Large Firm

Ex-‘American Idol’ contestant insists he had fling with Paula Abdul, sues BigLaw firms for libel

A lawsuit filed by former American Idol contestant Corey Clark accuses two BigLaw firms of libel for a report apparently discounting his claim that he had an affair with judge Paula Abdul during the competition. The $120 million suit claims the Fox network hired Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Morrison…

Jan 30, 2013 1:15 PM CST

Orrick raids Bingham, 3-partner energy team includes practice group co-chair

A three-partner team led by the co-chair of Bingham McCutchen’s energy and project finance practice group has exited the law firm’s New York office for Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. Tara Higgins will co-chair the U.S. energy practice group at her new law firm, Reuters reports. She said she made the…

Jan 29, 2013 6:39 PM CST

2012 wasn’t such a bad year for law firms after all; survey findings ‘a complete surprise’

Law firms that suffered after the economic downturn had a better year in 2012. A preliminary survey of about 100 mostly large law firms shows better-than-expected results, the Wall Street Journal Law Blog (sub. req.) reports. Law firms had an average 5 percent increase in gross revenues over the prior…

Jan 29, 2013 1:10 PM CST

Sunshine State will be new home to about 100 Kaye Scholer employees

Kaye Scholer is scouting for a site in Tallahassee, Fla., that will become home to its back-office operations. The law firm announced plans on Thursday to locate about 100 workers in Tallahassee, including employees in accounting, document services, graphics, technology, library services, docketing, human resources and marketing. Tallahassee was selected…

Jan 29, 2013 12:25 PM CST

Akin treated bias plaintiff more favorably, at least once, because of her race, 2nd Circuit says

An associate who attributed her 2009 layoff to racial bias won’t be able to pursue her lawsuit against Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. The New York City-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld dismissal of the suit by Tameka Simmons, who had claimed the economic reasons cited…

Jan 28, 2013 12:15 PM CST

Around the Blawgosphere: Is BigLaw ‘culture’ worth preserving?; In defense of plastic grocery bags

The myth of law firm ‘collegiality’ Law firms should “pay heed to culture” when developing business plans, contemplating mergers, or making lateral hires, according to Citi Private Bank’s Law Firm Group and Hildebrandt Consulting’s recent client advisory (PDF). At Law21, lawyer/consultant Jordan Furlong notes this passage from the advisory: “Law…

Jan 25, 2013 2:30 PM CST

Suit claims WilmerHale fired counsel for taking adoption leave

A former litigation counsel at WilmerHale claims in a lawsuit that the law firm wrongfully fired her after taking leave for the adoption of a 22-month-old daughter from China. The $5 million suit (PDF) filed in Washington, D.C., superior court by Pamela Levinson claims violations of the District’s family leave…

Jan 24, 2013 4:54 PM CST

How to create opportunity for newbie lawyers? Cut their BigLaw salaries, law prof says

Brooklyn law professor Lawrence Solan outlines one reason for the so-called crisis in legal education: Large law firms are hiring fewer new associates, creating fewer training opportunities for law grads and declining interest in law school. Law schools are responding with clinics and externships designed to train students in the…

Jan 24, 2013 12:00 PM CST

Did Greenberg hide tea-time document incineration accident? Claim won’t be heard; case is tossed

An appeals court has tossed a lawsuit accusing Greenberg Traurig of failing to disclose that a document central to its client’s defense was “burned under highly suspicious circumstances”—a claimed tea-time incineration accident. Greenberg won dismissal of the suit by plaintiff James Melcher on statute of limitations grounds, the New York…

Jan 23, 2013 12:30 PM CST

Why not improve value instead of doubling down on bad practices?

As we move into 2013, firms face a basic choice between doubling down on Dewey or pumping up the value. Reading the various things written of late (PDF) , it would seem that many firms are “doubling down” by: • Aggressively seeking laterals and in some cases, merger partners. •…

Jan 22, 2013 10:30 PM CST

Womble Carlyle is sued by EEOC over alleged 75-pound lifting requirement

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice on behalf of a former office assistant who claims disability discrimination over a lifting requirement. The suit (PDF) filed on behalf of Charlesetta Jennings says she suffered from a chronic swelling condition known as lymphedema as a result…

Jan 18, 2013 3:47 PM CST

Ex-Dewey partner’s fraud claim re Citibank capital loan gets green light from federal judge

A former partner of Dewey & LeBoeuf has won a round in an unusual legal case against the bank that made him a personal loan to finance his capital contribution to the now-defunct law firm. A federal judge in New York on Wednesday nixed a summary judgment motion by Citibank…

Jan 17, 2013 4:42 PM CST

Longtime Canada-based legal shops are top-listed for M&A work, survey says

International mergers among law firms are a hot trend right now. But, at least among Canada-based legal shops, when it comes to bringing in the most global M&A business, the traditional top-drawer firms that have grown more conservatively and are perhaps still best known for their work in Canada are…

Jan 16, 2013 10:33 PM CST

Only one woman has made partner in 25 years at BigLaw firm’s Miami office

Linda Leali didn’t have a lot of role models during her 12 years as an associate at the Miami office of White & Case. Only one woman has made partner in the firm’s Miami office in 25 years, the Daily Business Review reports. A magna cum laude law grad from…

Jan 16, 2013 11:30 AM CST

Reed Smith has opened Houston office, expects 50 lawyers there

Another major law firm is opening an office in Houston. Reed Smith now has a physical presence in the Texas city and is looking to hire attorneys to practice in its new office there, the firm’s chief marketing officer told the Pittsburgh Business Times on Tuesday. “We have opened, and…

Jan 15, 2013 11:23 PM CST