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November 9, 2007  nº 562  -  Vol. 5  
 

Outsourcing life and how to eliminate e-mail overload: 

"The Master does nothing, yet he leaves nothing undone. The ordinary man is always doing things, yet many more are left to be done."

Tao Te Ching 
Chapter 38

In today's Law Firm Marketing column: Alert prospects, clients and referral sources to your successes

• Top News

UN to vote on death penalty halt

A resolution calling for a worldwide suspension of the use of the death penalty has been introduced at the United Nations General Assembly. Eighty-one of the 192 UN members are backing the resolution, which is expected to be voted on next week. This resolution calls for countries which still have the death penalty to introduce a moratorium or a suspension, with a view to abolishing the practice. Opponents of the moratorium are led by Singapore. One-hundred-and-thirty countries have already banned the death penalty, and only 25 nations carried out executions last year.

US Congress overturns Bush veto

The United States Congress has for the first time overturned President George W Bush's veto, on a bill authorizing spending on water projects. The Senate voted 79-14 to overturn the veto, after the House of Representatives voted 361-54, well over the two-thirds majority required. The last time a veto was overridden was in 1998, under President Bill Clinton. The bill authorizes billions of dollars-worth of local projects, many of which Mr Bush says are unnecessary.

New US attorney general confirmed

The US Senate has confirmed Michael Mukasey as the new attorney general. The vote came despite misgivings from some senators who were unhappy at his answers over what constituted torture in the questioning of terror suspects. Mukasey, 66, has presided over a number of high-profile terror trials and is seen as an independent-minded conservative.

Brazil announces new oil reserves

Petrobras says it believes the offshore Tupi field has between 5bn and 8bn barrels of recoverable light oil. The test results show high productivity for gas and light oil - the best quality oil - which is more valuable and cheaper to refine. Petrobras says the find has the potential to move Brazil into a position where it is one of the top ten oil reserves in the world. Some analysts say this latest find raises the interesting scenario of offering a new source of supply to the United States, reducing its dependence on Venezuela, a country with which it has such a fraught relationship.

Bernanke says US economy to slow

Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke has warned that the US economy will slow noticeably before the end of the year, as the housing slump intensifies. He said that there was likely to be more "financial restraint on economic growth as credit becomes more expensive and difficult to obtain". In the longer term, the greater premium attached to risk may lead to a healthier financial system. "Investors have also become more cautious and are demanding greater compensation for bearing risk," he said. The current credit crisis is caused by an abundance of debt of questionable value.

Investors agree: Anything but the dollar

Dollar weakness is neutralizing the positive effects of the Federal Reserve's interest-rate cuts. As the dollar spirals downward, weakened by Washington's indifference and market expectations of more rate cuts, liquidity drains from the U.S. into inflation hedges like gold and, in the case of entrepreneurship and risk-taking capital, to countries with strengthening currencies. This drain undercuts the growth impact of the Fed's recent rate cuts, complicating the recovery from the August credit-market turbulence. Question: What's harder to sell than a complex loan during a credit crunch? A dollar-denominated one. Foreign countries are suffering the opposite phenomenon. Global investors want to buy more in strong-currency countries, heating up those countries' economies, land values and stock markets. If their central banks hike rates, as China has been doing and Australia did on Nov. 7, it invites even more capital inflows in search of higher yields and currency appreciation, reinforcing the upward currency spiral.

Article on Dutch labor law

The law offices of Russel Advocaten, based in Amsterdam and Den Haag, have released an article on Dutch labor law, discussing the definition, contents and termination of an employment agreement. Russel Advocaten provide legal advice to the corporate world, (foreign) governments and individuals. Migalhas readers can read this article by clicking here.

