Legal

Law firms on the run, but struggling to get mobile

AUSTRALIAN law firms generally know they must rapidly adopt new technologies to keep up with an increasingly hi-tech, fast-paced, reduced fee operating environment - but most are struggling to master mobility and it's costing them.

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LexisNexis CEO TJ Viljoen.

 

Research by business and legal information provider LexisNexis in conjunction with the Lawtech Summit & Awards has found that mobile technologies are revolutionising the way law firms do business and most are not keeping up.

A dramatic impact on the Australian legal sector has come from so-called ‘cloud' services and the new capabilities to have certain types of administrative legal work completed internationally at lower cost to clients. It has also created new risks for the sector.

The Firm of the Future study of Australian legal CIOs, knowledge and information technology managers released last week by LexisNexis and Lawtech Summit & Awards revealed 67 percent of respondents rated ‘incorporating mobile devices enterprise-wide' as their biggest challenge, followed by ‘developing more efficient IT solutions for work management' (63 percent), the ‘willingness of the partners to invest in IT upgrades and developments' (57 percent) and the ‘growing use of collaboration tools' (56 percent). Most firms were able to nominate more than one challenge.

The study found key drivers for change were ‘new technologies' (92 percent), ‘increasing use of mobile technologies' (89 percent), a keen ‘focus on time savings' (81 percent) and ‘providing value for money' (70 percent).

"By 2023, legal operations will be technology driven," LexisNexis Pacific CEO TJ Viljoen said.

"Complex workflow, document production, knowledge management and practice management systems will do most of the work with legal staff only working on matters requiring specific technical legal knowledge. More structured tasks will be completed either by automated cloud-based systems or outsourced to low cost offshore providers."

Mr Viljoen said, in addition, a new generation of lawyers will be technology savvy, enabling them to work from home or in smaller non-CBD based offices. They would work more collaboratively with clients either at their offices, through video conferencing and cloud services, or indeed in the local café.

"The question I ask every day is ‘how I can help make my lawyers' job easier, more efficient and client centric?'" said Anthony Bleasdale, general manager for knowledge management at Maurice Blackburn.

"Invariably this comes back to mobility; unfettered access to information and searching capabilities irrespective of whether a lawyer is at home, in the office, with a client or in a coffee shop. The holy grail will be giving our people technologies and systems that they don't have to learn and don't have to be trained in."

According to Mr Viljoen, "There is a clear path in where CIOs are investing their budgets and resources over the next 10 years.

"The key priority is improving operational cost efficiency through improved monitoring and processes and developing better collaboration tools.

"Utilising the latest technological advancements and cloud computing practices will enable fast-moving firms to get a competitive advantage. Those that hesitate or want to maintain the status quo will not thrive in this increasingly fast, mobile, collaborative and competitive marketplace," Mr Viljoen said.

"The firm of the future will be a very different to the firms we are familiar with today. The changes will be unprecedented.

"Lawyers will be freed up from the more mundane tasks enabling to focus on providing technically outstanding, commercially oriented advice that will add real value to their clients' business," Mr Viljoen said.

A series of video interviews on the research appear on YouTube/LexisNexisAustralia.

 http://www.lexisnexis.com.au/

http://www.lawtechsummit.com.au/

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Fraud prevention takes knowledge and vigilance

DURING the recent Fraud Awareness Week 2013 (November 3-9), organisers the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) highlighted steps businesses need to take to help avoid being the victims of fraud. Image

More than 900 organisations worldwide took part in International Fraud Awareness Week 2013 as official supporters to promote anti-fraud awareness and prevention.

During Fraud Week, the ACFE circulated these basic tips any organisation should be aware of to help prevent and detect fraud:

1. Be proactive. 

Establish and maintain internal controls specifically designed to prevent and detect fraud. Adopt a code of ethics for management and employees. Set a tone at the top that the company will not tolerate any unethical behaviour. 

2. Establish hiring procedures. 

Every company, regardless of size, can benefit from formal employment guidelines. When hiring staff, conduct thorough background investigations. Check educational, credit and employment history, as well as references. After hiring, incorporate evaluation of the employee's compliance with company ethics and anti-fraud programs into regular performance reviews. 

