As vice president in charge of portfolio planning and IP litigation at Sun Pharmaceuticals, India’s largest pharma company and the largest Indian pharma company operating in the US, Bharati Nadkarni has been behind some of the biggest pharma cases in recent times. fivehundred catches up with her about developments facing lawyers in the pharma sector
Bharati, please can you explain the challenges you face in bringing litigation in the pharma space? The approach to litigation in the pharmaceuticals sector is a little different from the approach taken in other industries. There are two main reasons for this. First, patents are territorial. A patent approved in the US may not get …
Continue reading “Pain and gain in pharma litigation”
The client side
Helen Donegan, US editor (content), recently spoke with Meredith Moore, global diversity and social responsibility director, and Robert Lennon, chief business development and communications officer, about how Weil transformed its approach to diversity in client pitch activity with measurable results
Although Weil has had a longstanding commitment to promoting and supporting its talented female attorneys through its ‘Women@Weil’programme and other initiatives, the firm, like most in Big Law, knew it had to do more. As part of this effort, Weil’s management committee formed a Taskforce on Women’s Engagement & Retention (TOWER) in 2014, and the …
Continue reading “Pitch parity: Transforming gender diversity in client pitch activity”
The client side
The Middle East business world moves into the 2020s with a number of tantalising possibilities as to how it will develop. Saudi Arabia has already set its stall out as a potentially disruptive force to the status quo, with a number of major economic and infrastructure projects planned – the vast King Abdullah Economic City …
Continue reading “Staying ahead of the curve in the Gulf”
The client side
Simona Musso, general counsel at Lavazza, speaks with senior research analyst, Sara Mageit, about the changes she has experienced in almost 24 years with the company, the experiences of being a woman in a senior role in Italian business, and her team’s involvement in putting the first espresso machine in space
Can you tell me a bit about your role at Lavazza and how it’s evolved over the years? In February, I’ll have been working for Lavazza for 24 years. I joined after seven years in private practice. I joined Lavazza when the legal department was in its embryonic stage so I had the opportunity to …
Continue reading “Fighting for merit”
The client side
In a series of interviews with some of the top GCs across the US, fivehundred provides insights into the priorities and motivations of the influential in-house lawyers who are included in The Legal 500’s 2019 United States GC Powerlist. For this month’s interview, Helen Donegan, US editor content), spoke with A. Verona Dorch, executive vice president, chief legal officer, government affairs and corporate secretary at Peabody Energy, who shares her views on what she looks for in outside counsel and the importance of diversity in the legal profession.
Helen Donegan: To start off, can you tell me about your role? Verona Dorch: If I think about what I truly do on a day-to-day basis, I see myself as a ‘crisis GC’. There are any number of critical matters that we are typically working our way through as an energy company, so my job …
Continue reading “Bringing diversity to the table”
The client side
In a series of interviews with some of the top GCs across the US, fivehundred provides insights into the priorities and motivations of the influential in-house lawyers who are included in The Legal 500’s 2019 United States GC Powerlist
For this month’s interview, Helen Donegan, US Editor (Content), speaks to DreamHost’s Chris Ghazarian about his transition to the position of GC, the evolution of the in-house role, what he wants from outside counsel, and taking on the Department of Justice Helen Donegan: To start off, can you tell me about your current role and …
Continue reading “Lawyers are blockers; leaders are closers”
Client Services
Marcello Floris, co-head of employment and pensions at Eversheds Sutherland in Italy, on the importance of managing clients’ expectations and utilising a common sense approach to legal practice
A law firm provides an array of services, ranging from consultancy to drafting of documents, to assistance in litigation, to name but a few. The reputation of a firm is deeply grounded in the quality of services it provides its clients. Many firms coach their partners on the notion of delivering excellence in client service, …
Continue reading “Never overlook the basics of client service”
Training and education
San Francisco-based litigation partner Jim Basile gives fivehundred the lowdown on the Kirkland Institute for Trial Advocacy, a firm-wide trial advocacy and litigation attorney training programme that prepares associates for all a courtroom can throw at them
Please give us brief history and overview of the programme. Kirkland & Ellis started the Kirkland Institute for Trial Advocacy, or KITA, programme 41 years ago. It is the largest, most comprehensive litigation training programme at any firm. It emphasises core trial skills and becomes more complex as associates advance. In more detail, what does …
Continue reading “Creating trial-ready lawyers”
The Big Issue: Client Service
Marriott Asia Pacific’s Law Department offers an in-house view on what external counsel can do better to become trusted, long-term business partners
External counsels often face the question: ‘What do in-house lawyers really want from their external counsel?’ In-house teams act as gatekeepers who deliver legal advice to their colleagues in various practice areas around the clock. Due to the huge work volume, external counsel can become a significant ally in helping to alleviate work pressure, provide …
Continue reading “How do the best law firms stay ahead of the pack?”
