Business Development

‘Stunningly Enormous’ Divorce Bill is Upheld By Canadian Court

A legal bill for a divorce described as “quite stunningly enormous” by an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association has been upheld by the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The bill, which exceed $1 million in Canadian dollars (that’s about $950,000 in U.S. dollars, at the current exchange rate)…

Aug 26, 2008 9:10 PM CDT

W.Va. Lawyer Accused of Hiring Legal Fees Collection Strongarm

A West Virginia lawyer who is seeking election as a county prosecutor is facing potential discipline for allegedly hiring a convicted felon to collect legal fees—using threats and even actual physical force to do so, if necessary—and asking him to help him get a “throw away” gun. Attorney Mark Blevins…

Aug 26, 2008 6:45 PM CDT

Some Law Firms Step Up Collection Efforts

During economic downturns, clients tend to hold on to their money and delay paying attorney fees. Some law firms seeking to avoid cash flow problems are pushing back by seeking earlier payments, law firm consultants tell the Daily Business Review. “There are some firms starting their collection drives sooner,” said…

Aug 26, 2008 1:40 PM CDT

ABA Ethics Group OKs Outsourcing, But Nixes At Least Some Fee Markups

Although the lawyer in charge remains ultimately responsible and can be held accountable if anything goes awry, those working under his or her direction don’t have to be in the same building in order to comply with professional standards. In fact, they don’t even have to be in the same…

Aug 26, 2008 12:12 AM CDT

Legal Fees Get 2 Ga. Lawyers Indicted Under ‘Slayer’s Statute’

When Candace Rader and Valerie Cooke represented Debra Post in a murder case, they were allegedly paid $320,000 in legal fees through life insurance proceeds and real estate she deeded over to them. The problem is, their client was accused of—and eventually pleaded guilty in 2003—to murdering her husband. And,…

Aug 25, 2008 5:26 PM CDT

Louisiana Lawyer Accused of Hiding Fee from Firm Cites ADHD

A Louisiana lawyer accused in an ethics complaint of diverting attorney fees from his law firm cites in his defense his diagnosis with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. John M. Sharp of Baton Rouge was managing partner of the firm, Sharp Henry Cerniglia Colvin Weaver & Davis, from 2003 to 2005.…

Aug 25, 2008 2:31 PM CDT

Two Law Firms to Earn $8M in Fees for Serving as Brocade Co-Counsel

Two San Diego plaintiffs law firms will earn at least $8 million in fees to drop their backdating lawsuits against Brocade Communications and assist the company’s special litigation committee in its suit. The payment arrangements for Johnson Bottini and Robbins Umeda & Fink were disclosed under an order by U.S.…

Aug 25, 2008 11:37 AM CDT

Fair Use Right Upheld in Claim Over YouTube Dancing Baby Takedown

A federal judge in northern California questions whether Stephanie Lenz can prove that Universal Music Corp. acted in bad faith when it demanded that YouTube take down a 29-second video clip she posted of her 13-month-old baby jumping up and down to the sound of the Prince song “Let’s Go…

Aug 21, 2008 4:10 PM CDT

2nd Circuit Turns Down Milberg’s Request for a Fee Boost to $101M

A federal appeals court has turned down a request by securities class action firm Milberg to reap $101 million in fees in a settlement against Nortel Networks Corp. Milberg had sought 8.5 percent of the settlement, which amounted to about $101 million, the New York Law Journal reports. A federal…

Aug 20, 2008 4:19 PM CDT

Jackson Lewis Caps Fees in Exchange for All of Pfizer’s Employment Work

Pfizer Inc. has dubbed its law firm management effort P3, for Pfizer Partnering Program. It’s a bit of a misnomer, however, since the program involves the whittling away of law firm partners. The company now uses only 39 outside firms for U.S. litigation, down from 200 before the company instituted…

Aug 19, 2008 4:28 PM CDT

Judge Tosses Lawyer’s Challenge of Fee Agreement With Prior Partner

A judge has tossed a declaratory judgment suit over legal fees filed by a lawyer who left a law firm and took a case with him. The case highlights the issue of fees that can be paid to retiring partners, the New Jersey Law Journal reports. Judge Peter Doyne of…

Aug 19, 2008 12:09 PM CDT

Appeals Court Hits Law Firm for ‘Vague, Indecipherable Billing Statements’

A California appeals court has cut nearly $230,000 off of a request for $250,000 in attorney fees in an opinion that accuses the lawyers seeking the money of apparently padding their bills. The opinion did not identify the law firm, but opposing appellate lawyer Tom Chun told Legal Pad the…

Aug 15, 2008 2:58 PM CDT

Judge Slashes Fee Request for WilmerHale and Wiley Rein

Updated: A federal judge has slashed an attorney fee request in a false claims suit from $20 million to a little more than $7.5 million. His opinion explaining his action takes aim at fees charged by the two plaintiffs’ firms, WilmerHale and Wiley Rein. Chief U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth…

Aug 14, 2008 2:42 PM CDT

Cybersex Client’s Fee Claim Doesn’t Prevail in Keker Withdrawal Motion

Miles Monroe, the character in the Woody Allen movie Sleeper, knows something about sex machines and the travails of a very modern life. Now, it seems, he has something in common with the law firm of Keker & Van Nest. The law firm has won permission to withdraw from litigation…

Aug 14, 2008 1:35 PM CDT

Judge Suggests Legal Fees Padded Due to Billable-Hour Requirement

A dispute over $64,000 in a judge’s unpaid legal fees has highlighted law firm billable-hour requirements. Judge David French of Palm Beach County claims the Rutherford Mulhall law firm charged him for 300 unnecessary hours of work in his alimony case and suggests that law firm policies may be to…

Aug 14, 2008 12:18 PM CDT