The National Law Journal

March 20, 2006 | National Law Journal

In a major shift of enforcement strategy, the DOJ has firmly taken control of the enforcement against pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical-device manufacturers. The DOJ has signaled-via its most recent settlements over the course of two months- its enforcement will change the way companies promote and market therapeutic products in the future.

By Robert Brady, Meredith Manning and Peter SpivackSpecial to The National Law Journal

11 minute read

August 20, 2007 | National Law Journal

Attorneys and their clients are now more than ever under pressure to manage discovery of electronic evidence correctly in any litigation, regulatory inquiry or law enforcement matter. Most lawyers rely on technology-focused vendors to help manage and process the data to find responsive records. But making sure these evidence advisers are doing a thorough job is another trick.

By Eric Schwarz and Vincent Walden / Special to The National Law Journal

10 minute read

September 19, 2005 | National Law Journal

Now that the Senate Judiciary Committee has concluded its first week of hearings, senators must emphasize the critical responsibilities that the chief justice discharges and reject recent accounts that understate its duties. Senators must scrutinize the chief�s many crucial assignments as they consider the nominee.

By Carl TobiasSpecial to The National Law Journal

4 minute read

July 14, 2008 | National Law Journal

In an increasingly competitive legal marketplace, law firms face intense pressure to distinguish themselves and build strong and lasting client and business relationships by reducing unnecessary costs and delivering efficient, high-quality legal services and expertise. Legal research traditionally has been a core service provided by law firms to their clients, and it is one area in which firms can employ significant innovative solutions to differentiate themselves, while still providing a cost-effective bottom line for the modern, sophisticated and expense-savvy client.

By Hollye R. Mann, Amy J. Spencer and Joanna Hudson-Therway / Special to The National Law Journal

10 minute read

August 25, 2008 | National Law Journal

The recently concluded Guant�namo Bay military commission trial of Salim Hamdan was filled with surprises. No doubt prosecutors were frustrated, defense counsel pleased and most likely human rights observers remain ambivalent about the results. If there is any bright spot in the international embarrassment of the warehousing of detainees at Guant�namo, it has been the courageous performance of the military judges presiding over these trials, as well as the military lawyers assigned to defend the detainees.

By Gerald Skoning / Special to The National Law Journal

4 minute read

February 14, 2005 | National Law Journal

The last few years have seen a change in the estate planning market. The apparent determination of President Bush and the Republican majority in Congress to do away with the estate tax has made marketing estate planning more difficult.

By Mark Merenda Special to The National Law Journal

8 minute read

December 13, 2004 | National Law Journal

While congress has finally agreed on Sept. 11, 2001, intelligence-reform legislation after heated debate, the Department of Homeland Security has wasted little time implementing measures of its own. Secure Flight is a new passenger prescreening program intended to identify airline travelers who may pose a terror risk. The premise is simple: Airlines provide passenger data to the government that the government then screens against databases of known or suspected terrorists.

By Steven Roberts Special to The National Law Journal

4 minute read

March 23, 2009 | National Law Journal

By asking the right questions up front and by using appropriate contractual language with e-discovery vendors, companies and firms can mitigate and possibly avoid the risk of loss or degradation of services — along with conflicts that can arise from dealing with financially at-risk vendors.

By Wayne C. Matus, Joshua B. Konvisser and John E. Davis / Special to The National Law Journal

11 minute read

September 29, 2003 | National Law Journal

Now that chief executive officers and chief financial officers of all SEC reporting companies must personally certify the accuracy of their annual and quarterly reports there has been an upsurge of interest in disclosure controls and procedures.

By Andrew C. CooperSpecial to The National Law Journal

11 minute read

July 07, 2008 | National Law Journal

Budgetary tightening in corporate legal departments has led in-house counsel to increasingly shed their traditional lawyer roles. A new generation of general counsel advocate for investing in-house lawyer time more heavily into earlier phases of the contracting and transaction processes. These chief counselors task their lawyers to ferret out and clarify ambiguities in expectations and keep the transaction documents too clear for argument. Their thesis is that introducing internal legal analysis into company operations from the beginning will move the company to the ideal state of "zero litigation."

By Michael Cavendish / Special to The National Law Journal

9 minute read