The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel
EDITORIAL HIGHLIGHTS    July-August  2013 Combined Issue*

Cover: Hon. Leo E. Strine, Jr., Chancellor, Delaware Court of Chancery: Chancellor Strine will discuss developments at the Court of Chancery, including those pertaining to recent rules changes and e-discovery guidelines.

Featured Topics:

Big Data: Legal and business implications of big data; corporate strategies/policies and technologies that help companies manage the myriad challenges and opportunities; data as a corporate asset.

Compensation: (1) current proxy season’s results of Dodd-Frank Say-on-Pay requirements; (2) legal aspects of clawbacks; and (3) issues with respect to shareholder litigation based on adequacy of proxy disclosures.  

Crisis Management: (1) discussion of enterprise risk management (ERM) plans; (2) involvement of senior  management and boards in the development of such plans; (3) liability for not having such plans in place; and (3) rehabilitation of corporate reputation after a crisis.

Employee Benefits: (1) impact of the economic downturn and slow recovery; (2) new developments in benefit programs, including measures that reduce costs, such as outsourcing; (3) preparation for rollout of provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA); (4) challenges posed to employers in those states that have resisted adoption of some of the provisions of the PPACA; and (5) integration of the PPCA into existing employee health plans. Outsourcing vendors may wish to describe the services they provide.

Immigration: Status reports on legislation and analysis of provisions.    

Social Media and Cyber Crime: Issues with respect to penalizing employees for statements about their companies or other employees on social media. Steps that can be taken by companies to protect the privacy of the companies, their employees, their customers and others whose information they have  against  cyber criminals, and their obligation to notify those whose records they maintain of intrusions.

Tax: Discussions of proper activities of groups organized under Sections 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.  

Special Section On Legal Project Management: Cover: TBD. Some corporate counsel are asking their law firms to quote fixed prices for their work. In responding to such requests, some law firms use Legal Project Management technology to calculate the fixed price that they should propose. Law firm marketers and technology vendors discuss the issues that law firms face in responding to such requests.

Special Section On Alternative Dispute Resolution: Cover: TBD Discussion of the expense and time-cost of ADR versus litigation, new techniques and strategies, trends in international arbitration, the expanding litigation/dispute resolution spectrum with the advent of business courts, effective selection of neutrals, and e-discovery and early case assessment in the context of ADR.

Special Report On Pro Bono and Corporate Social Responsibility: Cover: TBD Executive directors of Lawyers Alliance, Pro Bono Partnership and MFY Legal Services discussing their organizations. Law and accounting firms and vendors discuss their commitment to pro bono.

Focus On New Jersey: Cover: Gov. Chris Christie (to be invited): Discussion of economic development and job creation initiatives.   

Focus On Pennsylvania: Cover: Gov. Tom Corbett: Discussion of economic development and job creation initiatives. Legal and business issues with respect to development of Marcellus Shale.

Deadlines: Interviews: June 18  •  Articles: June 20  •  Ad Materials: June 21