Award on corporate governance on non-listed companies

Frederico Gustavo de Sousa e Straube, Brazilian lawyer, senior associate of PACSA & Cameira in London informs that the Monique Raynaud-Contamine Award for young lawyers, a prize attributed by the Union Internationale des Avocats, has been presented, this year, to his colleague Raquel Azevedo, a junior partner at PACSA & Cameira in London, for her report on "Corporate governance on non-listed companies – special features of corporate governance in connection with family-run companies." The London office of PACSA & Cameira specializes in legal advise to English investors wishing to invest in Brazil and has established links with firms in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

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• MiMIC Journal

China's Effect on Dollar Reflects Growing Influence

The economies of the United States and China are intertwined in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. China has more than $1 trillion in U.S. reserves. Currency markets were rattled when a minor Chinese official said it was time to move some of that money into euros. Neither China nor the U.S. would benefit if the dollar plummeted rapidly.

• Law Firm Marketing

Alert prospects, clients and referral sources to your successes

by Trey Ryder

One purpose of a weekly or monthly alert is to keep everyone on your mailing list up to date on your successes.

Why is this important?

Everyone likes to think their lawyer is the best.  A former client might hire you again -- or a referral source might send someone your way if you shared your recent experiences so they had continued confidence in your skills.

When you send an alert to everyone on your mailing list, you again have the opportunity to talk about the types of cases you're working on and to report your successes.  Providing this information does many things:

1. It shows you have current knowledge in this area of the law.

2. It shows your services are in demand, as opposed to lawyers who have nothing to do.

3. It proves you have experience in this arena, as opposed to someone who only claims to practice in this area of law.

4. It increases the confidence people have in your knowledge, skill, judgment and experience.

5. It affirms you are the person they should consider when they need services or when they want to refer someone.

6.  It assures (or reminds) them you're still practicing law, so you don't fall victim to out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

Also, don't forget that people like to know and witness what lawyers do in the office and courtroom.  It's fun and interesting to look into a law practice and see what goes on behind closed doors.  People are fascinated with lawyers, the law, and how our justice system works, or doesn't work.

Look at our obsession with lawyer shows on TV:  PERRY MASON, JUDD FOR THE DEFENSE, OWEN MARSHALL, L.A. LAW, LAW AND ORDER (and its three brand extensions), THE PRACTICE, FAMILY LAW, BOSTON LEGAL ... and more.

Look at all the courtroom shows on TV:  People's Court.  Judge Judy.  And 4 or 5 others.

Then, don't forget every high profile case that is now scrutinized, analyzed and dissected on every cable channel you can name.

You can profit from this public curiosity by alerting everyone on your mailing list to what's going on in your practice.  Because the more they know about your practice, the closer relationship they feel with you, the more they trust you, and the more confident they are with your skills.

Of course, this is only one purpose of a periodic alert or newsletter, but it's one you should not overlook.  Because you never know when prospects or clients will need services, or when they might want to refer a friend.

And the more they know about you and your successes, the sooner you'll profit.

© Trey Ryder

FREE LAWYER MARKETING ALERT:  If you'd like to receive Trey Ryder's weekly Lawyer Marketing Alert, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Write "Subscribe LMA" in the subject line and write your name and e-mail address in the body of the message.

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• Historia Verdadera

• Brief News

Sudan defends expulsion of UN man

The Sudanese government has defended the decision to expel the head of the United Nations humanitarian operation in South Darfur. Justice Minister Mohamed Ali al-Mardi said Wael al-Haj Ibrahim had discouraged displaced civilians from returning to their villages. He said the authorities in Darfur had no choice but to expel him.

US House approves gay rights bill

The US House of Representatives has approved a bill giving workplace rights to gay men, lesbians and bisexuals. The measure would make it illegal for decisions on hiring, firing, pay or promotion to be made on the basis of an employee's sexuality. Democrat Senator Ted Kennedy is set to introduce a similar bill to the Senate, and if approved it would then pass to the president for consideration. However, Bush has said he would veto it.

