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Corporate Counsel Connect collection

March 2014 edition

In this issue

Featured insight


gavelA month dedicated to in-house litigation
The month of March is dedicated to the challenges of responding and managing litigation from the in-house perspective. This special themed issue of Corporate Counsel Connect contains articles dedicated to many litigation topics, from e-discovery to legal project management to legal holds, plus an introduction to the first in-house counsel to be slated for presidency of the litigator-dominated DRI. Also be sure to check out the Westlaw® Corporate Twitter feed and the Legal Solutions Corporate Counsel blog for more in-depth articles and information on selected litigation topics.



Lisa DamonApplying lean six sigma methods to litigation practice
A growing number of law departments are exploring Lean Six Sigma and similar methodologies to continuously improve the way they deliver legal services. By tailoring these techniques to litigation processes, legal teams can reduce costs, increase efficiency, and better align their workflows with client priorities.
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Best practices


people at computersLitigation discovery in the age of big data
Advanced information collection and analytic capabilities have dramatically expanded and transformed the operations of businesses and other organizations. Those same information processing capabilities have a substantial impact on the discovery process associated with litigation. Advanced data storage and analysis tools facilitate and complicate the litigation discovery process.
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cell phoneWhy your business needs a systematic process for executing legal holds
Legal holds are an increasingly common situation for businesses today, as the threat of litigation from competitors, customers, employees and others is ever-present. Electronically stored information (ESI) is a critical component to today's legal actions, and courts are requiring that companies conclusively demonstrate that they have exercised proper care and handling in preserving and collecting digital evidence.
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Sampada ParulekarNot all legal solutions providers are the same: What should you look for in a managed review partner?
If concerns about growing litigation costs have propelled your organization to look outside of its legal department for help, or if you're trying to free up valuable internal resources, there are multitudes of managed review providers for you to choose from. Not every vendor delivers the same level of excellence. There are, however, distinct "best practices" a quality legal solutions provider should adhere to.
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In-house perspectives


Laura ProctorBreaking new ground – meet DRI's soon-to-be first in-house counsel president
In an organization with more than 20,000 smart, aggressive law firm attorneys, one would imagine it would take a special kind of lawyer to become the very first in-house counsel President in the nearly 55-year history of the Defense Research Institute (DRI). Laura Proctor is just that lawyer. Her passion for the law, dedication to supporting colleagues regardless of career pursuits, and ability to see the importance of collaboration will serve her well as she navigates being the premier in-house counsel to serve in this leadership role.
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Legal insights


Jeremy ByellinLitigation and SCOTUS: Cases for your company to watch
This month, as part of Corporate Counsel Connect's litigation theme, we'll be looking at some of the most significant cases before the Supreme Court that affect corporations. Learn more about Lawson v. FMR LLC, POM Wonderful LLC v. The Coca-Cola Company, and U.S. v. Quality Stores.
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Know-how corner


Hot documents; FTC dismissal of conspiracy claims; criminal background inquiries
Why you should train your executives and employees on the antitrust risks of creating hot documents relating to competition; plus how best to interpret the FTC's recent dismissal of conspiracy claims against McWane, Inc. And your policy may need to be revisited if your company asks about an applicant's criminal background.
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This month's top 10


calculatorTop ten tips to combat the hidden costs of discovery
Discovery continues to comprise up to 80% of litigation costs, and sometimes the discovery war of attrition can force a corporation's hand, even if it has favorable odds at summary judgment or trial. In-house legal departments have taken some steps to reduce these costs, but cost control in discovery requires vigilance at every stage. Combat the hidden costs lurking in discovery with these ten tips.
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