Optimus Legal Management and Consulting is often asked to participate in regional and national programs for attorney groups, or to author articles on topics in which we have expertise. Some of the programs that we have participated in and articles we have authored include:

National Association of Women Lawyers program: “Making Rain: Keys to Successful Business Development for Women Lawyers” – Sept 30th 2009

Jane McBride co-presented at this exciting program, focused on helping women attorneys gain business development skills. The program was presented by the National Association of Women Lawyers, and was the first Dallas program for NAWL. Approximately 70 women attorneys attended the program.

Jane McBride, a panelist at South Texas College of Law In-House Counsel Conference – July 15th 2009

Jane McBride participated on a panel entitled: “Managing Your In-House Career” at the South Texas College of Law Employment Law Conference. Other panelists included Janie Perelman of CEC Entertainment Inc. and Burton Brillhart, General Counsel at MGC Mortgage.

“Team Building: A New Approach with New Results” published in the State Bar Section Newsletter, Corporate Counsel Section – Spring 2009 edition.

Jane McBride was a co-author of this article addressing how team building can be used as an effective tool for Legal Department.

Jane McBride presented at the 31st Corporate Counsel Institute presented by the University of Texas School of Law and the Corporate Counsel Section of the State Bar of Texas – March 5th and 6th 2009

Jane McBride presented “Valuable and Valued”, a presentation providing practical coaching tips addressing how in-house counsel can present themselves and be viewed as contributing to an organizations success.

Jane McBride presented “Planning for Success: a Woman Lawyer’s Guide to Strategic Planning that Works” – December 12th 2008

Jane McBride presented “Planning for Success: a Woman Lawyer’s Guide to Strategic Planning that Works” at Susman Godfrey’s annual women attorneys event.

NAWL GCI IV in NYC – November 6th and 7th 2008; Jane McBride presents “Jump Start Your Morning”

Jane McBride co-presented at the National Associate of Women Lawyers’ General Counsel Institute IV. Their workshop entitled “Jump Start Your Morning: Strategic Planning: A Tool for Departmental and Personal Success”, was used as an icebreaker event to kick off the Institute. This year will be Jane’s third year as a speaker at this premier event for women in-house attorneys.

Jane McBride a presenter at the Dallas Bar Association Luncheon – May 7th 2008

On May 7, 2008, Jane McBride presented “How to Create a Strategic Plan for Your Practice” at the May Luncheon of the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Dallas Bar Association. The session focused on using Strategic Planning as a tool for business development and firm management.

Rainmaking 101 presentation at Dallas Minority – April 11th 2008

Jane McBride co-presented Rainmaking 101 at the Dallas Minority Attorney Program, sponsored by the Dallas Bar Association. The program received positive feedback from over 150 attorneys who attended.

Jane McBride on General Counsel Panel at 30th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute

Jane McBride was a panelist on the Best Leadership Practices for General Counsel Panel at the Corporate Counsel Institute sponsored by the Corporate Counsel Section of the Texas State Bar. The event was held in at the Westin Galleria in Houston on February 7 and 8, and then in Dallas at the Belo Mansion on February 28 and 29 of 2008.

Jane McBride invited to participate in the Texas State Bar Program “Success Strategies for Mid Career Attorneys”

Jane McBride participated in the Texas State Bar program “Success Strategies for Mid Career Attorneys” to be held in Houston on October 26, 2007. Jane conducted one-on-one sessions on “Shortcuts to the Next Level of Success”. To register for the program and sign up for the sessions, go to www.texasbar.com.

Jane McBride presents at the National Association of Women Lawyers General Counsel Institute 3

Jane McBride was a presenter at the General Counsel Institute for the National Association of Women Lawyers held at the Sofitel Hotel in New York City on September 27th and 28th, 2007. Her program, a breakfast program entitled “Jump Start Your Career- An Ordinary Breakfast with Extraordinary Ideas” discussed the key issues in the current corporate environment.

The Power of Positive Communication

On September 12th, 2007, Jane McBride presented “The Power of Positive Communication” at the annual meeting of the legal department of a national healthcare company. The audience enjoyed hearing about ways to communicate better, and particularly enjoyed learning how to say no without saying no.