3. Train employees in fraud prevention. 

Once carefully-screened employees are on the job, they should be trained in fraud prevention. Are employees aware of procedures for reporting suspicious activity by customers or co-workers? Do workers know the warning signs of fraud? Ensure that staff know at least some basic fraud prevention techniques. 

4. Conduct regular audits. 

High risk areas, such as financial or inventory departments, are obvious targets for routine audits. Surprise audits of those and all parts of the business are crucial. A good starting point in identifying fraud risks and establishing a strategy to prevent such losses is ACFE's Fraud Prevention Check-up (PDF).

5. Call in an expert. 

For most firms, fraud examination is not a core business component. That's why, when fraud is suspected or discovered, it is imperative to enlist the anti-fraud expertise of a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). The CFE credential is recognized by businesses and governments worldwide as the standard for fraud prevention and detection.

Organisations lose an estimated 5 percent of their annual revenues to fraud, according to a report published last year by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

To help shine a spotlight on this global problem, more than 900 organizations worldwide participated in International Fraud Awareness Week, 3-9 November 2013, as official supporters to promote anti-fraud awareness and prevention.

Called 'Fraud Week' for short, the campaign encourages organisations of all sizes and industries to host fraud awareness training for employees, conduct employee surveys to assess levels of fraud preparedness within their organisation, post articles on company websites, newsletters and social media, and team with local news sources to highlight the problem of fraud.

For more information about increasing awareness and reducing the risk of fraud during International Fraud Awareness Week, visit FraudWeek.com.

The 2012 Report to the Nations is available for download online at the ACFE's website: ACFE.com/RTTN.  The Report is in PDF format.

www.fraudweek.com

www.acfe.com

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Cyberspace: the final legal frontier. Australia welcomes UN report

AUSTRALIA has officially welcomed a new United Nations (UN) report affirming that international law applies to states' use of cyberspace. The way international law is evolving to cope with the impact of the internet on markets is an issue of growing concern for business -- as well as new security challenges.

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How does law cope with the borderless internet?

 

In a report released last week, the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) - which considered developments in the field of information and telecommunications ‘in the context of international security' - affirmed that international law applied to states' use of information and communications technologies. In particular, the group found that the UN Charter covered cyberspace.

The UN group consisted of 15 experts nominated by the governments of Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Canada, China, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States.

It is the first time a UN group has come to such a conclusion.

The UN group was established by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2012 to study existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and how nations could cooperate to overcome them.

The Australian Government last week congratulated the experts on their historic agreement and noted "this breakthrough was made under the leadership of an Australian chair, Deborah Stokes, who is now Australia's High Commissioner in Port Moresby".

The report also highlighted the important role of confidence building measures to promote trust between states and help reduce the risk of conflict in cyberspace.

"Australia now looks forward to working with international partners on how international law applies to states' use of cyberspace," a Federal Government spokesman said.

US State Department spokesman Jen Psaki said, "All UN member states share a common commitment to the pursuit of peace. We are all parties to the UN Charter, which seeks to prevent war of all kinds. We also subscribe to the Geneva Conventions and the Law of Armed Conflict, which are aimed at minimizing civilian suffering when armed conflict occurs.

"These norms are a cornerstone of international relations and are particularly important for cyberspace, where state-on-state activities are becoming more prevalent.

"The United States is pleased to join consensus to affirm the applicability of international law to cyberspace. With that clear affirmation, this consensus sends a strong signal: States must act in cyberspace under the established international rules and principles that have guided their actions for decades - in peacetime and during conflict."

How laws are applied to cyberspace is an issue increasingly facing business and the UN approach is a welcome pointer to future trade involving the internet.

http://www.dfat.gov.au/

http://www.state.gov/

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WH&S shake-up: How could the Harlem Shake affect your workplace unexpectedly?

THE DISMISSAL of 15 employees by a Western Australian mining company, for engaging in the YouTube craze, the Harlem Shake, has far reaching consequences for workplaces in Australia, according to Ben Cooper an associate director specialising in industrial relations at Livingstones business advisers.

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15 WA miners were sacked after performing the Harlem Shake on YouTube - what are the broader consequences?

