Greening the Corporation: Advising Companies on Compliance with Corporate Sustainability Requirements

Dana Newman, Partner, The General Counsel

For a growing number of businesses, implementing smart environmental policy aids legal compliance and promotes competitiveness. Gone are the days when the only companies concerned about environmental laws were heavy manufacturers. Recent developments in both the U.S. government and private corporate sectors have ushered in a new era of corporate sustainability, in which complying with environmental regulations is moving from a recommendation to a mandate for a wide range of businesses. Just as organizations must develop and enforce policies in the areas of governance, employment, and safety, many companies and public agencies are now required to track and report sustainability measurements to ensure legal compliance. Moreover, many forward-thinking companies are already implementing environmental policies to stay competitive, even though it is not yet a legal requirement. In-house counsel should be aware of the new corporate sustainability requirements and recommendations to advise organizations how to develop policies, avoid liability and succeed in the new green economy. With the upcoming implementation of the Legal Services Act, in-house counsels based in the UK have more options than ever to meet their legal needs. One of the most compelling options is leveraging outside and offshore vendors for legal and legal support services. A number of other innovative alternative delivery models are also becoming increasingly popular.

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USA Environment General April 2010 Vol. 3, No. 11, Spring 2010

Dana Newman

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Dana M. Newman is a Partner with The General Counsel, LLC. She is a seasoned business attorney with over 15 years of in-house legal experience as General Counsel and Secretary for Moviola, an entertainment technology industry leader with offices in Los Angeles and New York. She was a key management team member for Moviola and its affiliates (Paskal Lighting and Magnasync Corporation), where she advised senior management on all aspects of business and legal affairs, including contracts, human resources, insurance, intellectual property, corporate governance, and litigation management. Dana holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of California at Berkeley, and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law. She was an extern for Hon. Robert Takasugi in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, and also worked at the Office of the City Attorney in San Francisco.

The General Counsel

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The General Counsel, LLC is a new breed of legal services firm that understands how regular, direct access to seasoned business counsel can accelerate the growth of an organization. The General Counsel provides cost effective, full and part-time in-house general counsel services to emerging-growth to mid-size companies. The General Counsel's experienced in-house attorneys work at the client’s office as a member of their management team to help keep their company running smoothly, prevent legal surprises, and provide strategic, business savvy counsel.

USA Environment General April 2010 Vol. 3, No. 11, Spring 2010