California sues US over car fumes 

California is suing the US federal government over its failure to back the state's tough new anti-pollution laws regulating greenhouse gas emissions. Two years ago, California passed legislation requiring car-makers to cut vehicle emissions by 30% by 2016. But for the measure to take effect, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must give its approval. Schwarzenegger said there was no legal basis for the EPA to stand in California's way.

Instability 'threat' to business

Instability in the world's emerging markets is threatening business prospects in a number of countries around the world, security analysts say. As many as 57% of emerging markets have a medium political risk or above. The vast majority of countries worldwide are classified as emerging markets where, increasingly, national political agendas will impact on the operational effectiveness of foreign investors.

Ryanair sues EU over French aid

Ryanair has lodged a legal case against the European Commission, accusing it of not preventing alleged illegal French state aid for Air France. Dublin-based Ryanair has long accused the French government of illegally giving Air France 1bn euros ($1.5bn) over the past seven years. "We are calling on the Commission to start promoting competition and stop protecting flag carrier airlines who continue to receive unlawful state aid," Ryanair said. 

AmBev posts 21 pct profit rise

AmBev, the Brazilian unit of global brewing giant InBev, posted on Thursday a 21 percent increase in third-quarter profit as beer sales volumes grew. Net income rose to 589.8 million reais ($340 million) from 486.1 million reais in the same year-earlier period, as AmBev also offset an increase in costs with efficiency gains and hedging in commodities and foreign exchange.

Merck settles Vioxx suits for $4.58 billion

Merck has agreed to settle 45,000 lawsuits by people who claim they or their family members suffered injury or died after taking the pain medication.

Mining boom spurs megamerger bid

BHP Billiton offered to buy mining rival Rio Tinto for $142 billion. The unsolicited bid was rejected, but BHP signaled it may sweeten its terms.

Unlicensed general counsels are unusual

Does a general counsel of a corporation have to be a licensed lawyer? To many, the answer to that question would seem to be a no-brainer: Yes. But a small number of general counsels have chosen not to maintain active law licenses, and are now fielding questions in the wake of recent magazine articles pointing out their status. The general consensus among experts is that in-house counsel, including general counsels, should be licensed. Some states require in-house lawyers to be licensed in that specific state, while others permit out-of-state licensing.

Ex-NY police chief to be indicted

Former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik is to be indicted on corruption charges and tax fraud, reports say. He is accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars from an allegedly mafia-related construction firm. Kerik was once President Bush's choice for homeland security secretary. It highlights a potential weak spot for the Republican presidential front-runner Giuliani: his judgment in picking associates.

Russia Supreme Court denies tsar exoneration bid 

The Russian Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Tsar Nicholas II  and his family were murdered by Bolshevik revolutionaries in 1918 , and therefore not eligible for legal rehabilitation. The decision upholds a September determination by Russia's Prosecutor General, which said that the Tsar could not be rehabilitated, as he was not executed following a formal sentencing by a court or "extrajudicial body." The Prosecutor General's office took control of the case in May after several Russian courts also refused to declare the execution a political killing .

Argentina president urges speedy trials of Dirty War suspects at memorial dedication 

Argentinean President Nestor Kirchner dedicated a new monument to victims of the 1976-83 Dirty War  in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. The monument, on which the names of thousands of victims are engraved, sits beside the Rio de la Plata, where drugged prisoners who were suspected of "subversion" were thrown to their deaths. Kirchner used the occasion to urge Argentinean courts to move along trials against former members of the military regime more quickly. The president also promised that his wife and successor to the presidency, Cristina Fernandez, will continue his policy of pushing for accountability.

