Cover of June 2015 issue of LexpertHandout
Lexpert Roundup on the Business of Law Lexpert identifies and reports on emerging business issues and practice areas in the business of law. Whether online, in our magazine or in the DealsWire e-newsletter, we chronicle deals and lawsuits of interest, and cover issues of broad concern to the legal profession and those who purchase legal services. We hope you enjoy this sample of our latest content.
From the DealsWire: June M&A spike, Ridley goes private, Armtec bankruptcy The Lexpert DealsWire (subscribe here) documents facts, figures and key legal players behind recent deals. This week's announced deal spotlight features the key players and figures behind the $575-million (U.S.) sale of dating site PlentyOfFish to Match Group – a subsidiary of media and Internet company IAC.
In our closed deals section, we look at the merger of AuRico Gold and Alamos Gold, as well as Talisman Energy's $16.5-billion (Canadian) sale to Spanish energy giant Repsol.
We also look at the players behind two deals in the real estate sector: GE Capital selling its Canadian real estate equity assets and commercial real estate loans and American Hotel Income Properties REIT buying a portfolio of nine US hotels.
Feeling underappreciated?
Corporate law firms have never been a great fit for the rebellious. With a few exceptions, the culture demands that associates never challenge the firm or senior partners. So what do you do if you're a senior associate and feeling underappreciated? Legal recruiters discuss how junior lawyers can have "the talk" without blowing up their (less than stellar) prospects.
3D Printing: How businesses should cope with infringers So far, little to no new legislation has passed in Western countries to specifically address the unique threats 3D printing poses to a growing plethora of products – from Disney figurines to Boeing aviation parts. But as this technology becomes increasingly cheaper and more available, explain intellectual property lawyers, manufacturers need to develop marketing and legal strategies to get ahead of the 3DP wave.
When true collaboration will be embraced by the legal profession Despite lawyers' continuing resistance to the idea of working in teams, there have been gradual advances on the collaboration front. In today's complex legal and regulatory environment where advising on a growing number of issues involves combinations of expertise, seamlessness is more than ever a critical feature of a successful client team.
Lexpert publishes 2015 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory Lexpert is pleased to announce the launch of the nineteenth annual edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. This directory identifies leading practitioners in over 60 separate Canadian practice areas and leading law firms in over 40 separate Canadian practice areas. The Directory is the result of an extensive peer survey process. In 2014, the response rate for the survey was greater than 80 per cent. The Directory is the resource of choice for Canadian in-house counsel and law firms.
Metrics vs. KPIs It has been said that you get what you measure. Some law departments use lists with 40 to 50 metrics to gauge performance. Metrics, however, are not the same as key performance indicators. In his column on law department management, Catalyst Consulting's Richard Stock explains that KPIs come before metrics in the "chicken and egg" sequence of what to measure.
The Power of Word of Mouth Notwithstanding the proliferation of messages that law firms are now sending out through various media, word of mouth continues to be the most effective form of marketing communication that there is. Business-development coach Donna Wannop explains why.
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