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The Legal Department of the Future
October 28, 2017
Technology Like other corporate functions, such as human resources and finance, legal departments are already experiencing technology disruption. The “three A’s” listed below are just a few technology disrupters that will likely shape the legal department of the future. Automation continues to be a major driver that’s affecting workflow. In addition to automating routine processes and digitizing documentations in such areas as e-billing, technology will allow legal departments to perform...
October 28, 2017
Technology Like other corporate functions, such as human resources and finance, legal departments are already experiencing technology disruption. The “three A’s” listed below are just a few technology disrupters that will likely shape the legal department of the future. Automation continues to be a major driver that’s affecting workflow. In addition to automating routine processes and digitizing documentations in such areas as e-billing, technology will allow legal departments to perform...
Meditation May Help Prevent Heart Disease, Doctors Say
October 28, 2017
Meditation may help reduce the risk of heart disease when it’s added to proven approaches like lifestyle changes or drugs to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, U.S. doctors say. In its first guidelines dedicated to meditation, the American Heart Association (AHA) stresses that the benefits haven’t been clearly established because studies have generally been too small, brief or poorly designed to draw broad conclusions. But the AHA research review concludes that meditation may have some benefits...
October 28, 2017
Meditation may help reduce the risk of heart disease when it’s added to proven approaches like lifestyle changes or drugs to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, U.S. doctors say. In its first guidelines dedicated to meditation, the American Heart Association (AHA) stresses that the benefits haven’t been clearly established because studies have generally been too small, brief or poorly designed to draw broad conclusions. But the AHA research review concludes that meditation may have some benefits...
Aerial Imaging, Machine Learning Speed Hurricane-Related Damage Assessments
October 27, 2017
In the wake of three devastating hurricanes this season, many carriers and vendors used drones and airplanes to assess structural storm damage in several states. The use of aerial imaging combined with machine learning has led to speedier claims resolution, according to industry experts. A recent KPMG survey of more than 300 senior insurance executives addressing the recent hurricane impact, said the two biggest challenges facing insurers, are the difficulties in assessing property damage, as well...
October 27, 2017
In the wake of three devastating hurricanes this season, many carriers and vendors used drones and airplanes to assess structural storm damage in several states. The use of aerial imaging combined with machine learning has led to speedier claims resolution, according to industry experts. A recent KPMG survey of more than 300 senior insurance executives addressing the recent hurricane impact, said the two biggest challenges facing insurers, are the difficulties in assessing property damage, as well...
Can Arbitration Solve Tech Sector’s Litigation Cost Concerns?
October 27, 2017
A recent report identifies budgeting and time as major concerns for tech companies during litigation. Arbitration is an answer, says the report, but pros and cons exist for both dispute resolution mechanisms. A new report from the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center (SVAMC) and the Global Technology Dispute Resolution Council documented some of the technology sector’s biggest concerns about litigation and how they may be potentially addressed through arbitration. Sixty-four percent...
October 27, 2017
A recent report identifies budgeting and time as major concerns for tech companies during litigation. Arbitration is an answer, says the report, but pros and cons exist for both dispute resolution mechanisms. A new report from the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center (SVAMC) and the Global Technology Dispute Resolution Council documented some of the technology sector’s biggest concerns about litigation and how they may be potentially addressed through arbitration. Sixty-four percent...
Regulating Mediators
October 26, 2017
In the United States consumers engage mediators on a caveat emptor basis. The regulatory scheme for mediators is a patchwork of mediation referral organizations which allows unscrupulous mediators to exploit consumers with little to no recourse. One egregious example is that of Gary J. Karpin, a disbarred lawyer turned divorce mediator, who used the mediation process to con forty people into giving him approximately $250,000 before taking up residence in prison. In an age when everyone from doctors...
October 26, 2017
In the United States consumers engage mediators on a caveat emptor basis. The regulatory scheme for mediators is a patchwork of mediation referral organizations which allows unscrupulous mediators to exploit consumers with little to no recourse. One egregious example is that of Gary J. Karpin, a disbarred lawyer turned divorce mediator, who used the mediation process to con forty people into giving him approximately $250,000 before taking up residence in prison. In an age when everyone from doctors...
Mediators Get More and Better Settlements When They Don’t Take Notes
October 26, 2017
Let lawyers know you “get it” before the mediation day, on the phone The emerging best practice among mediators is that proper preparation includes talking to lawyers on the phone after the lawyers have submitted their mediation statements or briefs, and before the day of the mediation. In these conversations, mediators can show lawyers that they get it, with zero notes. Generally speaking, these conversations proceed best when the mediator asks the lawyer open-ended questions, such as: ...
October 26, 2017
Let lawyers know you “get it” before the mediation day, on the phone The emerging best practice among mediators is that proper preparation includes talking to lawyers on the phone after the lawyers have submitted their mediation statements or briefs, and before the day of the mediation. In these conversations, mediators can show lawyers that they get it, with zero notes. Generally speaking, these conversations proceed best when the mediator asks the lawyer open-ended questions, such as: ...
Unsent Text Message Passes for Will in Australia
October 25, 2017
A dead man's unsent text message leaving his home and pension to his brother rather than his wife and son and signed off with a smiley face emoji has been ruled a legitimate will by an Australian court. The draft message, addressed to the man's brother, was found on his phone after he took his own life in October 2016, aged 55. "The informal nature of the text does not exclude it from being sufficient to represent the deceased’s testamentary intentions," said Justice Susan Brown when handing...
October 25, 2017
A dead man's unsent text message leaving his home and pension to his brother rather than his wife and son and signed off with a smiley face emoji has been ruled a legitimate will by an Australian court. The draft message, addressed to the man's brother, was found on his phone after he took his own life in October 2016, aged 55. "The informal nature of the text does not exclude it from being sufficient to represent the deceased’s testamentary intentions," said Justice Susan Brown when handing...
Who’s Who Legal: Mediation Roundtable 2017
October 25, 2017
Mediation remains an increasingly attractive form of dispute resolution for businesses – what would you say are the main...
October 25, 2017
Mediation remains an increasingly attractive form of dispute resolution for businesses – what would you say are the main...
Appellate Court Refuses to Order Uber-Waymo Dispute to Arbitration
October 24, 2017
A federal appellate court has affirmed a lower court’s order denying a motion to compel arbitration in a dispute between Uber Technologies and Google Corporation’s self-driving car spin-off, Waymo LLC. In the case, Waymo filed a trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, and patent infringement lawsuit against Uber and several other corporate entities in the Northern District of California. According to Waymo, the company’s former employee, Anthony Levandowski, stole numerous...
October 24, 2017
A federal appellate court has affirmed a lower court’s order denying a motion to compel arbitration in a dispute between Uber Technologies and Google Corporation’s self-driving car spin-off, Waymo LLC. In the case, Waymo filed a trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, and patent infringement lawsuit against Uber and several other corporate entities in the Northern District of California. According to Waymo, the company’s former employee, Anthony Levandowski, stole numerous...
Don Philbin Recognized as Mediation “Thought Leader” by Who’s Who Legal
October 24, 2017
Also Recognized Again by Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney-Mediator...
October 24, 2017
Also Recognized Again by Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney-Mediator...