• Daily Press Review

Uganda rebel leader 'is not dead'
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

Agencies Pressure DRC Commission to Publish Mining Review
CongoPlanet.com, Independent online news aggregator

The Govt Is Full Of Corrupt Men - Mills
GhanaWeb, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Sudan: Cease Darfur Camp Evictions
Human Rights Watch (Africa), International news press releases

Zille to sue police
iafrica, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa

Young man pays huge price for his fortune
Independent Online, News portal, Cape Town, South Africa

Sachs tells how he crafted ANC's code of conduct
Mail & Guardian Online, Liberal, Johannesburg, South Africa

Bakkie rolls off cliff, kills farmer
News24.com, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa

Hundreds of Mexicans still stranded in floodwaters
Brazil Sun, Independent online news aggregator

Panday to blame for PNM victory
Caribbean News Portal, Online news aggregator

US: Guantanamo Judge Allows Military Commissions to Proceed in Khadr Case
Human Rights Watch (Americas), International news press releases

Rights-Argentina:  Identifying the Remains of the "Disappeared"
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy

Gleaner Editors' Forum - Children hurting
Jamaica Gleaner, Independent daily, Kingston, Jamaica

Peru: National Tourist & Tourism Report
Living in Peru, News portal, Lima, Peru

Sick, or sick of work?
The Globe and Mail, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada

Bhutto detained, officials say
Toronto Star, Liberal daily, Toronto, Canada

RI warships to secure Bali waters for UN climate change confab
Antara News, News agency, Jakarta, Indonesia

A Move That Came Too Late
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea

It's official: Kumble gets the Test Captaincy
India Express, News portal, Mumbai, India

Diwali celebrations grip Capital
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India

East Timor need not follow Myanmar
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan

Two cars ram into 13yr-old
Malaysian Star, Online news portal, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Britain braces for North Sea tidal surge
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand

59 children among killed in Afghan suicide attac
People's Daily Online, English-language, Beijing, China

Cousins' five-day drug binge revealed
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia

Benazir calls for mass protests
The Hindu, Left-leaning daily, Chennai, India

High tides put pressure on coast
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

Fab four under for Fisher
BreakingNews.ie, Online news portal, Cork, Ireland

Foxy Knoxy 'held Meredith down during deadly sex attack', say police
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England

Elisa launches UMTS900 network
DMeurope, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Drivers set to be fined for smoking at wheel
icLiverpool, Online news portal, Liverpool, England

Georgian leader calls special election in January
International Herald Tribune, Independent daily, Paris, France

Government Urgently Wanted:  Is Belgium Falling Apart?
Spiegel International, Liberal newsmagazine, Hamburg, Germany

Hundreds evacuate homes in east coast flood alert
The Guardian, Liberal daily, London, England

Allianz profit jumps despite Dresdner hit
The Irish Times, Centrist daily, Dublin, Ireland

Man fined after stabbing ex over love trap
The Scotsman, Moderate daily, Edinburgh, Scotland

Gazza: I need a hip operation
The Sun, Conservative tabloid, London, England

Bhutto confined to  house hours before rally
The Telegraph, Conservative daily, London, England

Meredith feared the 'strange men' brought home by her housemate
Times Online, Conservative daily, London, England

Arab Hoped to Obtain, Exchange Info on Guy Chever
Arutz Sheva, Online, right-wing, Tel Aviv, Israel

Tribesmen, Troops Clash in Yemen, 12 Die
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England

Afghan suicide attack kills 59 children
Gulf News, Independent daily, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Iraq: Fewer Deaths Bring No Reassurance
IPS Middle East, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy

Qapco to resume ethylene exports
Middle East North African Network, Online financial portal, Amman, Jordan

U.S. Can't Lose 'Key Ally' Pakistan Despite Recent Developments
Nahamet, Online news portal, Beirut, Lebanon

Turkish party calls for Kurdish autonomy
The Daily Star, Independent daily, Beirut, Lebanon

Protests escalate as opposition calls for nationwide revolution 
Yemen Times, Independent weekly, Sana'a, Yemen

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Copyright 2007 - Migalhas International

The messages that appear in this newsletter are for informational purposes only. They are not intended to be and should not be considered legal advice nor substitute for obtaining legal advice from competent, independent, legal counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The information contained on this list may or may not reflect the most current legal development.