Understanding Legal Needs of Technology Companies: Leading Lawyers on Performing a Legal Audit, Managing Financial Risk, and Prioritizing Legal Needs (Inside the Minds)

Understanding the Legal Needs of Technology Companies is an authoritative, insider's perspective on key strategies for researching and prioritizing the legal needs of a technology company. Featuring partners and in-house counsel representing some of the nation's leading technology companies, these experts outline the common legal needs facing the industry today, including the development and protection of intellectual property, the capacity to operate in the global arena, and the implementation of internal control practices. These top lawyers reveal their advice on performing a legal audit of company practices, interviewing and informing company executives, and determining a company s legal needs by understanding its past, present, and future. Additionally, these leaders discuss prioritizing legal needs while managing financial risk. The different niches represented and the breadth of perspectives presented enable readers to get inside some of the great legal minds of today, as these experienced lawyers offer up their thoughts around the keys to navigating this rapidly-changing area of law. Inside the Minds provides readers with proven business intelligence from C-level executives (Chairman, CEO, CFO, CMO, Partner) from the world's most respected companies and firms nationwide, rather than third-party accounts from unknown authors and analysts. Each chapter is comparable to an essay/thought leadership piece and is a future-oriented look at where an industry, profession, or topic is heading and the most important issues for the future. Each author has been selected based upon their experience and C-level standing within the professional community. Chapters Include: 1. R. L. Smith McKeithen, Executive VP, Corporate Affairs, Cadence Design Systems Inc. Designing Corporate Law Capabilities to Complement Business Strategy 2. Michael O Neill, SVP and General Counsel, Lenovo Group Limited Succeeding as In-House Counsel in a Technology Company 3. Deborah Stringer, Corporate Director, Contracts, VT MILCOM Inc. Building Relationships and Preventing Disaster: Legal Needs and the Business 4. Alan S. Gutterman, Partner; Principal, The General Counsel LLC; Gutterman Law & Business Conducting Effective Audits of Technology Company Compliance Programs 5. Ronald Prague, VP, General Counsel, and Secretary, Synchronoss Technologies Inc. The Importance of IP Protection in a Technology Company Appendices Include: Appendix A: Risk Analysis Checklist - Basic Appendix B: Letter from CEO Regarding Conduct Code Appendix C: Code of Business Conduct Appendix D: Corporate Compliance Program Appendix E: Description of Legal Audit Process for Corporate Policy Manual Appendix F: Intellectual Property Interview Appendix G: Intellectual Property Questionnaire Appendix H: Audit Method and Rules for Legal Audit Process Appendix I: Scheduling and Planning Rules for Legal Audit Process Appendix J: Nondisclosure Agreement Appendix K: Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement