The most important piece of information needed by the legal department in the event that an employee does not return company-issued equipment is the asset tag. The asset tag is a unique identifier that is used to track assets throughout their lifecycle. It allows the company to keep precise records of the assets, monitor their location, and manage their overall inventory. In legal situations, the asset tag can be used to prove ownership and aid in the recovery process of the equipment. The serial number is also important, but it is the asset tag that ties the equipment directly to the company's asset management system and is therefore the most crucial for the legal department. Warranty and labeling information are less critical from a legal perspective when it comes to unreturned equipment.