Legal news and trends for Canadian in-house counsel and c-suite executives
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50893
FEATURE protect the safety of the public and the future of their business." — PENNY BONNER, OGILVY RENAULT LLP "When things are happening thousands of miles away in for- eign jurisdictions, it's much harder to maintain a close grasp on what's going on in design and manufacturing facilities," he says. In-house counsel can also earn their keep by using their ana- lytical skills and ability to see the big picture, including know- ing how different parts of the company interact with others and keeping an eye on potential problem areas where defects are likely to occur, he says. Pliszka notes in-house counsel are ideally suited for this role because Canadian society has become increasingly litigious over the last decade. "The reality is, whenever there is a widespread product recall, the odds are a lawsuit will follow on the heels," he says. Kaufman says Dell's direct sales model made its recall consid- erably easier than if its products were available in hundreds or thousands of retailers around the world. With 85 per cent of its sales coming via either its website or call centre, Dell was able to quickly identify which customers had bought the offending battery, determine when it was purchased, and send them an e-mail alerting them to the problem. Kaufman says the $60-billion giant hasn't suffered any long- term damage from the recall. "The company is growing and profitable," he says.IH Canadian Lawyer InHouse GOES DIGITAL Each issue of InHouse is now online in a fully-interactive rich media digital format with a best-in-class viewer that is easy to read and navigate. You can now read InHouse anytime and anywhere you can access a Web browser. There is no software to download, and you can read, navigate, and search the latest issues using our easy-to-use reader. The elegant interface from our digital publishing partner Zegapi makes online reading interactive and entertaining � and best of all, IT'S FREE. Visit www.can dianlawyermag.com/inhouse to check it out. a "You've got to drop everything you're doing, particularly for the first 72 hours. When a recall is issued, businesses need to act responsibly. They need to deal with it quickly and efficiently to C ANADIAN Lawyer INHOUSE FEBRU AR Y 2008 13