2007 - What's New
20 December - ACLA Announces National Conference 2007 DVD Offer Pack for sale.
Building on the success of the past twelve years, ACLA’s National Conference 2007 on 1-2 November in Melbourne brought together leading players and expert speakers. These speakers have provided comprehensive papers in support of the sessions they presented. For members who where unable to attend the National Conference, ACLA has prepared a document pack of the DVD footage and CD-Rom of the papers from the ACLA National Conference 2007 for sale at $990.00 (inc GST). If you wish to order this documentation pack please click here for a order form or contact LexisNexis Customer Relations on 1880 772 77.
23 November - ACLA supports IBA's Corporate Counsel Forum Scholarship 2008
The Corporate Counsel Forum of the International Bar Association (see www.ibanet.org) has just announced that for the first time it is offering a scholarship for in-house lawyers on the occasion of the 7th Annual International Corporate Counsel Conference in Frankfurt on 17-19 February, 2008.
The prize for the winning paper will include the following:
• Free registration for the Corporate Counsel Forum Conference in Frankfurt.
• A contribution towards travel costs to the conference.
• Two years’ free membership of the IBA, LPD, PPID and the Corporate Counsel Forum.
• A waiver of either the next IBA Annual Conference registration fee or the registration fee for the next Corporate Counsel Forum Conference in 2009.
• Free membership of the Scholarship Alumni Group.
For further details about the scholarship please click here
20 November - ACLA releases: Foreign Corrupt Practices Act MP3 Audio file
ACLA is pleased to advise that the sound track of the recent Mayer Brown International Briefing webinar on The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is now available to members. Click here for access.
Just a reminder too that Part 2 of this series on the FCPA will be held on 27 November at 9.00am (Sydney time). To participate in the online, live presentation, you must register in advance to membership@acla.com.au
We hope members got value from this excellent new International Briefing series brought to you by international law firm Mayer Brown in co-operation with ACLA.
5 November – ACLA makes 2nd submission to ALRC Privilege Inquiry
ACLA continues to closely monitor the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Inquiry into client legal privilege and whether it should be abrogated or amended in any way.
In particular, ACLA is concerned that in-house counsel could in future be treated differently from other lawyers in this respect. ACLA believes that the correct starting point for the analysis of a privilege claim is to examine the communication in question, which includes an examination of the role held by the relevant person rather thanconsidering that person’s ‘independence’ i.e is the person a lawyer, acting as a lawyer and is the communication for the dominant purpose of giving legal advice?
Following the recent publication of the ALRC’s Discussion Paper, ACLA has filed the attached second submission, on behalf of in-house counsel; click here to read.
2 November - ACLA Announces: 2007 Award Winners
ACLA is pleased to announce the winners of its 2007 Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year Awards.
Australian Corporate Lawyer of the Year – Brett Johnson, General Counsel, Qantas Airways Limited (NSW)
Australian Government Lawyer of the Year – Alastair Shields – Executive Director, Policy, Department of The Chief Minister (Northern Territory)
Australian In –house Lawyer Young Achiever of the Year – Madeleine Love, General Counsel, Southern Cross University (NSW)
Australian In-house Legal Team of the Year – the Mincom Legal Team – Mincom Limited (QLD).
The ACLA Awards recognise excellence in the provision of legal services by in-house lawyers employed in both the corporate and government sectors. ACLA believes that their wealth of knowledge and expertise should be recognised and rewarded through these annual Awards.
The Awards were presented at the ACLA 2007 Annual Dinner at the MCG in Melbourne on Thursday, 1 November 2007.
29 October - ACLA Announces: New ACLA_LINK Partner – SAI Global
ACLA is delighted to announce that SAI Global, a leader in publishing, compliance and assurance businesses and training services, is now an ACLA_LINK partner.
As part of SAI Global’s contribution to ACLA, SAI Global will provide ACLA members with a package if Regulatory Newsfeeds, Legislative Alerts and Compliance Training at a special members’ price.
