This podcast is an edited extract from the opening session of Langes Mutuals merger Forum held in Sydney on 30 April 2009.

We spent a lot of time discussing the preliminary stages of a merger, before due diligence and the implementation process get underway.

Open and frank discussions are critical at an early stage not only to ensure that the culture and operations of both organisations are a good fit but also to ensure the merger does not result in a weaker organisation.

This is the stage when fundamental issues are identified and agreed on, before the "dream" takes over and the parties get absorbed in the process.

The main speaker is Shannon Adams with comments from David Jacobson, Rob Surman , Richard Joice and Richard Farago.

It is 6mins 31 seconds long.

In this month's podcast (click here to listen) I discuss 2 topics:

1. Directors' duties in times of economic uncertainty
2. Nikolich's case and the effect of HR policies
   

In this month's podcast (click here to listen) I give an overview of the anti-money laundering compliance obligations which start on 12 December 2007 and look at what's involved in the first compliance report which must be lodged with AUSTRAC by 31 March 2008.

I discuss the topic in 3 parts:

• how do you develop a cost-effective compliance program
• understanding the new rules
• maintaining compliance
  

As this podcast coincides with the end of the financial year and the annual reporting season, I'll be discussing issues might require a constitution change or are relevant to shareholder communication and meetings. I discuss the proposed change to the method of distributing annual reports and directors' indemnities.

The podcast goes for 11 mins and is 10mb.

Preparing for your AGM starts at 0:42, directors' indemnities starts at 5:53 and information about my new webseminars starts at 9:23.

Disclaimer

Welcome to my second podcast!

This month I discuss my collaborative compliance wiki, marketing, web 2.0 and communities of practice and what all that has to do with law, compliance and improving your business.

The podcast goes for 10 mins 35 seconds and is 9.69mb.

Marketing and compliance starts at 0:40, technology and web 2.0 starts at 4:48 and my discussion about the collaborative compliance wiki starts at 8:28.

Welcome to my first podcast!

This month I discuss corporate disclosure, saying sorry and information security.

The podcast goes for 9 minutes 45 seconds and is 9.44mb.