Library Search
-
Ethics Ruling OK's Lawyer as Expert ( May 2007 )
When a lawyer testifies as an expert witness on a party's behalf, is an attorney-client relationship created? A new ethics ruling says no, thereby freeing the lawyer to take on a new matter related to a client at her former firm. -
Evaluating Experience: The Key to Successful Selection of Outside Counsel ( July 2004 )
Beyond simply covering their employer's legal exposure, in-house corporate counsel increasingly must consider the public relations, financial and personal implications associated with getting the right or wrong advice from outside counsel. FindLaw® recently launched the Thomson Legal Record, a first-of-its kind resource designed to help in-house corporate attorneys make more informed decisions when hiring outside counsel. TLR enables users to research and verify an attorney's realworld litigation experience by combining a high-level view of an attorney's litigation history from Westlaw, an attorney's West Legal Directory® profile, and published articles on FindLaw.com. -
Dealing With Conflicts In Joint Representation Of DefendantsIn Mass Tort Litigation ( April 2004 )
As litigation continues to become increasingly complex with plaintiffs attempting to unite in class action lawsuits while naming as many defendants as possible, the legal costs associated with defending such lawsuits present a great economic challenge to many companies. This article addresses a number of ethical concerns which an attorney must consider before undertaking a joint defense in mass tort litigation. -
Joint-Defense Agreements -- The Hidden Dangers ( December 2003 )
You've been asked to enter into a joint-defense agreement. It seems to make sense from the perspective of a zealous advocate - it may greatly benefit your client by allowing the attorneys to pool knowledge, expertise and resources. But have you considered all of the potential dangers of a joint-defense agreement from the perspective of your own legitimate self-interest? -
In House Counsel's Duty to Give "Miranda" Warnings to Corporate Officers and Employees ( October 2003 )
This article discusses in-house counsel's ethical obligations in dealing with corporate officers and employees whose interests may be at odds with the corporation's. The discussion will focus on the attorney's obligations under the ABA's Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which have been adopted in a majority of states. The following scenarios, based loosely on real cases, illustrate the types of problems that counsel can encounter. -
IP Litigation Strategies: Patents: Markman Hearings (Part 2) ( September 2003 )
Bill Robinson, a Partner at Foley & Lardner, presented a discussion on managing costs in IP Litigation. IP Litigation, particularly patent litigation, has seen tremendous expansion, both in terms of amounts that clients have at stake and the price of participating in an IP case. -
Five "Off The Wall" Strategies For Changing Legal Careers ( October 2001 )
A downsized economy, combined with fear and uncertainty from the recent terrorist attacks on the United States, mean few if any job opportunities for lawyers in transition. That does not mean that opportunities are not available, or that you should just "stay put" and weather the storm until things get better. -
Ethical Problems Complicate Joint Representation of a Company and its Supervisors ( January 2000 )
This article reviews the ethical problems an attorney may face in representing both a company and its supervisors, if the supervisors have been named individually in a complaint. In addition, this article discusses the importance of having supervisors signing a joint representation letter which confirms the supervisors do not have any claims against the company itself. -
Frequently Asked Questions about Pursuing a Civil Lawsuit ( May 2000 )
How long does a lawsuit take from start to finish? The order and progress of the investigation of the potential la. -
Employers Beware--MCAD Revamps Procedural Regulations ( December 1999 )
This article discusses the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination newly revamped procedural regulations which establish a vastly different case-handling procedure for discrimination actions.