The SAI Global offer is a single user package available to members at approximately 15% below list price.
Members attending the ACLA National Conference in November will be able to see the SAI Global products on display.
Members will be advised shortly how to take advantage to of this new exciting offer.
To learn more about the ACLA_LINK Program click here.
8 October - ACLA announces winners of its 2007 Member-get-Member Promotion
Peter Anderson, Group Counsel, American Express in Sydney, won the draw for a travel voucher valued at $2,500 from ACLA’s travel agent, FCm Travel, in the ACLA 2007 Member-get-Member Promotion. The voucher is valid for travel before 30 September 2008. Enjoy your trip Peter!
David Forbes, General Counsel at Legal Service Board in Melbourne won the draw for the member who signed up the greatest number of new members. His prize is a brand new Notebook PC valued at $1,000.00.
ACLA sincerely congratulates Peter and David on their respective wins and thanks all those members who took the time and trouble to participate in this Promotion, which achieved significant success.
We hope all our new members enjoy and value their membership of ACLA.
ACLA’s Member get Member promotion permit nos.: NSW: LTPS/07/24701, SA: T07/3694, ACT: TP 07/03487
24 September - ACLA Announces: Final Extension of ACLA's In-house Lawyer of the Year Awards Nomination Date
Due to many requests for more time and considering the ongoing interest in ACLA’s Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year Awards 2007, the Judging Panel has agreed to a further - but final - extension of the Closing Date for nominations for this year's Awards until Friday, October 5 2007.
This year there are two senior Awards: the Australian Corporate Lawyer of the Year Award and The Australian Government Lawyer of the Year Award. There is also a junior Award: The Australian In-house Lawyer, Young Achiever of the Year Award and a teams Award, The Australian In-house Legal Team of the Year Award. The presentation of all four Awards will take place on Thursday, 1 November 2007 at ACLA's Annual Dinner, which will be held during the 2007 National Conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne.
We now have a simplified nomination procedure so I do encourage you to nominate a suitable candidate, perhaps yourself, or your legal team, for one of these prestigious Awards. Nominations must be returned to the address shown on the Awards Nomination Form by the extended Closing Date: Friday 5 October.
Click here for the Awards Nomination Form.
Please support your profession and your professional association - nominate a candidate for the ACLA Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year Awards 2007!
20 September – ACLA Announces a new milestone – 3000 members!
ACLA is delighted to announce having crossed over the 3,000 member mark for the first time!
Katy-Jo Tuner, Corporate Counsel, Transpacific Industries Group Ltd in Queensland became the 3,000th ACLA member earlier this month. To celebrate this milestone ACLA gave Katy-Jo a complimentary membership for one year and a nice bottle of bubby!
ACLA’s 2000th member joined up in 2000.
17 September - ACLA Announces: A Reparitaion Survey: Home Sweet Home, or Reverse Culture Shock?
Have you returned home from a company-initiated international assignment in the past 12 months? If so, you might be eligible to participate in a voluntary research study on the repatriation process. In return for your participation in the survey, you will be sent a US$25.00 Amazon.com gift certificate. Read on to learn more about the study.
For many repatriates, this last stage of the expatriation process is often fraught with challenges and frustrations. Indeed, studies report that about 25% of employees quit their jobs within the first year of returning from an international assignment. To help individuals and organizations manage this process more effectively, you are invited to participate in a research survey being conducted by a researcher at the University of Melbourne and funded with a grant by the SHRM Foundation.
What Will Participation Require?
Participation in this project will simply require you to complete a 20 minute survey. To be eligible you must have returned from an international assignment within the past 12 months and your assignment must have been initiated by your employer. The surveys can be distributed by either postal mail (paper/pencil survey) or electronic mail (electronic survey), depending on your preference. All responses will remain confidential. To further protect privacy, your company’s name will not be shared with anyone outside the research team.
How Will This Benefit You?
