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Class Action Employment Settlement
June 2, 2014
There is an interesting article from Reuters and Yahoo News that discusses a $324.5 million proposal to settle an antitrust...
June 2, 2014
There is an interesting article from Reuters and Yahoo News that discusses a $324.5 million proposal to settle an antitrust...
TechnoLawyer Survey Reveals 68% of Lawyers Use iPhone, 63% Use iPad
June 1, 2014
I'm always interested in data that reveals the number of lawyers using iPhones and iPads, and there is new, interesting data from TechnoLawyer. TechnoLawyer was created by New York attorney Neil Squillante, and the company publishes a number of free newsletters distributed by email to lawyers and other legal professionals such as LitigationWorld, BigLaw,SmallLaw, BlawgWorld and Fat Friday. I've written lots of articles for various TechnoLawyer publications over the years, and if you don't...
June 1, 2014
I'm always interested in data that reveals the number of lawyers using iPhones and iPads, and there is new, interesting data from TechnoLawyer. TechnoLawyer was created by New York attorney Neil Squillante, and the company publishes a number of free newsletters distributed by email to lawyers and other legal professionals such as LitigationWorld, BigLaw,SmallLaw, BlawgWorld and Fat Friday. I've written lots of articles for various TechnoLawyer publications over the years, and if you don't...
New Blackphone Could Help Lawyers Safeguard Client Information
June 1, 2014
While covering this year's ABA Techshow, I reported on a session that focused on tools and services available to lawyers concerned about maintaining client confidentiality in the face of increased governmental surveillance, particularly from the National Security Agency. One of the most interesting things that I learned (and there were many) was that there's a phone coming out that promises to be "NSA-resistant." In June, SGP Technologies, a joint venture of Silent Circle and Geeksphone,...
June 1, 2014
While covering this year's ABA Techshow, I reported on a session that focused on tools and services available to lawyers concerned about maintaining client confidentiality in the face of increased governmental surveillance, particularly from the National Security Agency. One of the most interesting things that I learned (and there were many) was that there's a phone coming out that promises to be "NSA-resistant." In June, SGP Technologies, a joint venture of Silent Circle and Geeksphone,...
IoT Security Issues in 2014 and Predictions for 2025
June 1, 2014
Pew Research reported that of the 1,606 experts consulted “83%—agreed that the Internet/Cloud of Things and embedded and wearable computing will have widespread and beneficial effects by 2025.” However the Pew Report did not focus on the security issues which we see in 2014 which are included in my May 2014 eCommerce Times column entitled “The Tangled Web of IoT Security.” The Pew Report included these 6 Themes: 1) The Internet of Things and wearable computing will progress significantly...
June 1, 2014
Pew Research reported that of the 1,606 experts consulted “83%—agreed that the Internet/Cloud of Things and embedded and wearable computing will have widespread and beneficial effects by 2025.” However the Pew Report did not focus on the security issues which we see in 2014 which are included in my May 2014 eCommerce Times column entitled “The Tangled Web of IoT Security.” The Pew Report included these 6 Themes: 1) The Internet of Things and wearable computing will progress significantly...
A Blood Test for Depression
June 1, 2014
Scientists have claimed that it is possible to detect the signs of depression using a blood test, despite many believing it is impossible. The claim comes from researchers at the Medical University of Vienna, who have found a close relationship between a brain network implicated in depression and levels of serotonin in the bloodstream (Scharinger et al., 2014). The study’s lead author, Lukas Pezawas said: “This is the first study that has been able to predict the activity of a major depression...
June 1, 2014
Scientists have claimed that it is possible to detect the signs of depression using a blood test, despite many believing it is impossible. The claim comes from researchers at the Medical University of Vienna, who have found a close relationship between a brain network implicated in depression and levels of serotonin in the bloodstream (Scharinger et al., 2014). The study’s lead author, Lukas Pezawas said: “This is the first study that has been able to predict the activity of a major depression...
Divorce Financial Mistakes
June 1, 2014
From the Wall Street Journal: Divorce can often bring about tumultuous times for a family. Sometimes they can go very smooth, and others can literally be "The War of the Roses." Either way, couples often make financial mistakes that can lead to problems down the road. The No. 1 mistake that I have seen among divorcing couples is their lack of consideration around liquidity of assets. Read more here.
