International

London Firms Earn #1 Billing in World

Record profits for the biggest London law firms reportedly make them the dominant players in the world legal market. Three London firms, headed by Clifford Chance, are at the top of the earnings list, with annual billings close to or exceeding $2 billion. For each, that represents an increase of…

Jul 5, 2007 7:25 PM CDT

American Lawyer Media Sold

Updated: American Lawyer Media has been sold to London-based Incisive Media for about $630 million, the Wall Street Journal’s Law Blog reports. Investment banker and lawyer Bruce Wasserstein bought the company for $200 million in 1997, the blog says. It is formally owned by U.S. Equity Partners, controlled by Wasserstein’s…

Jul 5, 2007 5:34 PM CDT

Report: Rape Used as Weapon in Sudan

A government-backed militia is systematically using rape as a method of so-called ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region of western Sudan, a report by a humanitarian group says. The Janjaweed militia can do so with impunity due to hostility to rape claims by local police and the difficulty of providing…

Jul 4, 2007 1:18 AM CDT

6 Docs, 1 Med Student in UK Bomb Case

Updated: It’s now official: a total of six doctors, plus a medical student, plus a spouse who worked as a medical assistant are being held as suspects in the United Kingdom car bombing case. As ABAJournal.com reported yesterday, it’s unusual for highly educated professionals to be suspected in such a…

Jul 3, 2007 9:25 PM CDT

Khadr, 20, Starts 6th Year at Gitmo Jail

Although he scored a big legal victory June 4, when the U.S. government–at least for now–was told by a military court that its terrorism charges against him are invalid, Omar Khadr’s day-to-day situation is still the same. Held since he was 15 years old at the U.S. military prison at…

Jul 3, 2007 5:37 PM CDT

5 or 6 Doctors in UK Car Bomb Case?

Defying the stereotype that those involved in terrorist acts are often uneducated, at least five doctors may be among the eight suspects now being held in an alleged plot to blow up cars in London and Glasgow, Scotland. Only two of the suspects have been identified by authorities as physicians,…

Jul 3, 2007 1:47 AM CDT

Appeals Judge Seeks Secret Trials (Not)

A 7th Circuit judge reportedly created a stir amongst visitors from the Australian legal community at a recent Chicago conference, when he allegedly advocated secret trials for terrorists, among other non-traditional approaches to deal with this relatively new threat to the United States. Speaking of the possibility that terrorist plots…

Jul 2, 2007 11:17 PM CDT

Former DC Atty Practices, Writes in Kiev

When Alex Frischberg moved from Hogan & Hartson to his native Kiev 16 years ago, he wound up with not only a new and exciting place to practice law as a corporate attorney but lots of dramatic material for a budding career as a writer. Rampant racketeering, widespread corruption and…

Jul 2, 2007 10:52 PM CDT

New China Labor Rules to be Enforced?

Long reputed as a haven for employers who engage in labor practices considered abusive in many countries, China appears to be on the verge of enforcing stringent new standards–particularly against foreign companies. Legislation enacted Friday that takes effect Jan. 1, 2008 imposes, among other new standards, a requirement that employment…

Jul 2, 2007 9:36 PM CDT

‘Golden Handcuffs’ Chain Attys to Desks

If they could afford to, they’d leave the legal profession. That’s what one in five law firm partners and nearly one in three associates surveyed by a British legal publication recently said. Flush with profits from a booming market in mergers and acquisitions, some of London’s biggest and most highly…

Jul 2, 2007 9:08 PM CDT

Israel Prez’s Plea Deal Not a Done Deal

A controversial agreement by the president of Israel to plead guilty to sexual harassment and other charges and resign from office to avoid a potential rape prosecution apparently isn’t a done deal. Amidst widespread criticism of the plea agreement and three petitions against it, the Israel Supreme Court is requiring…

Jul 2, 2007 8:33 PM CDT

Money Launderers Trade Commodities

Terrorist sympathizers are moving money to banned destinations through commodities trades. Terrorist supporters buy commodities such as sugar and transfer them to countries where they can be sold for cash, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) reports. Food products are easier to transfer to countries that have been sanctioned by…

Jul 2, 2007 6:26 PM CDT

Pakistan’s Top Court to be Swept for Bugs

In a setback to efforts by Pakistan’s president to remove permanently from office the country’s top judge, the Pakistan Supreme Court has barred intelligence officers from ongoing hearings and ordered courtrooms and the homes of senior judges swept for secret listening devices. Giving credence to claims by Aitzaz Ahsan, lead…

Jul 2, 2007 5:47 PM CDT

More Arrests in Bomb Attempts

A night of “intensive police operations” has led to the arrests of two more men in the attempted car bombings in London and Glasgow, a police spokesman says. The arrests took place near Glasgow, where two men rammed a Jeep Cherokee into the entrance of the airport on Saturday, the…

Jul 2, 2007 3:32 PM CDT

Selling Law on an Open Market

The world’s first publicly traded law firm ignites debate

Jul 1, 2007 11:52 PM CDT