Outsourcing Law & Business Journal™: January 2010

Posted January 25, 2010 by   · Print This Post Print This Post

OUTSOURCING LAW & BUSINESS JOURNAL (™) : Strategies and rules for adding value and improving legal and regulation compliance through business process management techniques in strategic alliances, joint ventures, shared services and cost-effective, durable and flexible sourcing of services. www.outsourcing-law.com. Visit our blog at http://blog.outsourcing-law.com for commentary on current events.

Insights by Bierce & Kenerson, P.C., Editors. www.biercekenerson.com

Editor’s Note: As we welcome 2010, we continue to develop our newly re-launched Outsourcing-Law.com™ website and e-newsletter! We invite your feedback on the new Beta site as well as your contributions of content on international jurisdictions or legal issues in governance, risk management and compliance. Please contact us.

Vol. 10, No. 1 (January, 2010)
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1. Cyber Security Threat Management in Outsourcing: The Coming National Security Regulation of ITO, BPO and KPO.

2. Social Security Tax Agreements: The Cost of Expatriate Workers.

3. Humor.

4. Conferences/Webinar.
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1. Cyber Security Threat Management in Outsourcing: The Coming National Security Regulation of ITO, BPO and KPO. Imminent national regulation of Internet-based services will impact all companies that use the Internet for project management, collaboration, and remote transaction processing. Google and China have precipitated a showdown that may cause the nationalization of Internet regulation, with many consequences on the freedom and costs of running a global business or servicing customers remotely. The showdown highlights the fact that cybersecurity threats come from many sources, including  foreign nation states, domestic criminals and hackers and disgruntled employees….

Cybersecurity is a critical foundation for any country’s national security and economic security and, indirectly, global trade in IT-enabled services and in the global supply chain….In global sourcing, cyber security is an essential commitment by anyone business seeking to acquire and be a trusted custodian of personally identifiable information (“PII”). If enterprises (“data controllers” under the European Union Data Protection Directive) are going to gather PII and contract with service providers (“data processors”) to process it, the risk of cyber attacks frames the debate on risk allocation, roles, responsibilities, pricing and process integration.

For all participants in the outsourcing industry, it’s time to fresh look at legal structures and financial implications of cybersecurity. For the complete article, click here.

2. Social Security Tax Agreements: The Cost of Expatriate Workers. Whenever citizens of one country set up operations or perform services in another country, they face the challenge of dual taxation. Dual taxation can be particularly oppressive where two countries tax the same income, or require payments of some form of tax on the same business activities. To avoid such burdens, model income tax treaties and estate tax treaties have evolved under the aegis of the OECD. Other treaties may apply to allow workers from one country to avoid paying social security to the government of another country. This article addresses the question whether bilateral social security tax agreements have a material impact on mobility of technical service workers moving between a service delivery center (such as India) and a service recipient’s facilities (such as in the United States). Click here to see the entire article.

3. Humor.

Cybersecurity, n. (1) a locked door; (2) an open door with pass key; (3) trust; (4) hope.

4. Conferences/Webinar.

January 22, 2010, Webinar on How Can You Leverage An Economic Development Group In Your Global Sourcing Strategy? Presented by Global Sourcing Council. Eric Hochstein of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade will discuss the pros and cons of near-shore sourcing and the socially responsible aspects of sourcing to Canadanderstanding how successful and growing partnerships between companies in the United States and Canada have strengthened businesses on both sides of the border and around the world. To register, please click here.

January, 24-26, 2010, IQPC Business Process Outsourcing and Shared Services Exchange 2010, San Diego, California. This is an invitation-only gathering for VP and C-Level senior Shared Services and Outsourcing executives made up of highly crafted, executive level conference sessions, interactive “Brain Weave” discussions, engaging networking opportunities and strategic one-on-one advisory meetings between solution providers and delegates. With a distinguished speaking faculty from McGraw-Hill, Ingram Micro and Pfizer, amongst others, the seats at the 2010 Exchange are limited and filling up quickly. We have limited complimentary invitations available for qualified delegates for a limited time. Please give us your reference ‘Outsourcing Law’ when inquiring. There are solution provider opportunities also available for companies who want to be represented. You can request your invitation at exchange@iqpc.com, call at 1866-296-4580 or visit their website.

