Alice Hsu / Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP

 Alice Hsu, a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, focuses on capital markets and corporate governance. Her family’s favored professions, however, were centered around medicine and engineering, leading Alice to wonder what her life would have been like had she followed one of those paths. In any case, she harbors no regrets – the lawyer’s life (as a corporate dealmaker) has suited her just fine. The interview has been edited for style and length.Continue Reading Navigating the Bumps: A corporate partner tries to help other women find legal jobs and thrive

By Kristin Calve, publisher of Metropolitan Corporate Counsel

Last week, as I headed out to CLOC’s 2017 Institute, I had to wonder what to expect. In my many years in legal media, I’ve been to my fair number of events ­– but never to one for legal operations professionals. My husband (and our company’s co-founder), Joe Calve, interviewed Jeff Franke before the show, so I had a good sense of what the CLOC team hoped to achieve. Franke’s interview basically called for nothing short of a revolution!

This event – only the second annual meeting in the organization’s history – would bring together groups of people who have long been excluded and told, “No, we cannot do it that way.” Jeff Franke made it clear that he, Connie Brenton and Mary O’Carroll have decided not to wait for change to come. They are aiming high and working to make it happen now. So the real question as I headed out to Las Vegas was: Can they pull this off?

I spent most of my time at the Institute in sessions and talking to legal operations professional from all over the country. There were so many sessions it was difficult to…
Continue Reading Going All-In on Legal Operations with CLOC

Metropolitan Corporate Counsel invites you to participate in a Complimentary Webinar on Tuesday, May 23rd at 11:00am EST to learn about 10 Key Considerations When Selecting an e-Billing and Matter Management Solution.

Today more than ever, corporate legal departments are looking to do more with less. Managing invoices manually, tracking matters in spreadsheets, or using disparate point solutions that each solve a single problem, will no longer be sustainable practices.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

This webinar, led by Kevin Caulfield and Lisa Weremeichik of Wolters Kluwer, will help those involved in corporate legal software and vendor selection better understand the benefits of e-Billing and Matter Management technology, and identify and explore the key considerations when choosing a system for your business.

By attending this webinar, you’ll come away with:

  • Insight on the value of an integrated e-Billing and Matter Management system
  • Best practices on getting started with your investment
  • Key product and vendor considerations when choosing a system
  • Those who register will also receive a link for on-demand viewing in case you are unable to attend the live event.

We welcome you to forward this invitation to any of your colleagues who may find it to be of interest.
Continue Reading Complimentary Webinar: 10 Key Considerations When Selecting an e-Billing and Matter Management Solution

Interview with Laura King / Clifford Chance

Laura King has been a lawyer at Clifford Chance for more than 20 years, initially based in Canada. She later moved to London, where she practiced capital markets law and was promoted to partner in 2001. A few years later, however, her career took an unexpected turn. The firm adopted a centralized approach to HR and asked King to lead the effort as a member of its global management team. And that’s why she recently found herself working on a book showcasing some of the firm’s top women lawyers. MCC interviewed her by telephone and email. These communications have been edited for length and style.
Continue Reading Diversity by the Book: Why one firm decided to dabble in publishing to demonstrate its support of women

 By Megan Belcher / Husch Blackwell LLP

 It is often said that if you are not uncomfortable, you are not growing. Reasonable minds may differ on the nuances; however, what is certain is that along the road of a career aimed at becoming a leader in the practice of law, many challenges will present themselves. Over the past year, I invested significant time and energy considering the power of navigating those challenges. In addition to gathering data about myself, particularly as I transitioned from an in-house leadership role to a partner at a law firm, I also sought input from others who had ascended along this path. I spoke with leaders working at in-house departments and at law firms, as well as executive coaches and talent management experts. I sought their advice and strategies for women navigating the myriad challenges that come as they try to find their authentic paths.

The big lesson I learned from these women was this: Getting out of your comfort zone drives transformative growth. Other lessons? Seek out the right support and ruthlessly prioritize. I include some of the questions we explored in bold text below.
Continue Reading Women Navigating Challenges to Lead in the Law: Advice from 10 lawyers who have talked it and walked it

By David White / AlixPartners LLP

Responding to data breaches can be a tricky business. If not managed correctly, corporate liability can easily be exponentially compounded. The key to successfully managing any complex crisis lies in the planning. It’s important to develop a carefully laid-out process long before the fire alarms start ringing. Once they do, there’s usually not much space for thinking of creative solutions. That’s why we map out our escape routes and post them on the wall for all to see.Continue Reading The Data Breach Response: Who Will You Tell?

Listening to Jeff Franke talk excitedly about the second annual CLOC Institute brings to mind Martin Luther and the 95 Theses. By nailing his grievances with the Roman Catholic Church to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany, the 16th Century theologian triggered waves of profound change across Europe – the Reformation – and his own excommunication.
Continue Reading A Magna Carta for Corporate Legal Services? Legal operations group sets about transforming a system in dire need of change

By Ryan McConnell & Stephanie Bustamante / R. McConnell Group

When you check your weather app, and it says there is a 30 percent chance of rain, have you ever thought about what that actually means? If it says 80 percent, do you assume it will rain (even though there is a 20 percent chance it will not)? If it says there is a 60 percent chance of rain and you see clear skies, are you disappointed or happy?Continue Reading Watching Which Way the Wind Blows: You need good forecasting to build good compliance

By Kellye Walker / Huntington Ingalls Industries

Kellye Walker, general counsel and executive vice president of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), understands that GCs wear many hats. She’s not only her company’s top lawyer, she’s also one of its business leaders. And she leads a team of lawyers by trying to set the tone and guide them without getting in their way. The interview has been edited for length and style.Continue Reading Lawyer with a Business Perspective: It’s important for general counsel to remember that they wear more than one hat