Get Ready for the New CSIA Legal Plan

Faegre Baker Daniels partner Mark Voigtmann authored the following article for the Control System Integrators Association in March 2016.

Effectively managing legal risk is not just a recognized best practice of CSIA members, it is one that is essential to sustained success for companies generally. For control system integrators, such risks extend through nearly every business decision, from the hiring of key employees, to the signing of contracts, and to the identification, preservation and development of intellectual property. 

Since 2003, CSIA has made available to its members legal advice from the automation lawyers of Faegre Baker Daniels (FaegreBD). This advice has come in the form of presentations on legal topics at the annual Executive Conference and regular articles in the CSIA newsletter. In addition, many integrators have come to rely upon FaegreBD as their company attorneys. 

As an expanded offering to its membership in 2016, CSIA is pleased to announce an upgrading of the FaegreBD-CSIA relationship. Starting April 1, 2016, every CSIA member will receive automatic enrollment in a new program we are calling the CSIA Legal Plan. The object of the plan is nothing less than ensuring that each CSIA member, whether certified or not, has access to quality legal advice from lawyers who understand their industry. The CSIA Legal Plan will consist of three types of deliverables:

• Some entirely free or low-cost charges for certain types of services 
• Menu pricing (per transaction maximums or annual flat fees) for other types of services
• Discounted pricing for certain complex matters

For CSIA members who are already using FaegreBD as their lawyers, the new plan should result in an immediate decrease in legal fees. 

The new CSIA Legal Plan will be rolled out in detail at one of the unconferences at the upcoming Executive Conference in Puerto Rico.