McDermott’s Shared Tab for ‘Abuse of Advocacy’ is $4.3M in Attorney Fees

McDermott, Will & Emery and its client Medtronic Inc. have been ordered to pay $4.3 million in attorney fees for “abuse of advocacy” in a patent case. U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch of Denver imposed the sanction Tuesday for attorney fees incurred by Medtronic’s trial opponent BrainLAB, the Recorder reports.…

Oct 2, 2008 12:53 PM CDT

Supreme Court 2.0

From term limits to circuit riding to cameras in the courtroom, rethinking, reforming and re-engineering the top bench

Oct 1, 2008 10:00 PM CDT

The Curious Case of Alex Latifi

Two days after Big Bob Chick­­en Day and three days before Christmas 2003, the U.S. Department of Defense sent Axion Corp. owner Alex Latifi a frantic request. U.S. troops in Iraq were rolling into battle in underequipped Humvees. Huntsville, Ala.-based Axion had a contract to build Hum­vee ma­chine-gun mounts. The…

Oct 1, 2008 9:50 PM CDT

Shook Hardy Smokes ‘Em

Tough litigation tactics and low rates make this Kansas City firm the darling of corporate America—and the bête noire of product liability plaintiffs

Oct 1, 2008 9:45 PM CDT

Discovering Eldorado

In a massive clash between church and state, a band of Texas lawyers learns that individual stories still count

Oct 1, 2008 9:00 PM CDT

It Takes Two

Taking a cue from its shortened joint J.D.-M.B.A. program, North­west­ern University law school will be­gin offering a two-year law degree program.

Oct 1, 2008 8:30 PM CDT

Isn’t That Question Illegal?

An ABAJ Daily News blog post this week and initial comments about how women, especially working moms, face more bias than their male counterparts when it comes time for annual reviews got us talking around the water cooler about our own experiences. Anecdotes abound. This made us wonder about your…

Oct 1, 2008 8:21 PM CDT

Bringing Lawyers, Guns and Money

In Chicago and elsewhere, the decision in Heller promises more litigation

Oct 1, 2008 6:50 PM CDT

Sonar, F-Bombs and Public Parks

An eclectic blend of cases and three-a-day arguments are on tap this term

Oct 1, 2008 6:45 PM CDT

The Judicial Counter-Punch

It can hurt when the judge realizes you’re pushing the rules too far

Oct 1, 2008 6:30 PM CDT

Great Article, But How Could You Have Overlooked ... ?

Oct 1, 2008 1:00 PM CDT

More Law Firms Specify How Part-Time Associates Can Make Partner

Associates on flex-time or part-time schedules can consult official policies on how they can still make partner at an increasing number of large law firms. Fish & Richardson, Morrison & Foerster and Ropes & Gray all recently adopted or revised policies detailing the path to partnership, the National Law Journal…

Oct 1, 2008 11:56 AM CDT

After Big Lottery Win, 18-Year-Old Still Plans Legal Career

She no longer has any need for the income that a legal career will bring. But 18-year-old Ianthe Fullagar is still planning to pursue a law degree, after a holiday in Egypt. And, says the United Kingdom teen, the $12.5 million or so (in U.S. dollars) that she just won…

Sep 30, 2008 11:22 PM CDT

Harvard Law Drops Letter Grades

Following the path blazed by several elite rivals, Harvard Law School has decided to drop letter grades. The planned change to a modified pass-fail system was announced Friday in an e-mail by Dean Elena Kagan, reports the Yale Daily News in a lengthy article about new developments at HLS under…

Sep 30, 2008 11:03 PM CDT

Average Pay is Up for In-House Lawyers, as Their Numbers Dwindle

In-house lawyers make an average of $236,000 in pay and bonuses, up from $226,000, according to a new survey of 223 larger companies. But the pay increase comes at a time when in-house staffing is softening. The average cash compensation, including bonuses, amounts to about $700,000 for general counsel and…

Sep 30, 2008 4:32 PM CDT