Legal Industry

February 22, 2012
Fed. Circ. Nixes Judicial Pay Raise Again

The Federal Circuit again denied federal judges a cost-of-living pay raise Friday but held that the judges' class action was not barred by a previous ruling, clearing the way for the suit to possibly return to the U.S. Supreme Court.
February 21, 2012
Supreme Court Won't Adopt Ethics Code: Roberts

The U.S. Supreme Court will not formally adopt the code of conduct for U.S. judges, according to a letter released Tuesday from Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to five Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
February 21, 2012
High Court Mulls Translator Bills For Lawsuit Losers

Attorneys sparred Tuesday before the U.S. Supreme Court over whether losing parties in lawsuits should be obligated to pay document translation fees — a potentially huge expense in some cross-border cases — when a court orders them to pay the winner's costs.
February 21, 2012
Akin Gump Expands Asia Footprint To Hong Kong

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP will soon open an office in Hong Kong, expanding its footprint in Asia, and has snagged a former Shearman & Sterling LLP partner to lead the office and the firm's Asia practice, the firm announced Monday.
February 17, 2012
Supreme Court Puts Mont. Campaign Spending Ruling On Ice

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday stayed a controversial ruling from Montana's high court finding a state law prohibiting political contributions to candidates by corporations was not struck down by the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which removed restrictions on corporate political spending.
February 17, 2012
Senate Approves SDNY Judge After 5-Month Filibuster

The U.S. Senate on Friday confirmed Jesse M. Furman for a seat on the Southern District of New York following a five-month, Republican-led filibuster over concerns about his past writings on gun control and religious clubs in schools.
February 17, 2012
Federal Execs Blast Inclusion In Insider Trading Bill

A group of career federal executives objected Thursday to their inclusion in an ethics reform and insider trading bill originally aimed at lawmakers, saying they should not be required to disclose their financial transactions in the same manner as elected officials.
February 17, 2012
Bird & Bird Tightens Africa Ties With Tunisian Alliance

International commercial firm Bird & Bird reinforced its foothold in the African market Thursday by inking an association with the Tunisian law firm Dakhlaoui Avocats that Bird says will beef up its access to project finance opportunities, energy deals, and health care, IT and aviation work on the continent.
February 17, 2012
Greenberg Glusker Can Demand Arbitration In Fee Dispute

A California appeals court ruled Wednesday that a law firm can invoke an arbitration clause in a retainer agreement without filing a court action, reversing a lower court's ruling pertaining to a fee dispute involving Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP.
February 16, 2012
Obama Nominates 4 For 11th Circ., Nev., Md., Fla. Districts

President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated a Bondurant Mixson & Elmore partner for a judgeship on the Eleventh Circuit, and tapped a Nevada state judge, a Maryland magistrate judge and a Florida circuit judge to serve as district judges on their state's respective federal district courts.
February 16, 2012
Clifford Chance Applies To Launch South Korea Office

Clifford Chance LLP has formally applied to open an office in South Korea, the firm said Thursday, leading a parade of Western law firms that have announced their intent to plant flags in the country in the wake of recent free trade agreements.
February 16, 2012
Tenn. Student Ineligible For Bar Exam Sues Law School

In the latest suit alleging a law school misled its students, Lincoln Memorial University's law school in Tennessee was accused of breach of contract Tuesday for telling a student that she could enroll in the school even though state law would not allow her to take the bar exam after graduation.
February 15, 2012
Singapore Eyes Profit Sharing To Build Ties With Foreign Firms

The Singapore Ministry of Law on Tuesday proposed changes to the nation-state’s legal practices to allow foreign law firms to share profits and invest in equity shares in Singapore law firms as part of a strategy to promote expansion opportunities in the country.
February 15, 2012
Senate Confirms 11th Circ.'s 1st Cuban-Born Judge

After months of delays and a failed filibuster attempt, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to confirm U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jose Jordan for a seat on the Eleventh Circuit, making him the first Cuban-born judge to serve on the appeals court.
February 15, 2012
Sidley Austin Opens Houston Office With 7 Hires

Sidley Austin LLP has opened the doors to a Houston office staffed with seven partners from seven different area firms, enhancing its offerings and on-the-ground presence for its energy-based clients, the firm announced Tuesday.
February 15, 2012
Firms Facing Another Year Of 'Sluggish' Growth: Study

Law firms should expect a year of limited, if any, economic growth as they struggle to cut back on rising expenses following a marketwide “sluggish” end to 2011, according to a study released Wednesday by the Hildebrandt Institute and Citi Private Bank.
February 14, 2012
DLA Piper Snags Thompson & Knight's Mexico City Team

Thompson & Knight LLP confirmed Tuesday that all 14 attorneys at its Mexico City office are joining DLA Piper at an office it has opened in the Mexican capital.
February 14, 2012
Top NY Judge Eyes City Foreclosure Section, Paperless Courts

New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said Tuesday that he was pushing forward to establish a new foreclosure section in New York City courts and a statewide, paperless judiciary system in 2012 — just two of his goals for the year.
February 14, 2012
Women Attys Advance More At Small, Midsize Firms: Survey

Fennemore Craig PC and other small and midsize firms boast significantly higher percentages of women partners than global powerhouses, a Law360 survey has found, revealing female lawyers can more easily defeat stereotyping and find flexibility outside BigLaw, experts said.
February 14, 2012
McDermott To Open S. Korea Office In Wake Of Trade Pact

McDermott Will & Emery LLP will join other Western law firms expanding into South Korea following the easing of trade restrictions between the country and the U.S. by opening an office in Seoul later this year, the firm announced Tuesday.