Corporate Law

Sued By Both Parties in N.J. Store Sale, Pa. Lawyer Wins Both Cases

A Pennsylvania solo who was sued by both parties over the papers she drew up for the $1.9 million sale of a New Jersey liquor store has won dismissals of both malpractice cases. But despite the rare double play executed by her defense lawyer, Michael Malin, the disgruntled liquor store…

Sep 2, 2009 7:22 PM CDT

Chevron Video Posted on YouTube Was Doctored, Accused Judge Says

Videotape of an Ecuador judge posted on YouTube and a company website by Chevron Corp. was doctored, the judge, who is accused of discussing an upcoming ruling in an ongoing environmental case, tells the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.). “There was total manipulation in the video,” says Judge Juan Núñez,…

Sep 2, 2009 6:47 PM CDT

Kirkland & Ellis to Open 2nd Office in Asia

Kirkland & Ellis plans to open a second China office—which will also be its second office in Asia—in November. The new Shanghai outpost will complement the Chicago-based law firm’s existing Hong Kong office, which opened in 2006, and will be headed by Xiaoyang “XY” Li. Now a Hong Kong private…

Sep 1, 2009 6:12 PM CDT

Chevron Takes Pollution Case Bias Issue to Feds, Ecuador Officials—and YouTube

Accused by an indigenous group of contaminating the environment in the Amazon region decades ago, Chevron Corp. is fighting back with videotape allegedly showing the judge in the ongoing Ecuador case discussing his planned upcoming ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in October or November of this year. In addition…

Aug 31, 2009 11:04 PM CDT

Investors Sue Proskauer & Partner Over Alleged Conspiracy With Stanford

Investors who lost money in R. Allen Stanford’s alleged $7 billion Ponzi scheme run under the guise of a banking operation based in Antigua have reportedly filed a class action against Proskauer Rose and partner Thomas Sjoblom. Filed yesterday in federal court in Dallas, it alleges that the firm participated…

Aug 28, 2009 9:36 PM CDT

Accused Record ID Theft Mastermind to Plead Guilty in 2 Earlier Cases, Feds Say

A 28-year-old Florida resident accused of masterminding what authorities say is the largest-ever computer hacking and identity theft case is expected to plead guilty in two earlier cyberfraud conspiracy cases, prosecutors say. Paperwork filed in federal court in Boston today states that Albert Gonzalez will plead guilty by Sept. 11…

Aug 28, 2009 8:15 PM CDT

Fish & Richardson to Eliminate Entire Corporate Practice Group

After earlier cost-cutting measures, a well-known intellectual property boutique now plans to eliminate its corporate practice group by Jan. 1, 2010. “Fish & Richardson has decided to discontinue our corporate group as a separate practice group entity in the firm, effective at the end of the year,” the firm said…

Aug 27, 2009 10:43 PM CDT

SEC Blames Wachtell, Shearman for Keeping Bank Bonuses Secret

The Securities and Exchange Commission is blaming two law firms for Bank of America’s failure to disclose $3.6 billion in executive bonuses it planned to pay to executives at Merrill Lynch. An SEC brief points the finger at lawyers from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Shearman & Sterling, according…

Aug 25, 2009 1:45 PM CDT

Swiss Attorney Charged in UBS Case; US Lawyers Could Be Targeted, Too

An attorney and a banker from Switzerland were indicted today in a federal case in Florida for allegedly helping wealthy Americans evade taxes by putting assets in secret Swiss bank accounts. And, as a criminal probe continues, United States lawyers and bankers could face charges for misadvising clients, too, reports…

Aug 20, 2009 8:44 PM CDT

Morgan Lewis Tops List of Go-To Law Firms for Fortune 100

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius tops a list of law firms used most often by America’s top 100 companies. Corporate Counsel magazine researched which law firms represent the top companies in five areas: corporate transactions, torts and negligence, commercial law and contracts litigation, employment and labor litigation, and intellectual property. The…

Aug 20, 2009 1:37 PM CDT

Accused of Discrimination, Football Coach Sues for Libel, Is Accused of Retaliation

After an attorney for a longtime worker at the University of New Mexico spoke to a local newspaper about her client’s discrimination lawsuit against a well-known football coach and the university, he sued the lawyer and her client for defamation. Now attorney Whitney Warner is threatening to pursue a retaliation…

Aug 19, 2009 10:25 PM CDT

Hertz to Use Digital Scan to Assess Renters for Car Damage

Hertz Global Holdings Inc. is working on a plan to use high-resolution digital photographs to prove damage to its rental car fleet and assess customers for the cost. “There will be no discussion because the document would clearly show any incremental damage,” Mark Frissora, the company’s chairman and CEO, tells…

Aug 18, 2009 5:14 PM CDT

Judge Axes Case, Awards Legal Fees for Texting Witness at Trial

A Florida judge who declared a mistrial earlier this year after a company CEO texted an executive about his testimony during a brief trial break has now imposed additional sanctions over the incident. Describing the texting by Sky chief executive officer Yizhak Toledano as “underhanded and calculated to undermine the…

Aug 17, 2009 7:24 PM CDT

Civil Practice Puts Russian Lawyers at Risk of Violence and Criminal Charges

Three highly regarded Russian lawyers thought they were representing Hermitage Capital investment fund in a routine tax case. Now one of the attorneys is jailed and two others are in exile, after uncovering what appears to be a breathtaking fraud involving government officials who allegedly colluded to wrest control of…

Aug 13, 2009 7:08 PM CDT

Madoff Aide Pleads Guilty, Says ‘It Was All Fake,’ Judge Nixes $2.5M Bond Deal

After Frank DiPascali pleaded guilty today to carrying out one of the biggest frauds on Wall Street with the help of unidentified “other people” who put together its fictitious books and investment statements, the plan was for the cooperating witness and longtime aide to convicted $65 billion Ponzi schemer Bernard…

Aug 11, 2009 10:21 PM CDT