February 2016

Ethics have calculable value

Posted on February 26, 2016 by admin

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Sergio Marini talks about the ethics of the in-house lawyer, their crucial role today in safeguarding the correct performance of the company towards its employees and the civil society. Please read the full article published in the February/March issue of Today’s General Counsel.

Please read the full article published on February/March issue of Today’s General Counsel.

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12th round of TTIP negotiations

Posted on February 25, 2016 by admin

The 12th round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations took place from February 22 to 26 in Brussels. Our ECLA General Manager was present at the hearing session. Our President Mr. Sergio Marini mentioned this during the General Assembly last November and the importance of company lawyers getting involved in the negotiations

“The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, is a trade and investment agreement, which the European Union (EU) is negotiating with the United States – our biggest export market” explains Han Kooy. “Customs duties, red tape and restrictions on investment on each side of the Atlantic can make it unnecessary difficult to buy and sell goods and services from and to the other. Getting rid of these barriers to trade between the EU and the US would boost our economy, create jobs and widen choice and lower prices for consumers. There were 11 rounds preceding this week and there will be at least one more Round before the summer”- follows Han.

During this session some representatives of the EU commission, representatives of the negotiating teams, the press and many stakeholders from various fields attended the event. The stakeholders could make a quick presentation in the morning, while in the afternoon there was the Chief Negotiators’ briefing. The two head negotiators from EU (Ignacio Garcia Bercero) and from US (Dan Mullaney) did their speech and were both interviewed by EU representatives. Han continues- “It was an interesting opportunity of networking and of increasing ECLA’s visibility, in addition to receive further and appropriate info on TTIP. I could discuss with other company lawyers and made some contacts for the next round where ECLA should make its own presentation”.

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Meet with Marie Brejchova

Posted on February 22, 2016 by admin

The Czech Association, Unie podnikových právníků ČR (UPP ČR), established in 1990 upon obtaining membership of the majority of the company lawyers in the country, had a difficult start. Unfortunately, just after its foundation, the Czech Government established another organization called the “Chamber of Commercial Lawyers”, in which members benefited from legal privilege and were recognized by the law. This new organization then attracted most company lawyers, especially after the Chamber of Commercial Lawyers was absorbed by the Chamber of Advocates in 1996. UPP ČR lost many members and became rather inactive.

“But a fundamental step happened in 1999” Marie explains us with a radiant smile “When the Chairman of UPP ČR at that time was contacted by ECLA in order to help in the battle of achieving the legal privilege and became an ECLA member, the 1st among the central and eastern Europe Association.” The new millennium highlighted a new era in the Association’s life with new people in the board focusing on financial reinforcement, more activities such as legal seminars/conferences and the launch of the institutional website which increased the membership and the visibility.

“I was elected as President in 2007 and developed UPP ČR further in order to make it become the most prestigious and well organization considered by the authorities in the Czech Republic representing the company lawyers. We organize twice a year important conferences in addition to smaller events and competition as The Company Lawyer of the Year” adds Marie with pleasure. “Our members now are not only individuals with an employee contract, but also companies having internal legal departments. The position of company lawyers in our country is still not very positive although we keep battling together with ECLA for the professional legal privilege. This is why we believe strongly in ECLA’s capacity to achieve the same legal privilege as external lawyers as well as a networking tool for our members not only on common legal matters, but also to exchange the best practices”.

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