Fiesta Bowl Seeks New GC After Second Internal Probe Questions Compliance

Updated: The Fiesta Bowl has named a new interim general counsel after an internal report found evidence of campaign finance violations, inappropriate expenditures and excessive pay to top executives at the organization. Bingham McCutchen partner Nathan Hochman has the interim job, replacing Snell & Wilmer partner Craig Williams, according to…

May 3, 2011 1:05 PM CDT

Gender More of an Advancement Hurdle than Race, In-House Survey Finds

Women of color working in corporate legal departments find gender to be more of a barrier to advancement than race, according to a new survey. Fifty-two percent of survey respondents said being a woman was a significant barrier, compared to about 35 percent who said race harmed advancement, the Careerist…

May 3, 2011 11:22 AM CDT

The Lowdown on LPM: System Stirs Buzz, But Does it have Bite?

May 1, 2011 7:10 AM CDT

Who Sees ‘The New Normal’ Most Clearly? Law Firms, Law Departments or Clients?

One of the many benefits of writing about the New Normal is that I get involved in lots of interesting conversations about New Normalcy. I’ve noticed a distinct law firm viewpoint, legal department viewpoint, client viewpoint and popular viewpoint. The law firm conversations start in one of three ways: •…

Apr 27, 2011 1:30 PM CDT

Former Drug Company Lawyer Wants No Trial Mention of Lawyers’ Place in Hell

Prosecutors hope to introduce expert testimony on state ethics rules and ethics training materials in the April 26 obstruction trial of a former in-house lawyer for drug maker GlaxoSmithKline. The lawyer, Lauren Stevens, is accused of obstructing a probe into off-label marketing for the anti-depressant Wellbutrin. The prosecution wants to…

Apr 21, 2011 1:58 PM CDT

Former Drug Company Lawyer Re-indicted in Wellbutrin Case

A onetime lawyer for drug maker GlaxoSmithKline was re-indicted on obstruction of justice charges in a probe into Wellbutrin off-label marketing. An indictment of Lauren Stevens was dismissed in March following revelations of errors during the grand jury proceeding. On Thursday, Stevens was charged again with four counts of making…

Apr 15, 2011 2:54 PM CDT

Reed Smith Offers Free GC Hotline to Answer Questions of Clients’ Top In-House Lawyers

When a top in-house lawyer is deciding how to approach an unusual problem, it might well be helpful to talk with a seasoned counterpart. But even for a corporation’s general counsel, deciding who to call and wondering how much the session might cost can be daunting. Apparently sensing a marketing…

Apr 1, 2011 9:07 PM CDT

Suit Claims Marc Jacobs Lawyer Told Harassed Employee to Get a Thicker Skin

A suit filed by the former chief operating officer of Marc Jacobs International claims a company lawyer showed little interest in complaints of a sexually charged workplace that included a worker pole dance. Patrice Lataillade says he was fired from his $1-million-a-year job when he complained, according to the Daily…

Mar 31, 2011 11:36 AM CDT

Summer Associate’s Difficult Decision: Corporate or Litigation?

A soon-to-be summer associate struggling with a decision over practice areas has written a career columnist for advice. The dilemma, presented to the Careerist: Does corporate law or litigation offer better opportunities? The Careerist checked in with two recruiters for advice. Matt Schwartz of Garrison & Sisson saw better in-house…

Mar 29, 2011 1:13 PM CDT

PepsiCo GC Leaves to Become a Law Prof

Pepsico general counsel Larry Thompson is leaving the company to become a law professor at the University of Georgia. He will be replaced by Maura Abeln Smith, who was most recently general counsel of International Paper, according to a press release. Thompson joined Pepsico as general counsel in 2004 and…

Mar 28, 2011 3:57 PM CDT

Pro Bono Lawyer Criminally Charged re Alleged Cellphone Loan to Client in Custody

An Illinois lawyer has been criminally charged for allegedly allowing a client being questioned at a Chicago police station in a high-profile murder case to use her personal cellphone to make several calls. Charged with a Class 1 felony count of bringing contraband into a penal institution, Sladjana Vuckovic, 43,…

Mar 24, 2011 11:26 PM CDT

Judge Tosses Indictment of In-House Lawyer Accused in Wellbutrin Probe, Cites Prosecutor Error

A federal judge has dismissed an indictment that had accused a former in-house lawyer of obstructing a probe into Wellbutrin off-label marketing, citing a grand juror’s “elephant in the room” question and a prosecutor’s incorrect response. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Roger Titus of Maryland allows prosecutors to seek…

Mar 24, 2011 5:08 PM CDT

Judge Confirms $2.6M Arbitration Award for Toyota in Claim Against Its Ex-Lawyer

A federal judge has confirmed an arbitrator’s decision requiring lawyer Dimitrios Biller to pay $2.6 million to his one-time employer, Toyota Motor Co., for disclosing confidential information. Biller says he’ll appeal all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary, Corporate Counsel reports. He had claimed the arbitrator failed to…

Mar 23, 2011 3:47 PM CDT

Onetime ICE Lawyer Gets 17 Years for Taking Bribes

A former assistant chief counsel for U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for taking bribes to help immigrants fill out false paperwork to remain legally in this country. Constantine Peter Kallas, 40, was sentenced today during a closed hearing in federal…

Mar 21, 2011 7:28 PM CDT

Judge Ponders Possible Dismissal of Obstruction Case Against Ex-Glaxo In-House Counsel

At an action-packed pretrial hearing yesterday, a federal judge indicated that he may be considering dismissing the indictment (PDF) in an obstruction case against a former in-house counsel of GlaxoSmithKline Plc. At issue in the Greenbelt, Md., case is whether the grand jury that issued the indictment against Lauren Stevens…

Mar 18, 2011 9:33 PM CDT