Wilson Sonsini Is Nation’s Most Diverse BigLaw Firm, Survey Finds

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is ranked No. 1 for diversity in a new survey of large law firms. At Wilson Sonsini based in Palo Alto, Calif., 18.5 percent of its partners and 25.4 percent of all of its lawyers are minorities, giving it a combined diversity score of 43.9…

Jun 7, 2011 3:03 PM CDT

Orrick Seeks to Withdraw from Bratz Case, Cites $1.2M in Unpaid Fees

Another law firm representing Bratz doll manufacturer MGA Entertainment is claiming the company isn’t paying its legal bills. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is seeking to withdraw from representing MGA in a second case after helping the company win $88.5 million in a retrial over rights to Bratz doll profits, the…

Jun 3, 2011 11:59 AM CDT

BigLaw Partner Scores Win in Retirement Fight; He’s an Employee, for Discrimination Law Purposes

A Vancouver partner in one of Canada’s biggest law firms has scored another victory in his fight to avoid retiring at age 65. In an opinion released today, the British Columbia Supreme Court upheld a ruling last year by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal that Mitch McCormick, 66, would be…

Jun 2, 2011 10:57 PM CDT

Report: BigLaw Attorney in Insider-Trade Case Didn’t Open Firm Docs, Allegedly Just Used Title Info

An attorney who allegedly obtained confidential information over a 17-year period while working at three major law firms before being charged earlier this year in an insider-trading case that allegedly involved over $30 million in illegal profits, has given chief information officers in the legal industry much to ponder. Wilson…

Jun 2, 2011 5:34 PM CDT

Foley & Lardner Taps Firm Attorneys to Create $4M Venture Capital Fund

Foley & Lardner has reportedly turned to attorneys at the law firm to invest in a new venture capital fund intended to demonstrate to clients that it will go the extra mile to help them pursue business opportunities. Although two Boston partners are overseeing Foley Ventures, the fund will look…

Jun 1, 2011 11:41 PM CDT

7th Circuit Scolds Hogan Lovells for ‘Misleadingly’ Describing Case in Appellate Brief

In an opinion filed yesterday in redistricting dispute involving the Girl Scouts of the United States, the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals court took a well-known law firm to task for its characterization of a case cited as authority for its client’s position. Hogan Lovells “misleadingly” described a…

Jun 1, 2011 9:55 PM CDT

NYT Learns of Goldman Trader’s Legal Defense from Discarded Laptop

The New York Times has learned about the legal defenses for a Goldman Sachs trader from a discarded laptop discovered in a garbage area of a New York apartment building. An artist and filmmaker gave legal materials from the laptop to the newspaper, saying a friend had discovered the computer…

Jun 1, 2011 5:44 PM CDT

Ex-Chicago Mayor Daley Joins Katten Muchin

Former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley will be joining Katten Muchin Rosenman. Daley will be of counsel to the firm, the Chicago Tribune reports, citing a press release. He will not participate in work involving the city or its affiliated agencies. Daley said he had offers from several prominent law firms,…

Jun 1, 2011 11:08 AM CDT

A Big Play for BigLaw: Ethics 20/20 Considers Separate Conduct Rules for Large Firms

Jun 1, 2011 5:50 AM CDT

Ogilvy Jumps Gun on Tomorrow’s Merger with Norton Rose, Erases Name on Law Firm’s Doors

As of tomorrow, Canada’s Ogilvy Renault will officially merge with London-based Norton Rose. But, at its Montreal headquarters, the firm jumped the gun and had a new sign installed several days ago, reports the Globe and Mail. Other offices plan a similar makeover tonight, and partners in Toronto plan to…

Jun 1, 2011 12:20 AM CDT

IPOs Bring Big Fees to BigLaw, Make One GC a Multimillionaire

Initial public offerings are keeping many large law firms busy. Two law firms profiting from the IPO boom are Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Cooley, the Am Law Daily reports. Wilson Sonsini advised LinkedIn when it went public while Cooley represented the underwriters. LinkedIn has estimated its legal fees…

May 31, 2011 1:25 PM CDT

UK Law Firm Ex-Partner Probed re 7-Figure Sum

For the second time in less than two weeks, a prominent London lawyer is in the news concerning a seven-figure sum. This time it’s a former partner of Ince & Co., Andrew Iyer. He’s being investigated by multiple agencies concerning what a spokesman for the law firm describes as “irregular…

May 27, 2011 11:06 PM CDT

DLA Piper Takes Former UK Partner to Arbitration over Notice and ‘Gardening Leave’

DLA Piper has initiated arbitration proceedings against a former partner it accuses of leaving the law firm too quickly. Neil Gerrard, DLA Piper’s litigation co-chair, gave notice in late March and joined Dechert on April 23, Legal Week reports in a story noted by the Am Law Daily. DLA had…

May 27, 2011 1:38 PM CDT

Drinker Biddle Patent Lawyer Helps Paul Simon with His Lyrics

A patent lawyer with Drinkle Biddle & Reath flaunted his knowledge at a Paul Simon concert Wednesday, but his demonstration had nothing to do with infringement or licensing. Instead Paul Fournier, who is of counsel with the firm, showed his familiarity with Paul Simon lyrics. According to the Washington Post’s…

May 27, 2011 10:30 AM CDT

Polsinelli Opens New Dallas Office with 3-Lawyer M&A Team from K&L Gates

Polsinelli Shughart has opened a new office in Dallas with a three-lawyer mergers and acquisitions team from K&L Gates and plans further growth there down the road. The 530-attorney Kansas City, Mo.-based law firm now has a presence in eight states and 16 cities, notes a press release announcing the…

May 26, 2011 11:19 PM CDT