WLJ Columns News

LinkedIn provides a way to stay connected

Mon, 19 May 2008 14:18:23 CDT

Have you heard about the latest free marketing tool for lawyers and other professionals?
It’s LinkedIn, a Web site for professional networking, at www.linkedin.com. I received a few e-mails inviting me to “link” or “connect” with someone over the past few months, and thought, “Um, sure. I’ll get to that later.” The e-mails languished in my inbox.

Columnist seeks out good deals for law offices

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:33:23 CDT

Although I’ve been associated with Wisconsin Law Journal for more than a decade now, I’ve never ventured into the waters of “columnist” until now. But I like the idea. It puts me in the same category as one of my heroines, Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City.

Extending the value of your firms PR efforts

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:01:37 CDT

The following guidelines give insight into some of the coaching we give to our agency public relations teams. From basic principles for developing stories, to seeking additional opportunities to pitch stories to media, these steps serve as a process for you to craft media coverage that matches your strategy and carries your message.

Comp time off may run afoul of the law

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:54:41 CDT

The practice of employment law can be a thankless pursuit. A couple months ago I cautioned regarding the legal risks of holiday office parties. This article resulted in several e-mails from colleagues accusing me of being a prude, teetotaler and party-pooper.

Fraud and infidelity: A match made in heaven?

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:58:45 CDT

What on earth do fraud and infidelity have in common? Quite a lot actually.

Whos to blame for media misquotes … you or them?

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:51:26 CDT

When coaching clients on how to work with media, I start by asking for each participant’s greatest fear. Inevitably, the majority say being misquoted or taken out of context. This is especially true with attorneys who are trained to dissect words for specific intent.

Bio

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:21:33 CDT

Karl Robe, APR, leads the public relations practice at Avicom Marketing Communications, which has local offices in Waukesha and Milwaukee. He can be reached at karl.robe@avicomdirect.com .

Methods of searching for unreported income

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:18:57 CDT

For the employee who is receiving cash in lieu of a real paycheck or who is otherwise concealing wages and earnings, it can be very difficult to prove the case. Cash doesn’t leave much of a trail, and a company that is willingly participating in a fraud like this isn’t likely to offer up proof of the fraud either.

Rules of the road for selling or buying a law practice

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:20:18 CDT

Selling a law practice, or an area of the practice, to another qualified lawyer no longer violates the code of professional ethics in most states. Some lawyers still believe they have little or nothing of value to sell, irrespective of the size or profitability of their practice. However, it is my experience that most lawyers would find selling their practices far preferable to just closing the doors.

Searching for unreported income is tough task

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:30:29 CDT

The million dollar question in many litigation disputes, be it family law, a shareholder divorce, or other corporate wrangling, often centers around unreported income. Are there sales that aren’t being recorded on the books? Is the individual receiving cash for work done? Is revenue hidden to shield it from being considered by the court?

Office betting pools: Dive in at your own risk

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:27:11 CDT

Let’s lay it on the table from the start — office betting pools are illegal in Wisconsin.

Money or justice -- must we choose?

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:02:37 CST

I firmly believe, and have often written, that a lawyer must make an adequate living at his or her practice before making a meaningful pro bono effort. Two recent articles in California’s legal press set parameters on what this means as a practical matter.

Citation of unpublished opinions would lead to bluer skies

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:37:30 CST

It’s time for a change in the weather — and we’re not referring to winter (although I wouldn’t mind a change on that front, too).

One final look at the family law decisions of 2007

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:57:07 CST

During the past year, there was only one Wisconsin Supreme Court case and only a few published Court of Appeals cases in family law. While some of the cases earned approval in this column (not that either court particularly cared), others drew flak. Not being satiated with one kick at the courts and not being smart enough to leave bad enough alone, let’s take another look at the appellate family law cases in 2007.

Lawsuit against bank raises third-party issues

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:37:59 CST

A lawsuit against Wachovia Bank by a group of defrauded consumers raises some interesting issues related to third-party fraud liability. The question for consumers, investors, and executives is: What is the threshold for liability in fraud cases? What knowledge or actions had to be present in order for a person or company to be held liable for fraud?

Personal use of company e-mail: Where to draw the line

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:30:15 CST

Nowadays, e-mail is a fixture in most workplaces, a useful tool for communication and calendaring. However, most of us also recognize that e-mail can be an enormous work distraction.

Protecting the work product of an expert witness

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:11:39 CST

One often overlooked key to successfully working with an expert witness is the protection of privilege and work product. Until the expert is actually disclosed to the other side, it’s in the best interest of the client to make sure that the expert’s work is protected. While no airtight accountant-client privilege exists, it is still possible to protect communications when an accountant (or other expert) is working with an attorney on a litigation matter.

Double counting remains difficult issue for courts

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:49:10 CST

This is the last of a series of three articles discussing the recent Wisconsin Court of Appeals decision in Wright v. Wright, No. 2006AP2111 (Wis. Ct. App. Dec. 4, 2007), which was recommended for publication.

Decision appears to limit trial courts discretion

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:01:58 CST

This is the second in a series of three articles discussing the recent Wisconsin Court of Appeals decision in Wright v. Wright, No. 2006AP2111 (Wis. Ct. App. Dec. 4, 2007) (recommended for publication).

Appellate court reverses maintenance decision in Wright case

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:20:01 CST

On Dec. 4, the District I branch of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals issued its opinion in Wright v. Wright, No. 2006AP2111 ((Wis. Ct. App. Dec. 4, 2007) (recommended for publication). The decision affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions, the orders rendered by the Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judges John J. DiMotto and Michael D. Guolee.