Corporate Law

Survey: Skadden #1 in Corporate Realm

In the corporate arena, one law firm clearly is the top of the list, a survey says: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. There isn’t a category where Skadden isn’t a lead player,” Michael Rynowecer, president of BTI Consulting Group, tells Legal Times, in a story reprinted by New York…

Sep 28, 2007 6:52 PM CDT

Five Firms in Attorney Fee Free-for-All

After fighting together to win a settlement in a class action over mortgage lender closing costs, a group of Illinois plaintiffs lawyers squared off for a new battle—fighting with each other about how to divide the $1.6 million attorney fee. It appears that a badly drafted attorney fee letter agreement…

Sep 27, 2007 9:23 PM CDT

Missing E-Mail Costs Brokerage $12.5 M

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Morgan Stanley said it couldn’t produce a number of e-mails in arbitration cases because they had been destroyed along with the company’s New York City computer servers. But in fact the brokerage reportedly had the e-mails all along on backup files. Now Morgan Stanley has…

Sep 27, 2007 5:16 PM CDT

Lawyer’s Knowledge Used Against Him

Connecticut lawyer Philip Russell has a lot of expertise in child pornography cases—but it may hurt his defense in a prosecution for destroying evidence. Prosecutors say Russell should have given the FBI his client’s computer containing child pornography instead of destroying it. He is accused of obstructing justice under the…

Sep 26, 2007 2:18 PM CDT

Sprint’s 30-Day Settlement Total Nears $150 M

With a $57.5 million Kansas class action settlement just announced by Sprint-Nextel Corp., the company’s settlement agreements in three cases during the past month now total nearly $150 million. If approved by the judge in the case, the latest settlement would amount to only a small fraction of the $1.3…

Sep 25, 2007 11:41 PM CDT

Nice Job: World’s Richest Representation

Ten years ago, Steven Selsberg left the Houston office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges because he didn’t make partner. Today, his professional future is looking a lot brighter. Although has racked up a number of professional accomplishments in the meantime, including partnerships at two major law firms, one in particular…

Sep 25, 2007 8:51 PM CDT

Indicted Milberg Founder Vows to Fight

Updated: Indicted today after years of investigation, the 72-year-old co-founder of what was once unquestionably the nation’s most prominent plaintiffs securities firm is vowing to fight the federal case that has already felled three former rainmakers at Milberg Weiss and put the future of the firm at risk. Melvyn Weiss…

Sep 21, 2007 2:08 AM CDT

Cadwalader Boosts Bankruptcy Practice

In an ongoing effort to amp up its financial restructuring practice in the U.S. and abroad, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft has hired another six attorneys this week and plans to add more in London. That follows the firm’s addition of more than a dozen lawyers to the practice area earlier…

Sep 20, 2007 11:37 PM CDT

US: Milberg Weiss Firm Was ‘Racketeering Enterprise’

Updated: In a stunning series of body blows today in an ongoing battle between the government and one of the country’s most powerful plaintiff firms, federal prosecutors in California announced enhanced charges against the firm itself, the indictment of its co-founding partner and the latest plea deal with a former…

Sep 20, 2007 10:10 PM CDT

Firm: Melvyn Weiss Faces Charges

Updated: A founding partner of one of the nation’s most powerful plaintiffs securities law firms is reportedly resigning from a management role in the face of expected new federal charges against both him and the firm in an ongoing case concerning alleged payments of illegal kickbacks to clients. Melvyn Weiss…

Sep 19, 2007 10:22 PM CDT

New Firm Resolves ‘Sunday Stomach’

Kevin Broyles once wanted to be a partner at a big-name law firm. But today he counts himself lucky to be able to leave his law office in time to coach Pee Wee football at 6:30 p.m. “It’s a matter of getting your priorities in order,” Broyles, 36, tells the…

Sep 17, 2007 11:05 PM CDT

Home Depot GC to Work as Store Clerk

The new general counsel of Home Depot will soon be working as store clerk for several weeks, in a standard initial assignment for executives at the home improvement retail chain. So Jack VanWoerkom, who is responsible for all company legal functions worldwide, will soon be helping customers in Boston find…

Sep 17, 2007 8:27 PM CDT

How Associates Can Make It Rain

Become an expert practitioner in a legal specialty. Build relationships with clients. And market yourself. These are the primary pathways that associates travel to become rainmakers who bring in new business rather than simply servicing other lawyers’ clients, reports New York Lawyer (reg. req.) The lengthy article, which is reprinted…

Sep 14, 2007 9:23 PM CDT

Iraq Dealmeister’s Thoughts on Law, Life

After helping to put together a $1.25 billion deal for a national mobile telecommunications license in Iraq earlier this year, attorney Abdullah Mutawi, who heads the international telecommunications group at Trowers & Hamlins, took a few minutes to reflect on his life and practice. One of his best experiences, he…

Sep 10, 2007 11:39 PM CDT

Weil to Add 2 Asia Offices; Tokyo Next?

Corrected: Two New York City-based corporate partners of Weil Gotshal & Manges are moving to Hong Kong to open a new firm office there, and the firm also plans a Beijing presence. Partners Akiko Mikumo and Peter Feist, along with Shanghai partner David Meredith and two associates, will establish the…

Sep 6, 2007 8:06 PM CDT