Legal IndustryRSS

  • March 16, 2010

    K&L Gates Cuts Select Boston Associates' Pay

    In a move that could strain relations at K&L Gates LLP, the firm has reportedly slashed the salaries of associates in its Boston office while keeping intact the $160,000 starting salary for associates who began there in January.

  • March 16, 2010

    Firms Look To Cash In With Work-For-Free Strategy

    The recent recession saw many law firms increasing their pro bono workloads as a way to keep their client rosters full, but some are putting a new spin on working for free, legal industry experts say.

  • March 15, 2010

    NY Attorney Ad Rules Unconstitutional: 2nd Circ.

    New York state rules barring certain attention-getting tactics in attorney advertising are unconstitutional, a federal appeals court has ruled, largely backing a lower court's decision nixing many of the restrictions.

  • March 15, 2010

    Top White House Aide Joins Holland & Knight

    Moe Vela, formerly the director of management and administration for Vice President Joe Biden, has joined Holland & Knight LLP as a partner in the firm's public policy and regulation group in Washington.

  • March 15, 2010

    Law Firms Take Heat For 'Juicing' Partner Stats

    Law firms are under attack for concealing the breakdown of equity and nonequity partners in their ranks, with at least one lawyer accusing firms of keeping clients in the dark to justify hefty billing rates and make good on calls for diversity.

  • March 12, 2010

    DLA Piper Sued For Malpractice In Discovery Debacle

    A San Diego-based product design firm has alleged DLA Piper breached its fiduciary duty under a legal services contract when an associate handed over confidential business information to counsel at Fish & Richardson PC as part of discovery in another lawsuit.

  • March 12, 2010

    Firms Go Niche In Quest For Bigger Market Slice

    As clients demand more cost efficiencies from their attorneys, law firms are increasingly meeting the challenge by developing practices targeted at specific industries.

  • March 12, 2010

    Obama Taps Magistrate For Eastern District Of Calif.

    President Barack Obama has tapped Magistrate Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to become the first female district judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

  • March 12, 2010

    Law Firms Eye K Street As Lobby Work Booms

    The Obama administration's ambitious first year in office has created a boom in lobby revenue for law firms, as more corporate clients are seeking out top firms to fight their high-stakes political battles, according to leaders from Washington's fastest-growing lobby practices.

  • March 11, 2010

    Howrey’s Latest Round Of Cuts Targets Partners

    Struggling to bounce back from a steep 35 percent decline in profits per equity partner last year, Howrey LLP is planning to cut loose up to 30 partners mainly from its U.S. offices.

  • March 11, 2010

    Corp. Counsel Warn Firms Not To Slack On Diversity

    Although the recession has taken its toll on diversity at some major U.S. law firms, big-name corporations are stepping up efforts to give more work to women and minorities and say those that fail to make diversity a priority do so at their own peril.

  • March 11, 2010

    Obama Nominates 2 For 2nd, Fed. Circs.

    President Barack Obama has nominated federal securities fraud prosecutor Raymond J. Lohier to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Kate O'Malley from the Northern District of Ohio to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

  • March 11, 2010

    House Unanimously Votes To Impeach Porteous

    The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday voted unanimously to impeach U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Porteous of the Eastern District of Louisiana, who was accused of taking bribes in exchange for favorable rulings and a slew of other ethics violations.

  • March 11, 2010

    King & Spalding To Pay Associates Up To $190K In 2010

    King & Spalding LLP has revealed the much-anticipated 2010 salary scale and 2009 bonuses for its Atlanta partner-track associates, with salaries topping out at $190,000 and bonuses at $55,000.

  • March 11, 2010

    Obama Makes US Attorney Picks For Maine, Idaho

    A Maine state court judge and a senior litigation counsel in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho have been nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as U.S. attorneys.

  • March 10, 2010

    High Court Draws Senate's Ire Over Citizens United

    Criticism of the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling turned into condemnation of the high court under Chief Justice John Roberts at a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, as senators fiercely debated the extent of the damage done by Citizens United and how to fix it.

  • March 10, 2010

    Sessions Tests Left Leanings In District Court Nominees

    Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., probed three new nominees to the federal bench for ideological leanings Wednesday, focusing on the death penalty, federal sentencing guidelines and the definition of progressive values.

  • March 10, 2010

    Roberts Calls State Of Union Squabble 'Troubling'

    U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has criticized President Barack Obama for publicly chiding the court during his State of the Union address over its recent ruling on campaign finance law.

  • March 10, 2010

    Dewey Lays Off 30 Administrative Staffers In 3 Offices

    Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP has cut 30 administrative staff positions across its offices in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, adjusting its staffing to account for previous lawyer layoffs at the firm.

  • March 9, 2010

    In A Market Abuzz With Laterals, Buyer Beware

    A recent boom in the lateral market for partners has created exciting opportunities for law firms looking to build out particular practice areas or to increase their presence in certain markets. But firms that scoop up lateral hires without taking a few key steps could wind up regretting those choices down the road, hiring attorneys said.