I am in-house counsel for a multinational company and the CEO has asked me to implement new project management practices for our company. While my law department has some project management practices in place, how can I learn about other law departments’ project management efforts, including their organizational structure, key elements of their program and suggested best practices?

Answer: ACC has a wide variety of resources on the topic of project management, such as:

·Prudential Financial Inc.: Project Management as a Disciplined Approach to Successfully Implementing Major Projects 

·Applying Project Management to Legal Matters

·Legal Department Leading Practices for Adding Value and Moving Beyond the Cost Center Model

·Perfecting Project Management

·The In-House Attorney as Project Manager

For additional materials on Law Department Value Practices and other useful resources, go to www.acc.com/legalresources.

·NEW! Workplace Information Risk in the Digital Age: Monitoring Employees, Social Media Challenges, Managing Access to Data and Optimizing Flexibility, provides an overview of key issues affecting employers, such as managing the workplace risks associated with employees’ electronic communications and social media use, employment litigation issues arising from electronically stored information and communications, and workplace challenges of securing sensitive employee and company data. Click here to download this InfoPAK.

·NEW! The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Global Anti-Corruption Law, provides a comprehensive guide for in-house counsel on the FCPA and coverage of anti-corruption laws in Europe and Asia. Click here to download this InfoPAK.

·NEW! Intellectual Property in Europe, offers a general overview of intellectual property law in Europe and proceeds with a robust discussion of intellectual property law in several EU states. Click here to download this InfoPAK.

·Check out the top two downloaded InfoPAKs of 2010

1. Drafting and Interpreting Contracts
2. Complying With United States Export and Sanction Laws and Regulations

Download the Executive Management Report and briefing materials from the most recent session which focused on geographic reach, flexible work arrangements, communications, brand management, law department executive team composition, change management and cultivating ideas.  Find the resources and learn more here.

 Check out ACC’s latest QuickCounsels:

·Independent Contractor Versus Employee Status: A Global Perspective

·Nondisclosure Agreements

As businesses continue to grow into overseas markets, the legal department grows with it. Since legal counsel is needed on the ground where the action happens, make sure you are up to date on how to effectively manage an efficient international legal department. Check out Top Ten Tips for Running an Efficient International Legal Department.

For a look at how legal departments are making outside counsel management relationships more valuable, take a look at:

·Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company shares tools on how to enhance relationships with its Approved Counsel Program in In-house Relationship Managers Play Key Role with Approved Counsel.

·For insights into FMC Technologies legal team's non-traditional, fast track RFP process which streamlines its preferred service provider network, check out Value Challenge RFP Process for Litigation.

Find more ACC value-based resources at: www.acc.com/valuechallenge/resources.

Visit ACC’s In-house Jobline^SM and view nearly 1,000 job openings from around the globe, to help you find the opportunity that is right for you.

If you manage contracts across file cabinets, local servers and e-mail attachments, or are overwhelmed by excessive items to track and follow-up, try GettingLegalDone (GLD).  A joint effort by ACC and alliance partner Bridgeway, GLD is a web-based system specifically designed to help small law departments stay organized with integrated action items, documents, appointments, contacts and folders. At $49 per user, per month, all features are included: unlimited folders, unlimited storage, Outlook plugin, cellphone voice input, mobile device access and free support. Find out more at www.GettingLegalDone.com.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tends to target larger companies in their enforcement actions. While no company wishes to be used as an example, smaller companies can review the press releases EPA issues concerning their enforcement actions and learn how to become more compliant in their own actions and behavior.  Read this ACC Green-house Counsel to learn more: Environmental Enforcement Actions as Opportunities to Improve Compliance.

This Top Ten OSHA Developments Affecting Employers summarizes significant recent OSHA initiatives affecting employers.

·Webcast: Global Economic Sanctions: Cross-Border Challenges in Navigating Risks, Establishing Compliance, and Assessing New Developments, January 20

·Webcast: Drafting and Interpreting Contracts, January 27

·Corporate Counsel University® – for new to in-house counsel, May 15-17

Early bird registration rate of $1,300 (for members) is now available through March 30. To learn more and to register, go to am.acc.com.

The Corporate Counsel Institute, developed by Georgetown University with input from ACC, combines critical substantive law updates from high-ranking government officials, leading attorneys from all fields of practice and corporate counsel from major corporations. For more information, including how ACC members can receive a discounted rate, visit www.law.georgetown.edu/cle.  

The ACC Europe Annual Conference (29 –31 May, Grand Hyatt, Berlin, Germany) offers an unrivaled opportunity for you to network and exchange ideas with your peers in a pan-European and global perspective. Register before 31 January to take advantage of the early bird registration rate and save up to €250. For more information and to register, go to www.acc.com/berlin.

ACC is seeking potential leaders of the in-house bar to be considered for its Board of Directors. The principal criteria from the Nominating Committee is a demonstrated commitment and willingness to work on behalf of ACC, and general recognition of candidates as a leader by business and legal professionals. Further criteria include:

·The type of organization represented;

·Size of legal department;

·Practice concentration; and

·Geographic representation to reflect the diversity of the association membership.

Content should include a brief biography, description of professional responsibilities, department size, type of business, and a short statement about why the individual should be selected for the board. Nominations of candidates, including self-nominations, are due by March 11 and should be sent to ACC’s Nominating Committee at:

1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC, 20036-5425.

Patricia R. Hatler, immediate past board chair, will lead the Nominating Committee. The committee will propose a slate of candidates by July 2011, after which there will be an opportunity for nomination by petition. The election will take place at the Annual Meeting of the board of directors held in conjunction with ACC’s 2011 Annual Meeting in Denver, CO in October 2011.

Join Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO), a partnership project of ACC and the Pro Bono Institute, at the 2011 Annual In-House Pro Bono Forum in Washington, D.C. on March 3 and 4. The Forum provides the opportunity to participate in the only global gathering designed specifically to address the interests and issues of in-house leaders seeking to participate in innovative and meaningful pro bono work.  The Forum provides access to all the information and resources that you need for your pro bono program including networking with your peers at other legal departments and with public interest and law firm pro bono leaders.  For more information, please contact Eve Runyon at erunyon@probonoinst.org or visit www.cpbo.org.

Learn more about media coverage of ACC when you visit ACC in the News.

·Firms Assail Whistleblower Plan by SEC  (Wall Street Journal)

·The New Chair At ACC: Continuing The Tradition While Blazing New Paths (Metropolitan Corporate Counsel)

·In-house Pro Bono is Not an Oxymoron (The Daily Record)

·Whistleblower 'Bounty' Plan Under Fire (National Post)

For a complete listing of ACC’s media coverage, visit ACC in the News at www.acc.com.

If you have any questions, or wish to receive additional information about items included in this month's newsletter, please contact the Legal Resources Department at legalresources@acc.com or the Membership Department at membership@acc.com.