In the memorable words of the former US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld, when it comes to risk, there are "known knowns", "known unknowns" and "unknown unknows"... That is we don't know what we don't know. Unfortunately, though, "not knowing" is rarely a defence for a business that breaches a law or regulation. That's why training colleagues on legal issues can provide a fantastic ROI for an in-house lawyer's time.
Author: Michael Milnes
Commercial lawyer. Business adviser. MBA. Agile project manager. Legal tech, design, productivity and innovation.
What do your T&Cs say about your brand?
Companies typically invest huge amounts of time, effort and resources into getting their brand out into the market. They fine-tune the design of their logo. They make sure they choose the right colour and font for their corporate branding. Then, they choose how they'll get the brand in front of potential customers. It might be …
Back in black – how to recession proof your supply chain contracts
Australia has enjoyed a record 28 years without a recession. Neither the dotcom bust in 2001, nor the global financial crisis of 2007 were able to end Australia’s relentless economic growth. But with the COVID-19 pandemic that has now all now changed. The RBA has warned of a “major hit to economic activity and incomes …
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Service Level Agreements in the Supply Chain – 7 Ways to Get More Value
A service level agreement (SLAs) is a contract which defines the level of service expected from a supplier or service provider. SLAs are a popular supply chain tool. They usually: Define a minimum level of service.Put in place measurement mechanisms. These allow the customer to monitor the service provider’s performance against those targets. But, negotiating …
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Collaborating to address ESG issues in the supply chain: avoid the legal risks
Most businesses now recognise that there are benefits in addressing the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues that might arise in their supply chains. Media coverage, consumer awareness, legislation such as the Modern Slavery Act and pressure from investors have all focused corporate attention on the need for better environmental and human rights practices. One …
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Beginner’s guide to the AS 4910 standard contract for logistics systems
A supply chain logistics system is a significant investment for any business. It forms an important part of a company's long-term supply-chain strategy. To deliver on the business case, you need to know you're getting what you are expecting. Assume you've already carefully chosen the supplier and solution carefully. Now it's time so start developing …
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Robotics as a Service: what goes in the contract?
Robotics as a Service (or RaaS) is emerging as a top technology trend when it comes to warehouse and supply chain automation. In this article, I look at what is involved with Robotics as a Service – and what to watch out for when finalising the contract. So, what is Robotics as a Service? Just …
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Autonomous Mobile Robots in the warehouse: a guide to the legal issues
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are robotic vehicles that can operate without needing human control or supervision. Using sensors, AMRs are sophisticated enough to identify obstacles and navigate around their environment - delivering inventory or tools to where they are needed. As they don't take up much space, they are often used in environments such as …
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Agile project management for lawyers: beyond the hype
On the legal conference circuit, the topic of working in an “Agile” environment has been cropping up so frequently, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a hot, new project management method. But try bringing up Agile with someone from a software or technology background and they’ll likely scratch their head and wonder why the …
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In-house lawyers and the innovation economy
We live in an era of unprecedented technological change. Against that backdrop, Australian companies are all busy disrupting, transforming, getting agile and going digital. Companies are using a range of initiatives to make sure they are the ones to get an early start and not be left behind by the next big thing in their …
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Michael Milnes 