Game plans for life; helping older clients make wise moves in estate planning also raises issues of competency and health care

Article Abstract:

Elder law is becoming a more important specialty and involves matters ranging from estate planning to helping older people plan for health care with vehicles such as the durable power of attorney for health care. Competency is a primary concern with older clients, and the lawyer must understand that older clients differ in their abilities to manage their personal and financial affairs. Helping arrange for guardianship issues can also be a part of this specialty.

Methods, Planning, Estate planning, Medical care decision-making authority (Law), Medical care decision making authority (Law), Elder law

---

Bitten by the merger bug; law firms see joining forces as the best way to maintain competitive size

Article Abstract:

Law firms are learning a lesson from the wave of corporate mergers and the trend is expected to continue past the turn of the century. Midsize law firms are also joining the trend and US law firms are even looking abroad for merger opportunities. Mergers can help a firm acquire a broader geographic base, diversify services to existing clients or become more competitive in a particular specialty.

Mergers, acquisitions and divestments, Law firms

---

A grab for the ball: insurers are setting up their own lawyers to handle claims, leaving defense firms with nothing to show

Article Abstract:

Insurance defense attorneys are protesting the insurance industry's trend of hiring in-house counsel to represent policyholders. This creates a conflict of interest, since the attorney is to have primary loyalty to the policyholder and not the insurance company. Insurance companies argue they are trying to keep down costs, but it may constitute unauthorized practice of law.

Analysis, Cover Story, Employment, Corporate counsel, Conflict of interests (Attorneys), Conflicts of interest (Lawyers), Insurance law

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: IRS rules on tax effects of gift of stock option. New ruling turns golden handcuffs of stock options into estate planning ball and chain
• Abstracts: Helping your clients understand trust planning. 706 preparation simplified. Lawgical solution
• Abstracts: Shopper's guide to time and billing software. An overview of estate planning software. Tax resources galore!
• Abstracts: Predatory pricing in the airline industry: proposed guidelines of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Predation 'strategy' of American Airlines: a change of heart at the Justice Department?
• Abstracts: Discovery; amending the rules. Discovery; fight the compensation to compel. Discovery; the utility of RFAs

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.