FICM for the General Counsel’s office

Your partner in dispute prevention and contracts.

Minimize your exposure to disputes with Seamless integrated dispute prevention and management Systems.

Helping Legal functions change and enhance their operating models to mitigate risk of disputes across ALL functions and departments of their organization.

General Counsel can now harness the power of innovation and global resources (Including a network of 5,500+ highly credible and skilled contract neutrals and dispute neutrals, specialist network lawyers, domain experts in 80+ countries, 50+ seamless integrated inclusive dispute management systems and programs, administered procedures) to prevent disputes, increase certainty of operating in different markets, build efficiency and ensure continuity while reducing costs.

Here is how we help the internal teams:

  • In close collaboration with our highly credible network across 80+ countries, we help organizations develop a plan for optimizing and transforming their dispute management function to align more closely with their broader business objectives. 
  • Assisting clients to screen their business for avoidable legal hazards posed by disputes across all departments and functions including International trade, corporate, employment and with all stakeholders. 
  • We bring in new ways to modernize the dispute management arm of legal function and deliver meaningful value to the organization.
  • We relieve the in-house teams from performing high-volume repeatable activities and transform them into a more integrated, strategic dispute management resource – one that is better aligned to the business. 

Lean more about the FICM dispute prevention, control and resolution continuum.

We strongly believe that over 50 percent of disputes can be prevented altogether and about 95% of all the disputes can be settled sooner. However, unfortunately we fail to avoid the disputes and settle disputes “very late” rather than “soon” as a traditional norm. Our systems convert the LATER into SOONER and saves you A fortune.

The FICM dispute continuum provides a variety of techniques that are adapted to meet the needs of any business relationship. Most of the techniques can readily be incorporated into contracts; other customized techniques can be developed and employed in special situations.

CONTRACTS – Drafting Reviewing Negotiating Advising and Registration

The contract planning and negotiation stage is the logical starting point for articulating techniques that have been proactively selected by the parties to prevent, control, reduce and resolve disputes.

The existence in the contract of techniques for handling disputes, and the parties’ knowledge that these techniques are readily available, will direct any disputes into channels where they can be dealt with constructively; in many cases their mere availability encourages the parties to act more forthrightly with each other and resolve their disputes without the necessity of using the prescribed techniques.

How do we identify a bad contract draft over a highly secure one? Who to be held responsible for a bad contract draft, if identified? What can we do once the bad contract has already damaged our business interests?

A structured review of standard contract forms, internal processes, documentation standards and allocation of responsibilities.

Beyond a risk analysis of existing contracts, in newly drafting complex contracts involving multiple parties or multiple jurisdictions, our services include the general design and negotiation of comprehensive contractual agreements, just as well as adding our expertise to an ongoing contract drafting process, e.g. on the structuring of complex dispute resolution clauses.

FICM key differentiators include:

  • Proactive approach of prevention rather than reactive resolution of legal issues with guaranteed reduction of cases and costs year-on-year
  • International Network with Global and Local domain knowledge – ensuring boutique services at scale
  • Measured results in terms of cost efficiencies, operational efficiencies and risk mitigation like no other.
  • A streamlined, integrated, inclusive approach to prevent and manage disputes like no other
  • Transparent and predictable pricing arrangements with total certainty

The FICM Contract Review

Issue-specific Contract Review

An issue-specific contract review is the cheapest form of contract review, as the lawyer will just look over a specific issue you have questions on. If you’re on a tight budget, this is a good way to feel more confident before signing the agreement.

Some of the specific questions or provisions you might want to have a lawyer look at include:

  • Will I own the rights to what’s being created?
  • Does my intellectual property suffer from this contract?
  • Does this non-compete covenant affect me at all?
  • Will I still be able to work with other clients if I sign this contract?
  • What does this non-solicitation clause mean in the scope of the agreement?

 

Basic Contract Review

One step up from an issue-specific contract review is a basic contract review. In this type of review, the attorney will look over the agreement on the surface level, answer any burning questions you have about the agreement, and note any areas in the contract that could use some attention.

Most basic contract reviews take place over the phone or through email, so they lack the personal touch you may want.

Basic Contract Review Plus Edits

If you’re seeking something a little more comprehensive, you might appreciate a basic contract review plus edits. Not only will the lawyer review the contract and make notes about problem areas, but they’ll also edit the contract to correct the issues. This is known as redlining a contract and can greatly speed up the entire process.

Contract Review Plus Negotiation

If you’re not confident handling your contract at all, this is the level of contract review you’ll need to choose. Basically, your lawyer will handle everything for you, including reviewing, editing, redlining, and negotiating the contract.

In serious contracts, negotiating can be difficult, as emotions can get heated between you and the other party. You might just keep going back and forth with neither side giving way. A lawyer can come into this situation as an uninvolved third party so you can finally make some progress with negotiations.