Large Firm

UK Megafirm Norton Rose Is Looking for Merger Partners in US and China, CEO Says

Having grown from 1,200 attorneys in 2009 to 2,900 today through a series of mergers with law firms in Australia, Canada and South Africa, a United Kingdom-based megafirm isn’t done yet. Norton Rose is looking for merger partners in the United States and China, its chief executive officer tells Bloomberg,…

Apr 17, 2012 10:37 PM CDT

Pro-Se Ex-Associate Gets Green Light to Proceed with NY Suit Against UK Law Firm re Moscow Partner

A fired former associate in the Russia offices of Allen & Overy has been given a green light by a New York judge to sue the major London-based law firm. Deidre Clark, who made headlines while still working in Moscow for A&O by posting a racy online novel and photos…

Apr 17, 2012 8:07 PM CDT

The Biggest Law Firms Are Growing More Quickly Than the Rest, Survey Data Shows

The largest law firms continue to grow, dwarfing midsize firms that would have been among the nation’s largest only 35 years ago. The nation’s largest 50 law firms, in terms of headcount, employ an average of 1,216 lawyers, 123 percent more than the firms ranked 51 to 100, the National…

Apr 16, 2012 12:45 PM CDT

As Another Dewey & LeBoeuf Partner Exits, Total 2012 Departure Tally Tops 50

Updated: Los Angeles partner David Smith has exited Dewey & LeBoeuf for a 100-attorney California-based law firm, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth. That puts the latest tally of Dewey partner departures to join competing law firms in 2012 at 52, the Am Law Daily reports. Other partners have reportedly retired…

Apr 13, 2012 4:34 PM CDT

Crowell & Moring Sued; Ex-Client Claims $15M Lost Due to Embezzlement by Then-Associate of Law Firm

A former real estate client has sued Crowell & Moring for malpractice, contending that it lost $15 million as a result of the actions of an inadequately supervised New York associate who jumped off the tracks of standard law practice. In addition to the $15 million it could cost to…

Apr 13, 2012 11:25 AM CDT

Well-Known Law Firm Leads List of Top ‘Low-Car’ Portland, Ore., Companies

A combination of transit benefits, a lack of free automobile parking and participation by workers helped a well-known Portland, Ore., law firm lead the list of the city’s top 25 “low-car” companies, in a three-way tie for the most points scored (210 out of a possible 250). Stoel Rives appears…

Apr 11, 2012 9:29 PM CDT

Reuters Lists ‘Linchpin’ Partners Still at Dewey & LeBoeuf Who Are ‘Critical to the Firm’s Future’

Despite the departure of approximately 50 partners since the beginning of 2012 and an effort to deal with a high debtload and lower-than-expected revenue that reportedly has led the law firm to defer a portion of compensation to some partners, Dewey & LeBoeuf is still on a viable business course,…

Apr 11, 2012 6:18 PM CDT

A ‘Valorem Dozen’: The Ingredients for One New Normal Firm

Several recent posts by Paul Lippe have highlighted the problems currently being encountered by Dewey & LeBeouf. Already this year, more than 45 partners have abandoned the firm, and American Lawyer recently restated, rather dramatically, Dewey’s revenue and profits per equity partner for 2010 and 2011. Comparisons to Howrey abound:…

Apr 11, 2012 1:30 PM CDT

Dewey Loses Two UK Partners, Including Co-Chief of Its Environmental Litigation Group

Dewey & LeBoeuf is losing two more partners. With the latest departures, the firm has lost at least 49 partners in 2012. This time, the partners are in the firm’s London office. Nicholas Rock, who co-chairs Dewey’s environmental litigation practice group, is headed to Reed Smith, Legal Week reports. And…

Apr 10, 2012 12:59 PM CDT

4-Lawyer IP Team Leaps from SNR Denton to Dallas Office of Patton Boggs

A four-lawyer team headed by partners Robert Hilton and Robert “Bob” H. Johnston III is making the move from SNR Denton to the Dallas office of Patton Boggs. The addition of the two partners and two associates will significantly enhance the firm’s intellectual property capabilities, the Dallas Business Journal reports.…

Apr 9, 2012 8:39 PM CDT

Ex-Dewey Partner: ‘I’m Not Sure How They Can Weather the Departures’

A Dewey & LeBoeuf partner who left the firm last week for DLA Piper says he expects more people will be leaving his former firm, and he’s not sure how it will fare in the aftermath. John Altorelli will co-chair the U.S. finance practice for DLA Piper. He spoke with…

Apr 9, 2012 12:36 PM CDT

Dewey Structured Finance Chief to Join Mayer Brown; He Is the 47th Partner to Exit Firm

Another partner of Dewey & LeBoeuf has given notice, bringing to at least 47 the number who have headed for the exit in 2012. Stephen Rooney, who heads the firm’s structured finance practice, is the ninth partner to announce his exit this week. He will soon join Mayer Brown, which…

Apr 6, 2012 5:59 PM CDT

Six More Dewey & LeBoeuf Partners Exit, Bringing Total Departure Tally in 2012 to 46

Another six partners of Dewey & LeBoeuf have announced that they are leaving the law firm, bringing to 46 the total number of partner departures in 2012. Among those leaving are James R. Woods, who co-chaired the firm’s global insurance practice. He joined Mayer Brown on Wednesday, the Wall Street…

Apr 4, 2012 11:00 PM CDT

Former Cozen Associate Suspended for False Billings, Practicing Law on Inactive Status

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has imposed a 30-month suspension on a former associate at Cozen O’Connor accused of false billing while at the law firm and continuing to practice law while on inactive status. The associate, Matthew Francis Henry, was an associate at Cozen from at least September 2001 through…

Apr 4, 2012 4:46 PM CDT

Biggest Law Firm, by US Headcount Only, Is Jones Day

Baker & McKenzie is the nation’s largest law firm, but its ranking falls to No. 47 on a list of firms based on U.S. headcount only. Baker has 3,805 lawyers, but only about one-sixth of them are in the United States, the National Law Journal reports. The publication has created…

Apr 4, 2012 1:11 PM CDT