A total of 15 employees and contractors were dismissed for alleged 'safety breaches' after performing or watching the Harlem Shake at Agnew underground gold mine in Western Australia.

The video of the employees and contractors performing the internet craze was subsequently posted onto YouTube and went ‘viral’. That was when the company felt it had to take action, for workplace health and safety reasons.

“Whilst the dismissal of these 15 employees may seem unsympathetic it is important to note that mining companies must apply the health and safety policies consistently,” Mr Cooper said.

“A consequence of inconsistency could mean an unfavourable ruling by the Fair Work Commission.

“It is also important that all employees are highly aware of the policies, and consequences to safeguard their own health and safety in the workplace."

Mr Cooper said the dismissed Agnew mine employees advised the West Australian newspaper that those participating did not believe they had been involved in any serious safety breaches as they continued to wear helmets, lamps, and safety glasses.

However, Mr Cooper said, a number employees appear bare chested in the footage with some safety equipment removed.

“The Harlem Shake internet meme involves groups of people erratically dancing to the song, Harlem Shake, for approximately 30 seconds and posting the result to YouTube,” Mr Cooper said. “It has been estimated that since February 2, 2013, when the first Harlem Shake video was posted to YouTube, a further 40,000 videos have been posted and viewed 175 million times.

”This event, and the previous 'planking' meme, demonstrates the speed internet crazes can develop, spread and become viral," he said. There are workplace and brand consequences for companies and organisations.

"It also highlights the difficulty that employers have in predicting when and how these events might occur in the workplace," Mr Cooper said.

"To combat these safety issues occurring in your workplace we recommend employers have comprehensive workplace health and safety policies in place.

"These should cover a range of possible employee behaviours and consequences. It is also important to re-iterate health and safety policies regularly with employees so they are front of mind and curb any potential breaches before they begin."

Mr Cooper said many mine sites have 'safety moments' to discuss a potential safety breaches and how they were overcome, and this could be applied to other sectors.

"Situations like the Agnew Mine could be used as external examples on what not to do and the consequences for breaches," he said.

Livingstones, a member of the Queensland Leaders alumni, is an industrial relations, organisational development and human resources firm based in Brisbane. Mr Cooper said Livingstones has a team of 24 professional consultants, psychologists and advocates who provide specialist experience for client specific people solutions.

www.livingstones.com.au

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Perfect partnership or indecent proposal - UQ course on striking an ideal corporate match

The University of Queensland's TC Beirne School of Law has again joined forces with leading law firm Minter Ellison to present its first intensive Corporate Takeovers course.

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Corporate takeovers require expertise.

 

The four-day postgraduate course takes place in Minter Ellison's Brisbane office from Thursday (July 21) to Sunday.

A collaboratively designed study syllabus brings together legal concepts and practical case studies to provide participants with a sound working knowledge of how takeovers are regulated and managed in Australia, and how to apply the principles of takeover law to real-life situations.

Among the topics to be explored are the theory of takeover regulation, directors' duties in the context of a takeover bid, transaction structuring and strategy, the preparation of bid documents and the role of the Takeovers Panel.

The course is presented by senior lawyers from Minter Ellison, led by partner Franki Ganter, a corporate and commercial law specialist who focuses on mergers and acquisitions across a range of sectors, including the sale and purchase of major infrastructure, agribusiness and energy and resources assets.

Australia's current business landscape and economic climate mean that many public and private companies are considering acquisition as a mechanism for growth and consolidation, or may be vulnerable to hostile takeover bids.

Ms Ganter believes that takeovers are a significant part of the Queensland business landscape and pose complex business challenges.

"Takeovers are usually a major strategic move for companies and there are complex laws that govern any such transaction," Ms Ganter said.

"We intend this course to provide some real practical examples of how takeovers work so students can gain an appreciation of the legal and practical issues involved."

Ms Ganter will lead a teaching team made up of practicing lawyers from Minter Ellison and legal academics from UQ's TC Beirne School of Law, all with extensive knowledge of Australian takeover law.

The course's intensive delivery style is designed to minimise time away from the office to suit the needs of busy executives and professionals, and is ideal for lawyers, company directors, accountants or anyone in a senior role who may find themselves involved in the takeover or acquisition process.