In return for taking the time to complete the survey, I will provide you with a summary of the overall results and you will receive a US$25 Amazon gift certificate.
How Do I Find Out More?
If you would like to learn if you qualify to participate in the survey, or would like more information about the project, please contact me, the researcher, directly.
Associate Professor Maria L. Kraimer
The University of Melbourne
Department of Management & Marketing
E-mail: mkraimer@unimelb.edu.au
http://www.management.unimelb.edu.au/staff/staffPage.cfm?StaffId=93.
3 September - ACLA Announces: Annual Member-gets-Member promotion!
As you know, ACLA is the peak body representing the interests of in-house lawyers in both the private and the public sectors in Australia. Our membership has been steadily growing over the last five years, but of the over 12,000 in-house lawyers in the country, only about 2,300 are currently ACLA full members.
ACLA ,in September, is offering you the chance to introduce new full members at a special promotional membership fee of $95 (inc GST) with membership valid until 30/06/08.
Every ACLA member who ‘signs up a friend’ as a new ACLA full member during September using the special Membership Application Form, will go into a draw for a travel voucher from ACLA’s travel agent, FCm Travel, worth $2,500.00*.
In addition, employment conditions permitting, the ACLA member who signs up the greatest number of new full members during September will win a brand new Compaq Presario Notebook PC with carry bag valued at $1,000.00* – that’s right! Right off the shelf!
The travel voucher winner will be drawn from names in a barrel. If more than one member signs up the greatest number of new full members, the PC winners' name will also be drawn from a barrel. Draws will take place at 10am on 5 October 2007 at ACLA’s National Office, Suite 2, Level 1, 620 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Winners will be notified in writing and an announcement of the winners' names will appear in the public notices of The Australian Newspaper, on Friday 12 October 2007. Please note: ACLA Directors, Executive Committee members and staff are not eligible to enter this promotion.
In the event that prizes are unclaimed after 3 months from the original draw date, a re-draw of unclaimed prizes will occur on Monday 7 January 2008.
Authorised under NSW Permit No: LTPS/07/24701
Authorised under SA Permit No: T07/3694
Authorised under ACT Permit No: TP 07/03487
Help your professional association to expand and grow. Get your in-house friends and colleagues to join ACLA today. Use the special Membership Application Form – and become a winner!
24 August - ACLA Announces: Extension of ACLA's In-house Lawyer of the Year Awards Nomination Date
Due to continuing interest and in order to allow more time to complete the required formalities, the ACLA Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year Awards 2007 Judging Panel has decided to extend the Closing Date for nominations for this year's Awards by three more weeks - until Friday, September 21 2007.
As you are aware, there are two senior Awards this year: the Australian Corporate Lawyer of the Year Award and the Australian Government Lawyer of the Year Award. There is also a junior Award: the Australian In-house Lawyer, Young Achiever of the Year Award and a team Award, the Australian In-house Legal Team of the Year Award. The presentation of all four Awards will take place on Thursday, 1 November 2007 at ACLA's Annual Dinner, which will be held during the 2007 ACLA National Conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne.
We now have a simplified nomination procedure so I do encourage you to nominate a suitable candidate, perhaps yourself, or your legal team, for one of these prestigious Awards. Nominations must be returned to the address shown on the Awards Nomination Form by the extended Closing Date: Friday 21 September. Click here for a Nomination Form.
Please support your profession and your professional association - nominate a candidate for the ACLA Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year Awards 2007!
