Career & Practice

NJ Solo Allowed to Proceed with Claim That NY Discriminates Against Out-of-State Lawyers

A New Jersey-based solo practitioner may proceed with her claim that New York law discriminates against out-of-state lawyers because it requires practitioners to maintain an office in the state, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn of the Northern District of New York said Rutgers graduate Ekaterina…

Feb 11, 2010 2:34 PM CST

Partner Says Secretary Stole $900K from Personal Account

A partner in a small Chicago litigation firm claims that his former secretary siphoned nearly $900,000 from his personal accounts. Details of the alleged theft have emerged in the federal bank fraud case against Crystal Sangiacomo, who is accused of writing more than 20 checks from the lawyer’s account over…

Feb 10, 2010 7:24 PM CST

Big NY Firms Resist NALP Proposal to Delay Job Offer Date

Recruiting officials at several large New York law firms are unhappy about recommendations by the National Association of Law Placement that firms push back the date that offers are extended to law students. Moving the offer period to January, five months after on-campus interviews, would make recruiting more costly and…

Feb 10, 2010 2:29 PM CST

RICO Case Against Ex-Prosecutor Criminalizes $3M Glock Legal Fee Dispute, His Side Says

Accused of racketeering and theft in connection with his work as outside legal counsel for Glock Inc., a former federal prosecutor and onetime candidate for Georgia attorney general did nothing wrong, his team says. James “Jim” Harper III, 55, was indicted in Cobb County last month along with two associates,…

Feb 9, 2010 9:24 PM CST

Ex-Client Loses TRO Bid to Ban Cravath in $5.1B Deal, But Could Win Next Round Next Week

Caught in the crossfire between current and former clients, Cravath Swaine & Moore can continue representing Air Products & Chemicals Inc.—at least until next week—in a $5.1 billion takeover bid for Airgas Inc., a Pennsylvania judge ruled today. While Judge Albert Sheppard Jr. rejected a request by Airgas for a…

Feb 9, 2010 8:40 PM CST

ACC Allows Law Firms to View Client Ratings in ‘Value Index’

Law firms that have been evaluated by in-house counsel participating in the Association of Corporate Counsel’s “Value Index” can now see their ratings. When the ACC launched its rating system in October, only ACC members could view the ratings. ACC general counsel Susan Hackett sent a letter to law firms…

Feb 9, 2010 1:58 PM CST

Panel OKs Total Attorneys Web Ads With ‘Very Little Margin for Error’

Updated: An Internet advertising scheme in which lawyers pay $65 per referral for names of potential clients passes ethical muster with “very little margin for error,” an attorney discipline panel says in an opinion today. Explaining its ruling (PDF) last month that the Total Attorneys Inc. advertising does not violate…

Feb 8, 2010 8:45 PM CST

8 Halloran & Sage Lawyers Leap to LeClairRyan

LeClairRyan has added an eight-lawyer group from the products liability practice group of Halloran & Sage. They joined the Virginia-based firm’s Hartford office last week, reports the Connecticut Law Tribune (sub. req.). LeClairRyan has had offices in Connecticut for less than two years. The self-described “entrepreneurial” firm has about 300…

Feb 8, 2010 7:38 PM CST

Associate’s Pro Bono Work for Legal Aid Catches on at Firm

An associate’s enthusiasm for his volunteer work at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas caught on at his firm, and gave the not-for-profit agency a much-needed boost. Cantey Hanger is better known around Fort Worth and in Texas for its representation of Fortune 500 companies and utilities, not family court cases…

Feb 8, 2010 7:27 PM CST

London Firm Snaps Up Group of New Jersey Lawyers

London-based Clyde & Co. has poached five lawyers from the insurance coverage group at Roseland, N.J.-based Connell Foley to open an office in the Garden State. The lawyers—led by Daren McNally—are especially well-versed in policies written by offshore insurers, the New Jersey Law Journal reports. “Joining Clyde & Co gives…

Feb 8, 2010 4:01 PM CST

Allen & Overy Plants Office in Australia, Snags 14 Partners From Local Firm

Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy has announced it will open offices in Sydney and Perth next month, with 17 new partners who will focus on mining and natural resources merger work. “Our decision to launch in Australia underlines the increasing importance of Australia in the global and Asia-Pacific economies,”…

Feb 8, 2010 12:24 PM CST

3L Job App Sparks E-Mail War With ‘Patronizing & Condescending’ IT Ace

A third-year law student clearly wasn’t at the top of his job-seeking game when he e-mailed an information technology consultant seeking legal work. Apparently mistaking the Webster & Associates site for a similarly named law firm, the unidentified 3L sent an unsolicited job application. Then he responded with a threat…

Feb 6, 2010 2:13 AM CST

MDP and Law Practice Approaches Abroad Are on Table for Ethics 20/20 Commission

As the ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 begins to shift its work into high gear, one of its co-chairs indicated today that the commission’s mission is not to change the world when it comes to lawyer ethics, but rather to adapt ethics rules for U.S. lawyers to changes going on…

Feb 6, 2010 1:10 AM CST

January Thaw: Legal Sector Layoffs Lessen, Total Only 1,100 or So

The legal sector continued to lose jobs in January, but at a far lesser rate than the blistering pace of recent months. It cut some 1,100 positions last month, reports the American Lawyer. But that is far less than the 5,800 legal sector jobs lost in October, 2,900 in November…

Feb 5, 2010 10:06 PM CST

Alston & Bird Clean Energy Group Chief Flies Coop, Lands at Cooley Godward

The clean energy practice chief at Alston & Bird has left for Cooley Godward Kronish, along with another firm energy partner. An another 10 to 12 attorneys from the Atlanta-based law firm are expected to follow R. Thomas Amis and Nik Patel to Cooley in upcoming months, reports the Blog…

Feb 5, 2010 9:10 PM CST