Why My Company Hires Diverse Law Firms

The thirst for new business was palpable as private practice attorneys gathered 27 May 2009 to learn the perspectives of three in-house panelists on issues of diversity and business development in law firms. The Recorder's Annual Diversity Roundtable hosted panelists Sheldon Quan of Clorox, Tracy Preston of Levi Strauss, James Carroll of Matsunichi and was moderated by Richard Amador of Sanchez & Amador.
In summary, the panelists are looking for improved communications and relationships between with their outside firms. James Carroll suggested that private practice attorneys stay in touch with their clients even when nothing is happening. When asked about their feelings on flexible work schedules (new parents, work/life balance) all 3 panelists were strongly in favor. The only caution: let us know who is going to be out when so that we aren't waiting for a response and can call the person's back-up.
Networking is essential for business development. The panel many times suggested that partners should bring a minority associate along to events to make introductions. This also alerts clients to your firm's diversity commitment and gives the associate an opportunity to form relationships. Make sure that the young lawyers that accompany you on appointments and to events are are able to field questions about the firm.

Suggested Resources:

• Corporate Connections a "speed-dating" event hosted at the California Minority Counsel Program's Annual Business Conference
• Vault/MCCA Law Firm Diversity Database- standardized diversity metrics
• ACC Value Challenge- A national dialog about the need to reconnect value to costs, especially within the law firm community, with a common language and framework that ACC will have helped define.

RMT, Inc. (RMT), has appointed David Kutcher as Vice President and General Counsel.

California offices include Los Angeles and San Mateo. For complete details.

Gregory Moser selected as General Counsel of The Tri-City Healthcare District

For the full story, visit signonsandiego.com (The Union Tribune)

San Diego hires Leslie Devaney as Counsel

For full details, see the Union Tribune's story at signonsandiego.com

FTC taps Morgan Lewis partner Willard K. "Will" Tom for general counsel

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Federal Trade Commission said today that it had appointed Willard K. "Will" Tom, a partner in the Philadelphia-based firm of Morgan Lewis & Bockius L.L.P., as general counsel.

Farmers Group Names Ceglar Executive VP & General Counsel

Insurance Journal reports that Frank Ceglar has been promoted to the position of executive vice president and general counsel of Farmers Group Inc.

Christopher J. Bellavia of Fisher Communications Inc., Promoted

Fisher Communications, Inc., which operates television stations KBAK-TV (CBS) and KBFX-CA (FOX) in Bakersfield, announced today that it has promoted Christopher J. Bellavia to Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.

Frank Ceglar Promoted to Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Farmers Group, Inc.

Farmers CEO Robert Woudstra announced the news today.

Scott Reinke joins Local.com as General Counsel

Local.com, a local search site network based in Irvine, announced today that Scott Reinke joined as General Counsel.

E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation appoints Karl A. Roessner Executive Vice President and General Counsel

E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation (NASDAQ: ETFC) today announced the appointment of Karl A. Roessner to the position of Executive Vice President and General Counsel, effective immediately, reporting to Donald H. Layton, Chairman and CEO. Mr. Roessner assumes responsibility for the oversight, guidance and direction of legal, regulatory and compliance matters. He will also act as Corporate Secretary to the Company's Board of Directors.

Association of Life Insurance Counsel elects Michele S. Gatto as its 81st President

Association of Life Insurance Counsel (ALIC), elects Michele S. Gatto as its 81st President. Visit Vermontbiz.com for the full press release. Michele S. Gatto is is Executive Vice President – Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer of National Life Group in Montpelier, Vermont. National Life Group is a diversified family of financial service companies that has successfully forged a strong identity as a product innovator. Members of National Life Group employ roughly 900 employees, with most located at its home office in Montpelier, Vt. Group companies also maintain offices in Dallas, New York, San Francisco, Boston and Wayne, PA.

An attorney in India costs $ 10,000...for a year

As the economy tanked and big firm attorneys started losing their jobs by layoff or firm implosion, the lives of a contract attorneys came out from the shadows. The discrpenecy in hourly rates between a contract attorney and a BigLaw firm attorney is extreme but for many it was a necessary shift. For another change in perspective, imagine the discrepency from tens of thousands of dollars per year to ten thousand dollars...for the entire year.

The rate difference between between a U.S. attorney and an outsourced attorney was one solid takeaway from today's LMA Southern California program, "Inside the Minds of Corporate Counsel". The message: make sure you are taking care of your client's needs (not your own) or they might not be your client tomorrow. Buzz points from the four panelists recapped below.

Kim Fogarty, GC, Ellison: "Information initiative" that many firms have embarked on by sending e-alerts to keep counsel aware of news/cases that affect their business is very much appreciated; she appreciates outside counsel that know her business so that she doesn't have to spend time catching them up to speed
Jerry Lovejoy, GC, El Pollo Loco: wants to team with a problem solver; what resources can you bring; even if you are winning cases for a client, make sure that you are demonstrating your value and that your rate is in line with your service
Rosanne M. Nolan, Assistant General Counsel, Insco Insurance Services, Inc.: outside counsel needs to demonstrate value that she can easily convey to her bosses; a pound of paper (bill) doesn't demonstrate value and she doesn't want to spend valuable time deciphering a bill to explain an outside attorney's value to her boss; marketing tip: clean your database before sending an e-blast. As half 0f a 2 member in-house legal department based in Irvine, she will not be attending the golf game on Wednesday in New York she was invited to, this will just get you in her spam filter;
Zack Zaharek, Sr. Corp Counsel, First American - Core Logic: value of a real face to face relationship; find out what my needs are and be of service; his first day on the job as inside counsel for a hair product company he spent shampooing hair in a salon--get to know his business in the same way; he is looking into outsourcing some work to cut costs

Moderator: Stuart Blake, Managing Principal, The General Counsel

ASAT Holdings announces new General Counsel

ASAT Holdings Limited, a global provider of semiconductor package design, assembly and test services, today announced the appointment of Jonathan Ross to the position of general counsel. US Headquarters is located in Milpitas, CA though Mr. Ross will be based in Dongguan, China .

Not quite a Big Apple

Of the 17 jobs that came up in a search on "in-house" on lawjobs.com, only 1 is located in California (Sunnyvale). New York leads with 14 listings.