LDO Buzz

Honywell GC Katherine Adams is a ‘Jill of All Trades’
Roger Adler, CorporateCounsel
General Counsel Katherine Adams leads a legal team comprising 650 professionals, with approximately 150 legal supervisors working in supporting roles. Adams reports to chairman and chief executive officer David Cote.

Given the scale of the business, the department needs help from a lot of outside lawyers. The firms that Adams hires most often include Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi (intellectual property protection); Kirkland & Ellis (large litigation); Arnold & Porter and McDermott Will & Emery (environmental and legacy liability issues); and O’Melveny & Myers (antitrust). Adams’ internal budget outpaces the external spend, but she is “not trying to in-source everything.”

Billing arrangements depend on the specific matter at hand, but Adams generally uses a mixture of alternative and conventional rates. She has paid contingent fees and fixed prices, with add-ons or reductions when warranted. A large block of litigation may call for an annual arrangement with a set fee, she said. (read the article)

Law Department Operations Profiles: Lisa Girmscheid at Rockwell Automation
Jason Emanis
“I report directly to the General Counsel,” says Lisa. “Our Legal Leadership is made up of six practice group leaders: Litigation, Corporate Secretary, Intellectual Property, Employment, Compliance and Commercial, and myself- the one non-lawyer.” The practice leaders supervise other lawyers, paralegals and administrative staff. There are a few other professional positions in the department consisting of a patent agent, records manager and transaction specialist.” (read the post)