Corporate Takeovers (LAWS7996) is part of UQ's Master of Laws program and may also be studied on a non-award or a continuing professional development basis.

http://www.law.uq.edu/

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Double legal triumph for Bond University teams

Bond University has won two of the world's most prestigious legal mooting competitions in the past month, defeating challengers from some of the world's top universities.

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Bond University on the Gold Coast.

A group of four Bachelor of Laws students has triumphed at the renowned International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Competition in The Hague, adding to the recent Willem C. Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot win in Hong Kong. 

The ICC Trial Competition takes place annually at one of the world's top centres of justice - The Hague, providing students with the opportunity to showcase their international criminal law knowledge.

This year, the Bond Law team again triumphed against competitors including Yale University, Leiden University and William and Mary Law School, winning the final against teams from India's NALSAR University of Law and Canada's Osgoode Hall Law School. 

Students Cale Davis, Tegan Little, Gabrielle Morriss and Susan Forder walked away with not only the championship but were also recognised as Best Prosecution, while Susan Forder was named Best Victim's Counsel. The team excelled under the guidance of academic advisors, assistant professor Jodie O'Leary and senior teaching fellow Joe Crowley. 

With more than 10 mooting opportunities available throughout the year, Bond University prepares students for the real life court room. Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Geraldine Mackenzie, said the benefits for students taking part in mooting competitions during their university studies stretch beyond the trophies and accolades on offer. 

"Put simply, mooting gives students the opportunity to argue a specific fictitious case in front of a Judge or Judges against opposing Counsel," Prof. Mackenzie said. 

"Generally speaking, each mooting competition focuses on a specific area of law, so students have to come to grips with a specialised area of the law such as family law, international law, criminal law, intellectual property law and so on, to a level of detail that they would not necessarily attain in their normal classes." 

Bond University vice-chancellor Robert Stable congratulated the students on their outstanding performances in both competitions. 

"Mooting is a wonderful opportunity for students with an interest in certain areas of law to work with like-minded peers and network with global contacts in the legal industry," he said. 

"For Bond University to take out two top international legal competitions in one week is an incredible feat. Arguably, Bond University is now the best advocacy-teaching university in the world with such an outstanding record." 

Bond University has won four international (including a win at the ICC Trial Competition in 2009) and three Australian mooting competitions in the past three years.

www.bond.edu.au

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Slater & Gordon buys Trilby Misso lawyers

Slater & Gordon has today (August 13) completed a $57million acquisition of leading Queensland personal injury specialists, Trilby Misso. Image The acquisition, which was announced on June 28, 2010, had been subject to capital raising and due diligence. It was approved at a meeting of Slater & Gordon shareholders on Monday this week and finalised this afternoon. 

Slater & Gordon executive director, Ken Fowlie said Trilby Misso had a well established reputation in Queensland for delivering high levels of client satisfaction and positive results.

Trilby Misso chief executive officer, Graeme McFadyen said the change would bring about new opportunities for staff and management. 

"For the 150 staff members working in South East Queensland, the acquisition will not mean a change to their current working life, but it will mean that they are now part of a national law firm and all of the expertise and resources that includes," Mr McFadyen said. 

"This is a very exciting time for Trilby Misso and we look forward to building our business under this arrangement. We are proud of the work that we have performed and our achievements and we look forward to building on that good work." 

Slater & Gordon's Mr Fowlie said Trilby Misso, which will continue to run as a stand-alone business under its own name, was a good fit with his firm's core work and values. 

"Both Slater & Gordon and Trilby Misso have a long history of assisting people in need of legal advice and then fighting hard for the best possible outcome," Mr Fowlie said. 

"We have admired the work and reputation that Trilby Misso has developed in Queensland and we are pleased that we're now joining forces with a law firm that has the same commitment to quality client care and strong results. 

"For more than 50 years, Trilby Misso has been delivering great results to people in Queensland who have been injured and they have done this with the upmost care and concern for those clients," Mr Fowlie said. 

Trilby Misso has five offices in South East Queensland. The firm specialises in motor vehicle accident and workers compensation claims. Slater & Gordon has 36 offices nationally, including four in Queensland (Brisbane, Southport, Ipswich and, from July, Townsville).

www.trilbymisso.com.au

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