Corporate Law

Delaware Chancery Judge Dumps Class Counsel, Cites ‘Nonexistent’ Advocacy

The newest judge on Delaware’s Court of Chancery has taken the unusual action of removing lead plaintiffs counsel from a class action case, citing their “nonexistent” advocacy in the shareholder case against Revlon Inc., reports Reuters. “When forced to defend their conduct and leadership role, original plaintiffs’ counsel approached the…

Mar 17, 2010 11:13 PM CDT

11th Circuit Grants En Banc Hearing Sua Sponte in Sex Harassment Case

Plaintiffs attorney Edward Hawkins and law professor Eric Schnapper of the University of Washington had petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider a sexual harassment case brought by two men against Home Depot USA Inc. But they had made such no request of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of…

Mar 17, 2010 10:25 PM CDT

Startup Lawyer Defines Silicon Valley Clichés

A partner in a Silicon Valley law firm who works with startup companies has written something of a primer on the popular “catchphrases, clichés and buzzwords” he learned during countless hours in board meetings. Writing at Under the Radar, lawyer Ivan Gaviria of Gunderson Dettmer lists 10 “classic Valley clichés.”…

Mar 17, 2010 11:00 AM CDT

Detroit to Tell Workers to Tone Down Scented Products Under ADA Settlement

The scent of litigation success isn’t a sweet smell for at least one plaintiff who recently won a $100,000 settlement in a federal Americans with Disabilities Act discrimination case. As part of the pact in the federal lawsuit filed by planner Susan McBride, the city of Detroit has agreed to…

Mar 16, 2010 5:16 PM CDT

Ex-Partner and Ex-Associate Battle Anapol Schwartz PI Firm Over Pay

The pay war began when Anapol Schwartz Weiss Cohan Feldman & Smalley voted to demote Howard Levin from the partnership to counsel status last year. He initially said he would accept, then, months later, changed his mind, according to a lawsuit the firm filed in Pennsylvania state court last year.…

Mar 16, 2010 4:52 PM CDT

Ex-McGuireWoods Partner Pleads Guilty in Securities Fraud Case

A former partner of McGuireWoods pleaded guilty today in federal court in New York to one count of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud concerning the sale of unregistered shares issued by his clients. Louis Zehill, 44, allegedly purchased the securities as private placements through…

Mar 15, 2010 7:01 PM CDT

In Top 100 Tally, Commercial Verdicts Are Down, Tort Verdicts Are Up

Commercial verdicts dropped markedly in a tally of the nation’s top 100 legal awards for 2009. Commercial verdicts on the list compiled by VerdictSearch dropped from $1.4 billion in 2008 to a mere $421 million in 2009, the National Law Journal reports. It was a better year, however, for personal…

Mar 15, 2010 2:15 PM CDT

11 Corps Contribute $30M to Fund ‘Inclusion Initative’ for Female & Minority Owned Firms

Eleven major corporations have agreed to provide $30 million in funding for a new Inclusion Initiative intended to encourage companies to do business with law firms owned by women and minorities and are urging other companies to get involved, too. The venture may also benefit the corporations financially, because such…

Mar 6, 2010 1:01 AM CST

Ex-Clients Sue Carlsmith for $25M, Claim Firm Sold Out Minority Owners in Hotel Deal

One of Hawaii’s oldest and best-known law firms has been sued for malpractice by former clients seeking $25 million in compensatory and punitive damages. While representing both majority and minority shareholders concerning the 2004 sale of a hotel in Saipan, the Honolulu-based Carlsmith Ball firm negotiated a deal that benefited…

Mar 6, 2010 12:05 AM CST

Court OKs Cravath Role in Takeover Bid re Ex-Client; Proof of ‘Extreme’ Ethics Misstep Lacking

In a teleconference ruling today in a hard-fought case over a pending $5.1 billion corporate takeover bid, the Delaware Court of Chancery has OK’d the continuing representation of Air Products and Chemicals Inc. by Cravath Swaine & Moore. Ex-client Airgas Inc. failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence the…

Mar 5, 2010 9:42 PM CST

Olswang Chief Talks About Planned Growth & Possible Outside Investment

Meet David Stewart, managing partner of London-based Olswang. Unhappy with the firm’s flat revenue over the past year, he nonetheless expects to see significant growth, both at home and internationally, of his now 650-attorney firm, according to the Law Central blog of the London Times. He credits “exceptionally talented nonlawyers”…

Mar 2, 2010 6:06 PM CST

Give 44-Year-Old Case an ‘Immediate’ Trial, Appeals Court Tells Lawyers

Apparently persuaded by a lawyer’s argument that the opposing party missed a filing deadline by 22 years, a state appeals court in New York has reinstated a 44-year-old civil case and directed the parties to proceed to an “immediate” trial. The suit was brought by a long-dissolved company, Lance International,…

Mar 2, 2010 1:11 AM CST

Ex-Secretary Sues Drinker Biddle Over Alleged Overtime Pay Violation

A former secretary at Drinker Biddle & Reath has sued the law firm, alleging that it agreed to pay her overtime but didn’t. During the time she worked at the firm, from 2006 to 2008, the firm knew she was working additional hours and “required this extra work as a…

Mar 1, 2010 10:12 PM CST

FTC to Appeal Judge’s Decision That ‘Red Flags’ Rule Doesn’t Apply to Lawyers

The Federal Trade Commission says it will appeal a federal judge’s decision upholding the American Bar Association’s position that the so-called Red Flags Rule doesn’t apply to lawyers. The FTC filed a notice of appeal yesterday in the District of Columbia case, reports the Blog of Legal Times. The case…

Feb 26, 2010 10:06 PM CST

US Attorney Files Fair Housing Suit Over Condo Rules Restricting Kids’ Play

Contending that a Massachusetts condominium association violated fair housing law by restricting children’s play activities in outdoor common areas, the local U.S. attorney has filed a federal lawsuit against Stonecleave Village in Methuen and its property managers. The suit claims they violated federal law that prohibits discrimination against families with…

Feb 26, 2010 7:08 PM CST