Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

December 22, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

It remains to be seen whether Yahoo Inc.'s recently revealed data breaches will nix its sale to Verizon Communications. But whatever happens, M&A lawyers say the Yahoo-Verizon deal illustrates the increasing importance of addressing the risk of a data breach when negotiating an acquisition.

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

8 minute read

December 21, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

There were no shortage of corporate crises in 2016. When confronted with a crisis of their own, companies would be wise to follow the cues of Apple Inc. and The Wendy's Co. while avoiding the missteps of Wells Fargo & Co. and Samsung Electronics Co., according to the crisis communications firm CrisisResponsePro.

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

4 minute read

December 20, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

Panasonic Corp. of North America general counsel Damien Atkins knew from the start of his legal career that he didn't want to end up at a firm. He wanted to be a general counsel. The question was, how to get there? Atkins says that it was a long process, but there is an art to it.

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

7 minute read

December 19, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

A veteran member of Bank of America's legal department has left for the online lending company Swift Financial Corp.

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

4 minute read

December 19, 2016 | Legaltech News

The Johnson & Bell suit is a good reminder of the importance of questioning outside firms about their cybersecurity efforts.

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

16 minute read

December 16, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

The vulnerability of law firms to cyberattacks, already one of the big legal stories of 2016, is back in the news now that a judge has unsealed a class action lawsuit alleging the firm Johnson & Bell doesn't adequately protect client information from hackers. In-house counsel say the lawsuit is a good reminder of the importance of questioning outside firms about their cybersecurity efforts.

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

16 minute read

December 15, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

While alternative fee arrangements are gaining popularity, data recently collected by the consultancy Blickstein Group Inc. shows that discounted hourly billing rates are still much more common than AFAs.

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

5 minute read

December 14, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

Johnson & Johnson announced on Dec. 9 that its top in-house intellectual property lawyer, Philip Johnson, plans to step down in February.

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

7 minute read

December 13, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

When brand-name drug companies go to court, it's usually to fight with a generic competitor. But that's changing. More than ever before, brand-name drug companies are bringing patent cases against each other. Patent litigators say the "brand vs. brand" trend is here to stay, so legal departments may need to rethink some strategies.

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

15 minute read

December 08, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

It's hardly surprising that Johnson & Johnson has hired a small army of lawyers to defend it in the many product liability cases it's facing, including the one that ended in a $1 billion verdict last week. What's more interesting, however, is J&J's approach to putting together its trial teams. The pharma giant keeps switching its lead counsel—a sign that J&J thinks it should be winning these cases, lawyers say.

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez

20 minute read