The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel

EDITORIAL HIGHLIGHTS      JUNE 2013 Issue

Cover Feature: Representative(s) of Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ)

Featured Topics

Compliance Programs: Managing compliance in a dynamic U.S. and global judicial/legislative/regulatory environment. Specific topics include PPACA, Dodd-Frank, FCPA, UK Bribery Act and its counterparts throughout the world, Lord Justice Jackson’s report for civil justice reform in the UK. Other regulations requiring compliance include the Alien Tort Claims Act, privacy laws, including the proposed EU privacy regulations, antitrust, export controls and rules relating to social media. What components should be in a robust compliance program in order to foster a favorable public image and good employee relations? What are some initiatives that garner confidence with regulatory authorities?

Insurance and Risk Management: Insurance and risk-management issues, including new coverage options and enterprise risk management policies. How should companies mitigate potential losses resulting from catastrophic events, such as Sandy or Bhopal? How important is a geographically diverse supply chain? What checks should be made on applicants for employment? What effect do inferior working conditions in the plants of overseas suppliers have on the reputations of U.S. distributors of their goods? What are best practices for managing the impact of social media on a company’s reputation?

Intellectual Property: How do holders of patents protect against infringement claims relating to complex products, such as smartphones and bio products, which may be protected by many patents? How active are patent trolls, now that the new America Invents Act is in effect? Has there been an erosion of patent protection in India and other developing nations where drugs are viewed as too expensive? What about calls to discontinue copyright protection for Internet content, as exhibited by Germany’s Pirate Party? Recent important judicial decisions in biotech and high-tech cases are of interest.

Outsourcing: Outsourcing as a business strategy within corporate/legal organizations. What is the general state of quality control within this industry? How do outsourcing services differ by location, industry, legal specialty or specific project? What impact does outsourcing have on U.S. and global economies? We welcome service providers’ discussions of preferred technologies, locations, employee training/qualification standards and industry certifications.

Special Section: Lawyers for Civil Justice: Cover: LCJ Leader or Leaders interviewed. The need to improve Rule 23’s provisions on class-action standards and guidelines. Effect of Supreme Court’s decisions in Amgen, Standard Fire Ins. Co, and Comcast Corp., and continuing developments in the wake of Iqbal and Twombley. Is there a need to lobby for changes in proposed EU privacy regulations? What changes are needed to the FRCP and state laws relating to e-discovery, over preservation and legal-holds? Discuss technologies that address these complex issues and that contribute to effective data-management policies and best practices.

Special Section: National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): Cover: TBD. Advancing Exemplary Board Leadership, NACD is a national association serving the information and educational needs of corporate directors. Topics include: best practices for board composition and management; performance metrics; compensation and risk-management issues; and the board’s responsibilities in designing and implementing effective internal compliance programs.

Focus on the Midwest: Cover TBD: Service providers and law firms with offices in the Midwest will discuss their capabilities and benefits to corporate clients. Comments on the area’s economic recovery with a particular emphasis on the role of manufacturing and exports.

Deadlines: Interviews: May 17  • Articles: May 20 • Ad Materials: May 22