23 August - ACLA congratulates Awards winners:
ACLA is pleased to recognise and compliment the following high achievers:
• Bruce Brown – National President of ACLA and his in-house legal team at the Department of Finance and Administration, Canberra, winners of the Griffith Hack Award Government In-house Team of the Year, at the recent Mazda ALB Australasian Law Awards 2007; (ALB Awards)
• Guy Jalland – General Counsel, Publishing and Broadcasting Limited and his in-house legal team, Sydney, winners of the Allens Arthur Robinson Award Australian In-house Team of the Year, at the ALB Awards;
• Saul Cannon – General Counsel of Telstra’s Finance and Administration business unit, Melbourne, winner of the Hays Legal Award, Australasian In-house Lawyer of the Year, at the ALB Awards;
• Chris Madden – General Counsel, UBS and his in-house legal team, Sydney, winners of the DX Solutions Award Investment Bank In-house Team of the Year, at the ALB Awards;
• Mathew Kaley – General Counsel, Allianz and his in-house legal team, Sydney, winners of the Moray & Agnew Award Insurance In-house Team of the Year, at the ALB Awards;
• David Cohen – General Counsel, AMP Limited and his in-house legal team, Sydney, winners of the Banking & Financial Services In-house Team of the Year, at the ALB Awards;
• David Krasnostein – Chief General Counsel, National Australia Bank, Melbourne, winner - for the third year in a row - of the Leading In-house Counsel in Australia Award at the 2007 Asialaw In-house Counsel Awards.
David and his team also recently won the much coveted ILO Global Counsel Award for Pro-bono work which was presented to David in July in New York.
22 August - ACLA Announces: New ACLA_LINK Partner - DocsCorp
ACLA is delighted to announce that DocsCorp, a global leader in PDF integration technology, is now an ACLA_LINK partner.
As part of DocsCorp's contribution to ACLA, DocsCorp will provide ACLA members with a complimentary copy of its proven pdfDocs Desktop software valid to 30th June 2008. Members attending the ACLA National Conference in November will also be entitled to receive a copy of DocsCorp's document/contract comparison software — compareDocs.
The pdfDocs Solutions Suite software empowers corporate lawyers to solve everyday problems associated with distributing electronic documents in a format that is safe, secure and universal — the portable document format.
pdfDocs Desktop integrates into your business and document management systems to enhance processes and workflow, providing PDF creation, collation, annotation, redaction, security and digital signatures.
To take advantage of this offer, simply log on to the DocsCorp website and complete the online form.
Log on to www.docscorp.com/acla
DocsCorp also offers complimentary online product training to ACLA members. To learn more about pdfDocs Desktop, click here
To learn more about the ACLA_LINK Program click here.
21 August - ACLA Announces: New member benefit: free subscription to ALB (Australasian Legal Business) magazine
ACLA has reached a special agreement with the publishers of ALB (Australasian Legal Business) magazine whereby all full ACLA members can receive the magazine every month free-of- charge.
For those of you not already familiar with it, ALB magazine (see www.asianlegalonline.com for more details) is a well established and respected information source covering the legal services industry in Australia, New Zealand and the rest of the world. Aimed at senior lawyers from both the in-house and private-practice segments of the profession, it contains in-depth articles on industry trends and developments as well as reports on major transactions, firm strategies, technology and the job market.
This offer is timely in that the upcoming issue of ALB will contain the magazine’s annual “In-house 25” selection of Australasia’s leading in-house lawyers. By signing up within the next 5 working days this will be the first issue you receive – simply click on this subscribe link, fill out your contact details and the rest will be done for you.
We trust you enjoy this member benefit over the coming years.
16 August – ACLA Announces: Mahlab Recruitment’s Annual Survey 2007
ACLA was again pleased to support Survey 2007, Mahlab Recruitment’s annual survey of salaries and market trends.
This year Mahlab has spread its research results and conclusions over 4 booklets. They include:
Private Practice - Australia
Private Practice - International
Corporate - including lawyers, company secretaries and contractors
Development Professionals - including marketing, human resources and knowledge management professionals
You can view Survey 2007 at www.mahlab.com.au. Please note, in order to view the Survey 2007 you will need the latest version of Adobe Acrobat.
7 August – ACLA Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year Awards 2007 – Nominations open.
As announced in the June edition of The Australian Corporate Lawyer, nominations for the 2007 ACLA Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year Awards are now open!