January 28-29, 2010, Global Services Conference, Jersey City, New Jersey. Through the entire episode of the global economic meltdown, the global outsourcing services industry has seen the rise of a group of suppliers who are redefining many traditional management practices; changing the long-standing model for contracting offshore services; collaborating with clients in new ways; and gaining more control over outsourcing strategies. This conference focuses on these changes in the global services model and the learning from this period. OSL subscribers qualify for a special rate. Use code GSCOLJ for free/ complimentary registration to buyers. Buyers include buyers of outsourcing and offshoring services in IT and BPO. For more information, visit their website.

February 15-17, IAOP’s 13th Annual 2010 Outsourcing World Summit, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This event is designed for outsourcing executives from across the industry and around the world who are seeking the very latest insights and ideasand is themed as “Using Outsourcing to Emerge as a Leader in the New Global Economy”. Educational sessions deliver specific actionable solutions to current challenges faced by experienced professionals. Case studies feature actual experiences and the lessons learned, feature new ideas, approaches and opportunities. For more information, click here.

February 22-24, 2010, SSON and IQPC 8th Procure-to-Pay Summit, Miami, Florida focuses on “Fostering Smart Partnerships to Optimize Cash Flow and Deliver Positive Business Outcomes from End to End.” This Summit is all about making the most of your smart partnerships to increase cash flow and improve business outcomes as companies move away from a reactionary mode toward sustainable practices. While we may not yet be out of the woods, so to speak, it is clear that the economic landscape in 2009 has created opportunities for companies to create new synergies with their P2P partners to help promote growth for 2010 and beyond. For more information, click here.

February 24-25, 2010, IQPC’s 3rd E-Discovery for Financial Services Conference, New York, New York. Learn the Best Review, Retention and Destruction Procedures to Cut Costs and Response Time During a Financially Troubled Economy. This event examines, from the unique perspective of high-level financial executives, how the challenges of each financial sector intersect with e-discovery proceedings and processes. View the complete program agenda at www.ediscoveryevent.com/finance.

March 22-26, 2010, SSON presents the 14th Annual North American Shared Services & Outsourcing Week, Orlando, FL. This event includes speakers from top companies: Aramark, Arbys/Wendy’s, AstraZeneca, Chevron, Coca-Cola, Conagra Foods, General Motors, Kellogg, Kraft, Microsoft, Monster, NASA, Northrop Grumman, Oakley, Perdue Farms, Schering Plough, Warner Brothers and more. It will include new and enhanced features:

* G8: Global Sourcing Think Tank Eliminating the White Noise: The first ever neutral platform to help shape a common industry agenda in the US
* Under the C-Suite Spotlight with Rene Carayol, An Exclusive Onstage CXO Interview: Board-room revelations regarding shared service & sourcing model strategy
* New, Strong, Business Outcome-Focused Content: 8 content-intense tracks, from Planning & Launching and BPO Evolution to IACCM’s Contracting to Collaboration
* Enhanced Annual Features: Quick Wins Energizers, Speed Networking, Blue Sky Innovation Room for Mature SSO’s, and more.

Please contact Kim Vigilia directly at 1-212-885-2753 or at kim.vigilia@iqpc.com with your special code IUS_OSL_#1 to get a 20% discount off the all-access pass. You can also visit the website at www.sharedservicesweek.com.

March, 25-26, 2010, American Conference Institute’s 4th National Forum on Reducing Legal Costs, Dallas, Texas. This essential cross-industry benchmarking forum gathers together more than 30 senior corporate counsel and legal sourcing managers responsible for cost-reduction success stories, as well as leaders from law firms who are pioneers in the alternative fee world, to guide those in attendance on the complexities of keeping legal department costs in check. Now in its fourth installment, this event also offers unique networking opportunities with senior practitioners in the field, includingin-house counsel across a wide spectrum of companies and industries. For more information, visit their website.

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FEEDBACK: This newsletter addresses legal issues in sourcing of IT, HR, finance and accounting, procurement, logistics, manufacturing, customer relationship management including outsourcing, shared services, BOT and strategic acquisitions for sourcing. Send us your suggestions for article topics, or report a broken link at: webmaster@outsourcing-law.comThe information provided herein does not necessarily constitute the opinion of Bierce & Kenerson, P.C. or any author or its clients. This newsletter is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Reproductions must include our copyright notice. For reprint permission, please contact: publisher@outsourcing-law.com. Edited by Bierce & Kenerson, P.C. Copyright (c) 2010, Outsourcing Law Global LLC. All rights reserved. Editor in Chief: William Bierce of Bierce & Kenerson, P.C. located at 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2920, New York, NY 10170, 212-840-0080.