Commercial Contracts

Expert Analysis

• Cloud Computing Clearly The Future For Small Firms

  

  While in-house technology investments on the scale and complexity needed to compete with large firms remain cost prohibitive for small and midsize law firms, cloud-based services offer significant cost savings and productivity gains with little to no capital investment, says Holly Urban of Effortless Legal LLC.

• 10 Best Practices For Due Diligence In AI Transactions

  

  When approaching M&A, investments and other transactions associated with artificial intelligence, we must take into consideration the nature of the technology today, the anticipated technological developments and the evolving legal landscape, say Lee Tiedrich and Daniel Gurman of Covington & Burling LLP.

• Key Trends In Midstream Oil And Gas Deals: Part 2

  

  A deep dive into data on deal terms in midstream oil and gas acquisition agreements reveals significant insights on “what’s market” and what's not in such deals. As compared to a broad cross-section of agreements across industries, the midstream M&A acquisition agreements studied generally allocated more of the risks — especially unknown risks — to buyers, says Greg Krafka of Winstead PC.

• Leveraging Today's Lateral Associate Market

  

  With the Milbank/Cravath pay scale once again equalizing compensation at many Am Law 100 firms, there is even more pressure for firms to differentiate themselves to top lateral associate candidates. This presents strategic considerations for both law firms and lateral candidates throughout the recruitment process, says Darin Morgan of Major Lindsey & Africa.

• Key Trends In Midstream Oil And Gas Deals: Part 1

  

  The Private Target Mergers & Acquisitions Deal Points Studies prepared by the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section have been a key resource for M&A attorneys for over a decade. In this two-part article, Greg Krafka of Winstead PC examines data from the most recent study and other sources to systematically identify “what’s market” concerning deal terms in midstream oil and gas acquisition agreements.

• New UK And US Regimes May Deter Foreign Investment

  

  Newly proposed U.K. rules and the amended regime for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States will radically change how the two governments review sensitive transactions, which will affect the likelihood of deal clearance, deal timing and the drafting of appropriate contractual provisions, say Robert Bell and Jennifer Mammen of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.

• Q&A

  Back To School: Stanford's Jeff Fisher Talks Supreme Court

  

  In this series featuring law school luminaries, Stanford Law School professor Jeffrey Fisher discusses his motivation for teaching, arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court and what the court might look like if Judge Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed.

• 5 Big Changes To Pa. Contractor Payment Law

  

  Pennsylvania's amended Contractor and Subcontractor Payment Act, which will apply to construction contracts entered into on or after Oct. 10, will provide downstream entities with robust protections to better ensure prompt payment for completed work, says Kenneth Cushing of Cozen O'Connor.

• Tips For Tech Cos. Developing Event Sponsorship Deals

  

  IBM recently partnered with the U.S. Open to offer tennis fans a digital experience. This type of deal offers numerous benefits, but companies seeking to leverage their innovative technology in exchange for sponsorship packages should be aware of certain legal issues, say Leon Medzhibovsky and Airina Rodrigues of DLA Piper.

• Calif.'s New Rules For Lawyers Move Closer To ABA Model

  

  The first comprehensive overhaul of California's Rules of Professional Conduct in nearly 30 years becomes operational on Nov. 1. Some of the new rules mirror the model language used by the American Bar Association, but many continue to reflect California’s unique approach to certain ethical questions, says Mark Loeterman of Signature Resolution LLC.