June 1, 2014
From the Wall Street Journal: Divorce can often bring about tumultuous times for a family. Sometimes they can go very smooth, and others can literally be "The War of the Roses." Either way, couples often make financial mistakes that can lead to problems down the road. The No. 1 mistake that I have seen among divorcing couples is their lack of consideration around liquidity of assets. Read more here.
The Cheerleader Effect: Why People Appear Better-Looking in Groups
May 31, 2014
The so-called ‘cheerleader effect’ is the phenomenon that people seem more attractive when they are in a group than when they are alone. At least, so urban legend has it. But now the cheerleader effect has scientific backing from a study published recently in Psychological Science (Walker & Vul, 2013). In fact, the study finds that both men and women are perceived as more attractive when they are in a group than when alone. The effect is the result of the way we look at groups...
May 31, 2014
The so-called ‘cheerleader effect’ is the phenomenon that people seem more attractive when they are in a group than when they are alone. At least, so urban legend has it. But now the cheerleader effect has scientific backing from a study published recently in Psychological Science (Walker & Vul, 2013). In fact, the study finds that both men and women are perceived as more attractive when they are in a group than when alone. The effect is the result of the way we look at groups...
World’s Most Expensive Divorce: $4.5 billion
May 31, 2014
From CNN: Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev is set to lose half his wealth after being ordered to pay his former wife $4.5 billion in a settlement dubbed the "most expensive divorce in history." Elena Rybolovleva's lawyer Marc Bonnant said the order from a Geneva court was unprecedented, and "this record judgment is a complete victory." However, Rybolovlev's spokesman Sergey Chernitsyn said the divorce was still a "win" for the oligarch. The two had been battling over the settlement for six years,...
May 31, 2014
From CNN: Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev is set to lose half his wealth after being ordered to pay his former wife $4.5 billion in a settlement dubbed the "most expensive divorce in history." Elena Rybolovleva's lawyer Marc Bonnant said the order from a Geneva court was unprecedented, and "this record judgment is a complete victory." However, Rybolovlev's spokesman Sergey Chernitsyn said the divorce was still a "win" for the oligarch. The two had been battling over the settlement for six years,...
Mind Hacks, IBM’s Watson as Marketing Expert
May 31, 2014
Are you smart enough to be a Jeopardy champion? Probably not, but IBM’s Watson is. How The Second Machine Age Will Transform Marketing at Marketing Land(@Marketingland) suggests that major machine intelligence may soon invade the marketing space. “Tough competitor” for $800, Alex! Or should you pick “Big Opportunity” for $400? Read any book, article, or blog post about how to be productive and get organized, and you’ll likely find “Make a to-do list” as one of the major recommendations....
May 31, 2014
Are you smart enough to be a Jeopardy champion? Probably not, but IBM’s Watson is. How The Second Machine Age Will Transform Marketing at Marketing Land(@Marketingland) suggests that major machine intelligence may soon invade the marketing space. “Tough competitor” for $800, Alex! Or should you pick “Big Opportunity” for $400? Read any book, article, or blog post about how to be productive and get organized, and you’ll likely find “Make a to-do list” as one of the major recommendations....
5 Ways To Keep Your Client Occupied During Mediation Downtime
May 31, 2014
Sam Glover tipped me off to this piece about how to entertain your clients during the long empty spaces that are the hallmark of a mediation session. That article is lovely and includes solid pieces of advice like “chat up the mediator” and “get to know your client.” No disrespect to the gentlemen solicitor authors (wait, does Canada have solicitors or lawyers?) but people, we need more. What if the mediator doesn’t make that many visits? What if your client is a terrible bore? Let’s...
May 31, 2014
Sam Glover tipped me off to this piece about how to entertain your clients during the long empty spaces that are the hallmark of a mediation session. That article is lovely and includes solid pieces of advice like “chat up the mediator” and “get to know your client.” No disrespect to the gentlemen solicitor authors (wait, does Canada have solicitors or lawyers?) but people, we need more. What if the mediator doesn’t make that many visits? What if your client is a terrible bore? Let’s...
