New Moody’s general counsel starts tenure

Richard Steele, the longtime legal chief of the company’s Moody’s Analytics subsidiary, has deep experience in M&A and go-to-market efforts. 

By Lyle Moran • Sept. 12, 2023

Third parties can be liable for employment discrimination, Calif. court rules

The California Supreme Court’s unanimous decision also has implications for employers who utilize outside providers to assist with the hiring process.

By Lyle Moran • Sept. 11, 2023

California acts on noncompetes, caste discrimination

The noncompetes law expands the ways in which employees can challenge such agreements in the Golden State, according to attorneys.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 11, 2023

More states join paid leave trend, making it harder for employers to keep up

Benefits teams that seek to stay ahead of local family and medical leave requirements may need to make adjustments soon, experts said.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 7, 2023

How to channel your inner Barbie when negotiating compensation

Too often women in-house lawyers are being paid less than men. They need to become their own best advocate.

By Heather Fine • Sept. 7, 2023

How to avoid ambiguity in non-disparagement clauses

A few simple changes to how you draft provisions in a separation agreement can help prevent problems down the road, employment law specialists say.

By Robert Freedman • Sept. 7, 2023

9 in 10 companies will return to office by end of 2024, survey says

28% of respondents said their organizations would threaten to fire employees who don’t follow new in-person mandates.

By Carolyn Crist • Aug. 31, 2023

Top life sciences GCs can take home nearly $2M a year

Some general counsel at public life sciences make roughly $1 million annually in long-term incentives, according to a BarkerGilmore compensation survey.

By Lyle Moran • Aug. 31, 2023

Healthcare GCs at public companies can make upwards of $1.6M

Legal chiefs at public healthcare businesses make much more than their private company peers due to long-term incentive pay, a compensation survey found.

By Lyle Moran • Aug. 28, 2023

Director who performed nonexempt work for 80% of his workday ruled FLSA exempt

The amount of time spent performing certain work “can be a useful guide” in determining exempt status, but time alone “is not the sole test,” according to the FLSA’s regulations.

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 24, 2023

Starbucks’ ‘overbroad’ workplace civility rule oversteps NLRA, Board rules

On the heels of its Stericycle ruling, NLRB said Starbucks must rescind its “How We Communicate” workplace policy.

By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 14, 2023

Ex-Twitter GC joins cultivated meat company as legal chief

Sean Edgett, who was fired as general counsel shortly after Elon Musk took over Twitter, has started at Upside Foods amid the company achieving several milestones.

By Lyle Moran • Aug. 7, 2023

NLRB ruling foreshadows scrutiny of workplace civility, social media rules

All policies that restrict employee speech and actions must be reviewed — “and very likely rewritten,” according to a management-side attorney.

By Kate Tornone • Aug. 7, 2023

OpenAI promotes former Amazon lawyer to general counsel

The new GC at the company behind ChatGPT says OpenAI is “navigating and shaping largely uncharted legal territory.”

By Lyle Moran • Aug. 1, 2023

Why GCs need to step back from day-to-day legal work

Delegating allows general counsel to focus on strategy and talent development, Mastercard’s newly announced chief legal officer advises.

By Lyle Moran • July 25, 2023

USCIS announces new Form I-9, will allow permanent remote review for E-Verify users

The new Form I-9 will be available for use Aug. 1, and eligible employers may use the remote review alternative that same day.

By Ryan Golden • July 21, 2023

Using legal training to take an alternative career path

A tough hiring market helped Erin Dunn of legal marketplace Priori learn that lawyering skills can be useful in other types of work.

By Robert Freedman • July 20, 2023

Hiring roundup: Salesforce taps new legal chief from Wachtell

Caterpillar, Northrop Grumman, Binance and VantageScore also announced legal department leadership changes.

By Lyle Moran • July 18, 2023

Mastercard hires Micron GC as new chief legal officer

Rob Beard, who will also serve as head of global policy, brings M&A and capital markets experience to his new role with the payments technology company.

By Lyle Moran • July 17, 2023

Why companies should review noncompete clauses in equity award agreements

Given increased government scrutiny, employers need to be mindful of the time periods noncompetes cover and review state-specific requirements, a Baker McKenzie partner said.

By Lyle Moran • July 14, 2023

Amazon settles lawsuit alleging COBRA notices were threatening

A former employee alleged the company’s COBRA notices contained an unnecessary “ominous warning.”

By Ginger Christ • July 13, 2023

Illinois, Colorado up next in pay transparency law updates

The new laws state that employers must give current employees, not just job seekers, a fair shot at applying for newly posted jobs — with pay ranges — as well.

By Caroline Colvin • July 7, 2023

Private equity GCs can top $1M in compensation

General counsel and CCOs at PE firms also are eligible for carried interest, while portfolio company legal chiefs receive significant long-term incentive pay.

By Lyle Moran • July 6, 2023

Class action seeks to compel Twitter to arbitrate severance complaints

The company is holding out until former employees agree to split the cost of arbitration with it, but under rules the company agreed to, it’s responsible for the costs. 

By Robert Freedman • July 5, 2023

SCOTUS overturns Title VII precedent, lowering bar for religious accommodations

The decision in Groff, which overturned 40 years of precedent, presents a higher standard for employers to meet in order to deny an accommodation request for religious reasons.

By Ryan Golden • June 30, 2023