Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
Corporate in-house counsel working from home can allow lawyers to be more productive, generate improved morale and used as a retention tool and as a way of attracting new talent. While working from home is growing, many general counsel are hesitate to permit it because they have one primary concern: “If I cannot see them, how do I know they are really working?” This article examines the benefits and pitfalls of in-house counsel working at home.
Cybersecurity professionals usually welcome the exposure of major data privacy breaches in the news (think Target, Home Depot, Yahoo!). The result of the media attention drives cybersecurity awareness, leading to folks to be more concerned about how to protect themselves and their companies. The allegations of Russian hacking of our elections marks a significant departure from this typical, cybersecurity incident silver lining. This article explains why.
Exxon Mobil Upstream GC William Buck is retiring from the world’s largest oil and gas operation after 36 years. He is being replaced by Chip Casey, who is Exxon Mobil’s chief attorney over its production division. Buck's commitment to the legal profession and public service is unparalleled. EOG Resources GC Michael P. Donaldson says Buck "was on the front lines of providing access to justice for our veterans and other in need of legal assistance." “For some lawyers, pro bono is something they have to support as part of their jobs. For Bill, the commitment to pro bono is genuine and deep,” says LyondellBasell CLO Jeffrey Kaplan. The Texas Lawbook honors Bill Buck for a tremendous legal career.
As a law student, Alana Newhook dreamed of working as a lawyer for a professional hockey team. Five years later, she is living that dream. “[Newhook] is already the envy of many attorneys as she has combined her legal skills and talents with her passion for hockey,” says FedEx Office GC Kimble Scott. At age 29, Newhook may be the youngest corporate general counsel in Texas. This is her story.
Managing outside counsel relationships can be challenging for general counsel. With a new year on the horizon, now is the perfect time for corporate legal departments to create or update an "outside counsel guidelines" that governs everything from billing practices and use of outside vendors to specifics about the lawyers and support staff you want working on your matters. In this edition of Ten Things, Miller reminds GCs that the many facets of an outside counsel relationship need constant management.
Eighteen year Mary Kay veteran Julia A. Simon has been promoted to be the cosmetic and personal care company’s top corporate lawyer. Addison-based Mary Kay announced Thursday that Simon, who has been the company’s deputy general counsel, is its new chief legal officer.
Hunt Consolidated has named former Energy Future Holdings General Counsel Stacey H. Doré as its new senior vice president and chief legal officer for two of its affiliated companies, Hunt Utility Services and InfraREIT.
Hunt Consolidated has named former Energy Future Holdings General Counsel Stacey H. Doré as its new senior vice president and chief legal officer for two of its affiliated companies, Hunt Utility Services and InfraREIT.
Corporate executives have used "offsite" meetings to develop strategy, set goals, energize the team, enhance teamwork and cooperation is the offsite. Legal departments seldom use this tool, but general counsel should reconsider. Legal department offsites can bring big benefits to the department and the company. This edition of “Ten Things” discusses how to plan and host a successful legal department offsite.
The GC Forum awarded its prestigious Magna Stella Awards to lawyers in corporate legal departments at American Air Liquide, Dell, Marathon Oil, Parkland Hospital, Total Petrochemicals, Waste Management and Vinmar Group. GCs and and their top deputies were honored for the extraordinary projects and successes during the past year.
Jack Balagia, who turned 65 on Wednesday, officially retires next week as ExxonMobil’s general counsel. In an exclusive interview with The Texas Lawbook, Balagia discusses his career, his biggest successes, his epic golf matches against former AT&T GC Wayne Watts, his efforts to diversity the legal profession, life inside the ExxonMobil legal department, his view of law firm rankings and the biggest legal issues facing the world's largest oil and gas company. Balagia made one point career: he may be retiring, but he's not done as a lawyer.
Regina Gregory has been the top lawyer at Houston-based American Midstream Partners for only six weeks, but she has already overseen a $2 billion acquisition. A 1996 graduate of the University of Oklahoma School of Law, Gregory was named American Midstream’s new general counsel, corporate secretary and senior vice president in September.
AT&T General Counsel David McAtee, Associate General Counsel John J. O’Connor, Assistant General Counsel David Lawson and teams of lawyers from Sullivan & Cromwell and Arnold & Porter are leading the communications giant’s efforts to acquire Time Warner for $85 billion.
AT&T General Counsel David McAtee, Associate General Counsel John J. O’Connor, Assistant General Counsel David Lawson and teams of lawyers from Sullivan & Cromwell and Arnold & Porter are leading the communications giant’s efforts to acquire Time Warner for $85 billion.
© 2016 The Texas Lawbook. By Mark Curriden (Oct. 24) – AT&T General Counsel David McAtee, Associate General Counsel John J. O’Connor and a team from Sullivan & Cromwell are
© 2016 The Texas Lawbook. By Mark Curriden (Oct. 24) – AT&T General Counsel David McAtee, Associate General Counsel John J. O’Connor and a team from Sullivan & Cromwell are
Energy Future Holdings General Counsel Stacey Doré is out. Stephanie Zapata Moore and Andy Wright are in. When EFH officials announced two weeks ago that TXU Energy and Luminant had emerged from bankruptcy, it also meant a shake up in the power giant’s legal department. Cecily Gooch, Dan Kelly and Gabe Vazquez have been named top assistant general counsel at TCEH. The Texas Lawbook has the details.
Energy Future Holdings General Counsel Stacey Doré is out. Stephanie Zapata Moore and Andy Wright are in. When EFH officials announced two weeks ago that TXU En
Two years ago today, an East Texas jury ruled that the Dallas-based Trinity Industries violated the False Claims Act when it failed to inform federal officials that it modified its highway guardrails but kept promoting the product as approved. The verdict was $663 million – the largest in the history of the FCA – and opened the door to a flood of lawsuits that seek billions of dollars in damages against the company. Now, Trinity Industries is in a legal war for its financial life and its reputation. What happens next could impact whistleblower lawsuits for decades to come. The Texas Lawbook examines the case and Trinity's legal strategy.
Two years ago today, an East Texas jury ruled that the Dallas-based Trinity Industries violated the False Claims Act when it failed to inform federal officials that it modified its highway guardrails but kept promoting the product as approved. The verdict was $663 million – the largest in the history of the FCA – and opened the door to a flood of lawsuits that seek billions of dollars in damages against the company. Now, Trinity Industries is in a legal war for its financial life and its reputation. What happens next could impact whistleblower lawsuits for decades to come. The Texas Lawbook examines the case and Trinity's legal strategy.
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