This year, again, there will be two senior individual awards, the Australian Corporate Lawyer of the Year and the Australian Government Lawyer of the Year as well as a junior award, the Australian In-house Lawyer Young Achiever of the Year. We will also again be offering, an award for the Australian In-house Legal Team of the Year. ACLA is delighted to welcome LexisNexis and MIddletons Lawyers as the major sponsors of this year’s Awards. We thank them for their support and commitment to these prestigious Awards.
The ACLA Australian In-house Lawyer of the Year Awards are designed to recognise excellence in the provision of legal services by in-house lawyers employed in both the corporate and government sectors. ACLA believes their wealth of knowledge and expertise should be recognised and rewarded through these annual Awards. The presentation of the Awards will take place at the Annual Dinner which will be held during ACLA’s 2007 National Conference in the Members’ Dining Room at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), on the evening of Thursday 1 November.
We look forward to seeing you there!
To access a 2007 Nomination Form, click here.
6 August - ACLA Announces: New Zealand Seminars in Melbourne - Thursday 6 September 2007
New Zealand law firm Quigg Partners will again hold seminars in Melbourne in September on the following topics:
- Buying and Selling a Business in New Zealand
- Managing your New Zealand Business: Employment and Labour Issues
If you are interested to attend these events, please register using the Registration Form.
2 August - ACLA Announces: Extension of early-bird registration date to Friday 17 August 2007 for National Conference 2007.
As you may be aware, due to construction works at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the Conference venue was recently changed to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This and related late changes led to the delayed mail out of the ACLA National Conference 2007 brochure.
In order to ensure that all members and other persons interested in attending the Conference have an opportunity to take advantage of the early bird Conference rates, we have decided to extend the early bird registration expiration date from Tuesday 31 July to Friday 17 August
30 July - ACLA Announces: Release of In-house Law Report 2007
ACLA's In-house Law Report 2007, prepared for ACLA by Beaton Consulting, is based on one of the largest studies carried out amongst government and corporate lawyers in Australia. It identifies the key challenges facing in-house lawyers and how they are dealing with them.
26 June – ACLA Announces: 2007 National Conference Program and move to new Venue
Following the announcement of major renovations at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt Hotel, ACLA has moved the venue for its 2007 National Conference to the stunning new conference facilities at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Recently refurbished for the Commonwealth Games, the MCG offers superb function rooms set against the backdrop of the most hallowed turf in the country. Accommodation for guests travelling from interstate for the Conference will be offered at Melbourne’s stately Hilton on the Park Hotel, just 5 minutes walk from the ground.
Befitting the exciting new venue, is our inspiring Conference theme “Circles of Influence – Inform/Involve/Inspire,” a theme intended to recognise the important role in-house counsel play in guiding the strategy and operation of their business or department.
The calibre of speakers we have been able to attract for this year’s Conference confirms the high regard in which ACLA is held. We invite you to view the program and register now for the Conference while early-bird rates still apply.
25 June – ACLA makes submission to ALRC Privilege Inquiry
ACLA continues to closely monitor the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Inquiry into client legal privilege and whether it should be abrogated or amended in any way.
In particular, ACLA is concerned that in-house counsel could in future be treated differently from other lawyers in this respect. As well, the suggestion that corporations could lose the right to claim privilege is of great concern.
ACLA is actively assisting the ALRC through both its General Counsel Group and its Professional Issues Committee.
Following the recent publication of the ALRC’s Issues Paper and Questions List, ACLA filed the attached preliminary submission, click here to read.
31 May – ACLA Announces: Second Semester Intake for Diploma of In-house Legal Practice
Following national accreditation (except in the Northern Territory, where accreditation is still pending) the College of Law successfully launched the new Diploma of In-house Legal practice, inspired and endorsed by ACLA, on 26 February.
Over 20 students from many cities enrolled in the first semester of this exciting new program and their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
The program is of particular value to those in the early stage of their careers, and to colleagues in private practice looking to make the transition.
