Judge says top Penn State lawyer didn’t represent ex-officials, clearing way for obstruction trial

In a Wednesday ruling that clears the way for an obstruction case against three former Pennsylvania State University officials to proceed to trial, a Dauphin County judge held that Penn State’s then-general counsel did not represent the trio as individuals during their grand jury testimony about Jerry Sandusky. Judge Todd…

Jan 15, 2015 1:00 PM CST

Former in-house patent lawyer admits $5M billing scheme, will reimburse Hunter Douglas

Sued in federal court in Denver, a former lead in-house patent lawyer for Hunter Douglas Inc. has admitted a billing scheme that diverted more than $5 million of company funds to a patent-search firm he secretly controlled and promised to repay the money. Jason Throne, 53, said in court papers…

Dec 8, 2014 5:05 PM CST

Corporations are adding to their in-house legal departments, cutting outside expenditures

Large corporations worldwide switched their 2013 legal spending from outside law firms to in-house law departments, according to HBR Consulting’s 2014 Law Department Survey.

Dec 1, 2014 5:00 AM CST

Creator of the DuPont model makes an inside move

Dec 1, 2014 1:40 AM CST

DA’s men accused of stealing rare comics forfeited by in-house lawyer jailed in $9M theft scheme

An in-house lawyer accused of stealing $9 million by paying fake law firm bills took a felony plea and was sentenced to 40 years by a Texas judge six months ago. But that wasn’t the end of the fallout over Anthony Chiofalo’s theft scheme. A onetime investigator for the Harris…

Nov 26, 2014 1:45 PM CST

Vanguard tax lawyer says he was fired for persistent questioning; company says he violated privilege

A former tax lawyer for the Vanguard Group claims he was fired for “persistent vocal questioning” about what he viewed as illegal tax underpayments. In an affidavit filed in his whistleblower suit, lawyer David Danon of Wayne, Pennsylvania, says he relayed his “extremely serious” concerns about Vanguard’s tax payments with…

Nov 25, 2014 5:45 AM CST

Study of chief legal officers finds more bad news for law firms

Ever since the Great Recession, law firms have seen both the supply of available legal work and the demand for their services dwindle. According to Altman Weil’s 2014 Chief Legal Officer Survey (PDF), those trends are continuing and show no signs of abatement. The study revealed that in-house legal departments…

Nov 10, 2014 8:49 AM CST

Because it’s still who you know

Nov 1, 2014 2:40 AM CDT

Top GM lawyer Michael Millikin to retire early next year

When some federal lawmakers questioned why General Motors’ general counsel Michael Millikin still had his job, following much-publicized ignition-switch issues that led to the ouster of other lawyers, chief executive Mary Barra said she needed him at the helm. However, Michael Millikin has now announced his retirement, which will take…

Oct 17, 2014 12:50 PM CDT

What do GCs really want from law firms? | Flat fees can help ensure you get paid, blogger writes

Edge International’s Pamela Woldow and Doug Richardson recently went to a private meeting in Panama of the general counsel of 35 corporations. “Their responses were particularly telling—and particularly outspoken—when we propounded a broad meta-question: What do legal departments want from their law firms?” they wrote in their At the Intersection…

Oct 17, 2014 8:30 AM CDT

After playing his ACES, GC Jeffrey Carr sits out a round

Oct 1, 2014 2:50 AM CDT

Lawyer gets probation for failing to report kickback scheme, says he didn’t want to rock the boat

The former general counsel for South Carolina State University has been sentenced to six months of probation for failing to report a kickback scheme in which he donated his take to charity. U.S. District Judge David Norton sentenced the now suspended lawyer, Edwin Givens, 51, on Thursday, report the Post…

Sep 26, 2014 11:29 AM CDT

Companies shift legal spending in-house as more embrace ‘in-sourcing’

Companies are increasingly shifting legal spending in-house, according to a new analysis. This year companies are redirecting an estimated $1.1 billion of legal spending from outside law firms to in-house legal departments, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) reports, citing an analysis by BTI Consulting Group Inc. The shift was…

Sep 15, 2014 7:59 AM CDT

Police arrest suspect charged in Boston Scientific lawyer’s murder after citizen spots him on foot

Wanted poster (PDF) for Ty Hoffman from the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. A former romantic partner charged with second-degree murder in the slaying last month of one of the top in-house lawyers at Boston Scientific has been found and arrested. Officials said Lyle Marvin “Ty” Hoffman, 44, was arrested without…

Sep 11, 2014 12:55 PM CDT

Attorneys who can address clients’ operational problems as well as their legal ones have an edge

Over the past two decades or so, general counsel have become increasingly accountable for effective management of their legal departments. Legal teams are expected to add value to the enterprise, and when they turn to outside counsel to aid in this mission, the ones who can understand and help address…

Sep 10, 2014 8:30 AM CDT