Team Building: A New Approach with New Results Published

“Team Building: A New Approach with New Results” was published in the July/August 2007 ACC Docket, a magazine distributed to 20,000 in-house counsel. Jane McBride co-authored the article, which describes how the most effective team building is done with departmental strategies in mind and as an adjunct to those strategies.

2006 In-House Salary Survey Co-sponsored by Optimus Legal

Optimus Legal co-sponsored the 2006 DFW In-House salary survey. This is the fourth year that Optimus has been a sponsor of the survey. This year’s co-sponsors included KPMG and ACC Dallas Fort Worth.

Jane McBride Speaks at Second Annual NAWL GCI

On Thursday, October 26, 2006, Jane presented a session on “Team Building: A New Way with New Results”. The presentation included learning how to identify issues, implement specific exercises to bring about change, and translate those exercises into the practical plans to attain your goals.

Jane McBride is Panelist for the Legal Department Management Program of the State Bar

On July 28, 2006, Jane McBride spoke on a panel at the Legal Department Management Program presented by the Law Office Management Program of the State Bar of Texas. Topics included Developing A Strategic Plan, Law Department’s Use of Technology to Manage Data and Documents and Partnering with Outside Counsel.

Leadership Skills for In-House Attorneys –May 18, 2006

Jane McBride co-presented at the ACC DFW Annual In-House Symposium on May 18, 2006. The presentation was on Leadership Skills for In-House Attorneys and discussed the essential leadership skills for In-House Counsel.

Crossroads: The Importance of Planning Ahead, State Bar, February 3, 2006

Jane McBride presented at the Texas State Bar CLE Seminar entitled “Crossroads: Mapping Out the Rest of Your Career”. The Seminar, cosponsored with the Texas Young Lawyers Association, examined how to stay competent and competitive over the course of a career.

Jane McBride presents “Speak and Be Heard – Making the Most of Legal Department Communications”

Jane McBride spoke at the ACC DFW Corporate Symposium on May 19, 2004. Focusing on positive communication skills, the presentation presented a host of tips and how-to’s to the more than 50 in-house attorneys in attendance.

Collin County Bar Program

Jane McBride presented “Matchmaker Matchmaker- Whether and How You Should Be a Partner in a Law Firm – Using a Strategic Business Plan” at the Collin County Bar Bench Bar Conference in April, 2004. Gisela Bradley, of the State Bar Law Department Management Office, was also a presenter. The Conference was held in Southlake, TX.

Jane McBride a presenter at Texas General Counsel Forum

On April 28, 2004, Jane McBride was a presenter at the Texas General Counsel Forum’s “Staying the Course in Trying Times” program. Ms. McBride co-presented “Developing and Implementing a Plan for Your Legal Department”.

“Tools for Our Times: How To Create A Legal Department Business Plan” Published by Corporate Counsel Review and ACC Docket

Jane McBride, of Optimus Legal Consulting, Toni Whittier, of Whittier Legal Consulting, and Ron Barger, General Counsel of Archon Group, LP co-authored this article for the October 2003 issue of the ACC Docket. ACC Docket is the magazine of the Associate of Corporate Counsel of America, an in-house bar organization with over 13,000 members nationally. The theme of the October Issue was Improving Productivity. The article was also published, with permission of the ACC Docket, in the Corporate Counsel Review, the Journal of the Corporate Counsel Section of the State Bar of Texas, Volume XXII, Number 2.

Business Plan Seminar for Russian Attorney Delegation

On September 29th, 2003 Jane McBride co-conducted a half day seminar entitled “Strategic Planning For Lawyers and Law Firms: Creating Your Own Blueprint for Success” for a select group of successful Russian attorneys. The seminar was organized by the Center for Citizen Initiative Productivity Enhancement Program.

Jane McBride is a Key Speaker at Dallas Women Lawyers Association Meeting

On August 7, 2003, Jane McBride co-presented “Charting Your Future: A Woman Lawyer’s Guide to Strategic Planning that Works” to the Dallas Women Lawyers Association. Over 50 attorneys received guidance on Strategic Planning for Lawyers.