The second semester intake for the Diploma of Legal Practice commences on 23 July. Take this opportunity to enroll for the Program – chick here for enrolment details.
23 April - ACLA Announces: ALRC Privilege Inquiry - Media Release
Today's Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) media release will be of interest to all members. Read the Media Release.
3 April - ACLA Announces National Seminar: "Money and Metrics Matter – Communicating Value and Controlling Costs"
ACLA is delighted to announce that following last year’s successful seminar series for senior counsel “The High Performance Legal Department”, Catalyst Consulting (Canada) and Beaton Consulting (Melbourne) have agreed to run another ACLA national seminar series for senior counsel under the above title.
This new series of half-day seminars will focus on the ‘value add’ of in-house counsel and will run in Brisbane on Wednesday, May 23, Melbourne, Thursday, May 24, Adelaide, Friday, May 25, Perth, Monday May 28, and Sydney, Tuesday, May 29.
All seminars are restricted to 25 participants and registrants will be accepted strictly on a first-come-first-served basis. Registration form.
2 April – Reminder: Professional Indemnity Cover for In-house Lawyers
ACLA, through Marsh Pty Ltd, has obtained a new Professional Indemnity Insurance product for in-house legal counsel in response to their growing concern over potential liabilities and obligations.
Asia Pacific Head for Financial & Professional Services (FINPRO) at Marsh, Ray Armstrong, says the new Corporate Lawyers Insurance protection arranged by Marsh will fill an important insurance gap in the legal profession.
“Previously, there has been little, if any, insurance cover for in-house lawyers in Australia. Compulsory insurance for solicitors in private practice will not cover all the potential liabilities of in-house lawyers.
“In-house counsel are playing an increasingly important advisory role within organisations and commercial negotiations and this exposes them to greater liability,” Ray said.
The policy, underwritten by a leading Lloyds of London syndicate, operates on an individual basis, providing personal ‘sleep at night’ protection. It comes with a limit of indemnity of $1m and sub-limit for legal costs of $250,000 in all cases.
The product covers pro bono work and is ideal for in-house lawyers sitting on charitable boards.
Coverage is for the defence of actions brought against in-house counsel by third parties (not the in-house lawyer’s employer or personnel).
For more information, including how to apply for Corporate Lawyers Insurance, contact Justin Meyer at Marsh on ph. 03 9603 2208.
See: Specimen Policy , Proposal Form and Premium Table
21 February- ACLA Announces Legal Professional Privilege and Confidentiality Specialist Course in Hobart.
ACLA, the Law Society of Tasmania and AMPLA: The Resources and Energy Law Association will hold a specialist course on the topic of legal professional privilege and the challenges of confidentiality in a rapidly changing legal, commercial and political environment in Hobart on Friday16 March.
This course will present the current state of the law on legal professional privilege and where it is heading, illustrated by some important recent cases and specialist discussion on particular problems and practical issues.
Presenters and Panelists include: Keith Steele, Head of Litigation, Freehills and author of the chapter Legal Privilege and Confidentiality in Australia in the IBA-sponsored book Privilege and Confidentiality: An International Handbook. Peter Tree SC Derwent & Tamar Chambers, Hobart; Peter Holden Director, Legal Affairs, Newmont Mining Corporation Asia Pacific. Hypothetical Moderator will be Justice Alan Blow, Tasmanian Supreme Court.
See Upcoming Events for full programme and registration form.
16 January - ACLA Announces Diploma of In-house Legal Practice - Enrolments now open.
You will be aware that ACLA has been working with the College of Law over the last 12 months or so towards the launch of this exciting new program.
The national accreditation is virtually complete (only the Northern Territory is outstanding and that is expected shortly) and the first course will commence on 26 February 2007, with enrolments now available. Click here for more details.
This is an exciting development for in-house lawyers in Australia, and one that ACLA has been looking forward to for some little while. It will be of particular value to those in the early stages of their career, and to colleagues in private practice looking to make the transition. Please tell your colleagues – including those in private practice who might be interested.