Legal News

An 85-Year-Old Sculptor vs. The Government

Posted on February 25, 2010
And the sculptor won, thanks to some (sort of) pro bono work from Fish & Richardson.

THE AM LAW 100: Cahill's Profits, Revenue Increase

Posted on February 25, 2010
Thanks in large part to resuscitated capital markets, the firm's revenue jumped 9 percent, and profits per partner rose 19 percent.

Paul Weiss, Akin Gump Handling Houghton Mifflin's Debt Restructuring

Posted on February 25, 2010
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the Boston-based publisher of educational materials, announced earlier this week that it had secured $650 million from new institutional investors to help restructure $4 billion of its $7 billion in debt.

Coke Follows Pepsi, Acquires Bottler in $12 Billion Deal

Posted on February 25, 2010
The deal provided work for five Am Law 200 firms.

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The Defections From White & Case Continue

Posted on February 24, 2010
The hits just keep on coming for White & Case. On Wednesday, the chair of the firm's global information technology practice stepped down. The resignation comes after the recent loss of antitrust partner Elaine Johnston and mining and metals practice chair Tanneke Heersche.

General Growth Group Wants to Split Itself in Two

Posted on February 24, 2010
Aiming to resurrect itself from the largest real estate bankruptcy filing in U.S. history, the nation's second-largest owner of shopping malls unveiled a new reorganization plan on Wednesday.

Coughlin Stoia Changes Name as Coughlin Steps Down

Posted on February 24, 2010
We look at it this way: At least they are not lengthening the firm's name.

Ex-Ropes, Foley Hoag Lawyer Settles With NHLPA In Employment Dispute

Posted on February 24, 2010
Unceremoniously fired as the executive director of the National Hockey League Players' Association late August, Paul Kelly reached an official settlement with his former employer on Wednesday under which he is to receive $1.5 million in compensation and $200,000 for attorneys' fees.

Did Blockbuster drop Kirkland for Weil?

Posted on February 24, 2010
The movie rental chain has retained Weil, Gotshal & Manges to explore ways of cutting about $1 billion in debt--roughly a year after retaining Kirkland & Ellis to perform a similar task.

Davis Wright Still Plugging Away on Wardrobe Malfunction Case

Posted on February 24, 2010
It has been six years since the world saw more of Janet Jackson than we had ever seen before, and the litigation over CBS's fine for that slip-up is still winding its way through the court system.

THE AM LAW 100: Revenue Plunges 14 Percent at DLA Piper-US

Posted on February 24, 2010
The downsized firm remains bullish about 2010. "We expect to continue making investments where we believe there is potential for growth," says firm chairman Frank Burch.

Google Has Had Better Days

Posted on February 24, 2010
It's facing an antitrust investigation in the EU, and three of its executives--including its chief legal officer--were convicted in criminal court in Italy for violating that country's privacy laws.

THE AM LAW 100: Profits, Revenue Hit Record Highs at Jenner & Block

Posted on February 24, 2010
For the second straight year, Jenner & Block managed to do more with less. Between 2007 and 2008, Jenner made modest gains in profits and revenue with fewer lawyers. Last year, it did even better.

Ruden McClosky Continues to Insist Everything is Fine

Posted on February 24, 2010
But partners are defecting, calling the firm's management "morons," and entire offices may be moving to other Florida firms in the coming days.

THE AM LAW 100: Curtis Mallet Stays Counter-Cyclical

Posted on February 23, 2010
Profits at the firm jumped 11 percent for the second straight year. 

Shearman, Paul Weiss Advise on Indian Investment in U.S. Asset Manager

Posted on February 23, 2010
Companies from emerging markets continued to make an impact in the international arena on Tuesday, as Indian financial services firm Religare announced it would acquire a majority stake in Danville, Calif.-based Northgate Capital as part of a $1 billion plan to expand its global investment portfolio...

THE AM LAW 100: At Reed Smith, Profits Rise as Revenue Falls

Posted on February 23, 2010
In 2009, the Pittsburgh-based firm saw revenue decline by 3.8 percent and profits per partner jump by nearly 7 percent.

To Whitewater and Beyond: Q & A with Death of American Virtue Author Ken Gormley

Posted on February 23, 2010
In the same week that erstwhile White House independent counsel Kenneth Starr was appointed president of Baylor University, a highly anticipated new book delving into his long-running investigation of former President Bill Clinton was released by another law school dean, Duquesne's Ken Gormley...

The Churn: Lateral Moves and Promotions in The Am Law 200

Posted on February 23, 2010
Morrison & Foerster's M&A practice has a new cochair, Latham & Watkins has two new hires, and Quinn Emanuel launches in Germany with a hire from Allen & Overy. Plus: moves to Sidley Austin, Goodwin Procter, and Jones Day. The Churn is constant...

Am Law Firms Hitch a Ride with Big Auto Assignments

Posted on February 23, 2010
Who says Detroit is dead? When we reported on annual financial data for several Motor City firms on Monday, some of those we spoke to noted that legal advisory work for the auto sector has hardly dropped off. And with Toyota heading to Capitol Hill and General Motors trying to complete the sale of its Saab and Hummer brands, it certainly appears as if there's still plenty of legal work to go around.

THE AM LAW 100: D.C. Firms Post Mixed Results

Posted on February 23, 2010
A handful of prominent Washington, D.C., firms reported 2009 financials Tuesday. Crowell & Moring reported a surge in revenue and profits per partner, while Hogan & Hartson admitted that the recession had finally caught up with them. Venable's numbers were basically flat...

D.C. Boutique Picks Up Top Ropes & Gray White-Collar Litigator

Posted on February 23, 2010
Samuel Buffone, cochair of the government enforcement group at Ropes & Gray, has left the firm for 85-lawyer Washington, D.C., financial services boutique BuckleySandler.

Latham Raids Vinson & Elkins for Four Partners

Posted on February 23, 2010
Four partners at Vinson & Elkins have withdrawn from the partnership to join Latham & Watkins in its move to bulk up a new Houston office, sources say. The lawyers are expected to join Latham sometime in March or early April.

Trump v. Icahn Gets Underway

Posted on February 23, 2010
The winding bankruptcy of Trump Entertainment Resorts has provided a lot of work to a lot of law firms.

Charges Unveiled Against Prominent Miami Attorney-Accountant

Posted on February 23, 2010
On Tuesday, federal prosecutors charged South Florida attorney and forensic accountant Lewis Freeman with wire fraud.

Crowell & Moring Helps Hammer Out Black Farmers' Settlement

Posted on February 22, 2010
The firm represents tens of thousands of plaintiffs who sued the federal government over what they claimed were discriminatory practices in USDA loan programs.

THE AM LAW 100: A Mixed Picture at Three Big Texas Firms

Posted on February 22, 2010
Fulbright & Jaworski, Vinson & Elkins, and Bracewell & Giuliani posted mixed or down financial results in 2009, according to sibling publication The Texas Lawyer.

THE AM LAW 100: At Patton Boggs, Revenue Falls, Profits Rise

Posted on February 22, 2010
Patton Boggs' gross revenue declined last year, but primarily because the firm had a large contingency in 2008 that gave it a one-time boost.

No Winners Yet in Sonnenschein Poaching Case

Posted on February 22, 2010
A health care consulting company accuses the firm of illegally poaching five of its top employees.

Big Law's Most Wanted: Northwestern Claims Top Spot

Posted on February 22, 2010
Sibling publication The National Law Journal has released its annual Go-To Law Schools survey, which paints an unsurprisingly bleak picture of the job market for recent graduates--and bestows top bragging rights on Northwestern.

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