Large Firm

Afternoon Briefs: State files 100th lawsuit challenging Trump policies; 2 more firms reverse pay cuts

California files 100th suit against Trump administration California and 21 other states have filed a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration rule that curtails the scope of environmental reviews conducted to assess the impact of actions by federal agencies. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said it is the 100th suit filed…

Aug 31, 2020 4:45 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: 4th Circuit rules for transgender youth; tribe objects to execution

4th Circuit rules for transgender youth on bathroom policy The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Richmond, Virginia, has ruled for former high school student Gavin Grimm, a transgender youth who wanted to use a school restroom that matched his gender identity. The 4th Circuit said the Gloucester County,…

Aug 27, 2020 4:30 PM CDT

Growing number of law firms at least partly roll back salary cuts

Salary cuts are easing for lawyers and staffers at many law firms that adopted austerity measures to controls costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aug 26, 2020 3:54 PM CDT

Overbilling suit alleges K&L Gates used these techniques to increase fees

An overbilling lawsuit filed against K&L Gates on Monday alleges the law firm used multiple techniques to increase its fees fraudulently while representing a company in a suit over a failed lease agreement.

Aug 26, 2020 11:48 AM CDT

Judge asked to order Morgan Lewis, two lawyers and Eric Trump to comply with state subpoenas

New York Attorney General Letitia James has asked a judge to compel testimony by Eric Trump and two lawyers who have done work for the Trump Organization, including a Morgan, Lewis & Bockius partner. James is seeking the information in a civil probe of the Trump Organization’s financial dealings, report…

Aug 24, 2020 4:05 PM CDT

‘Good disaster’ leads to ousting of more BigLaw partners, often under revised procedures

Large law firms are increasingly "counseling out" unproductive partners to free up more money to retain high performers, sources tell Law.com.

Aug 24, 2020 11:20 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Steve Bannon charged; more BigLaw firms trim pay cuts

Steve Bannon charged with defrauding donors President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist Stephen Bannon is among four people charged with defrauding donors to an online crowdfunding campaign called “We Build the Wall.” Bannon is accused of receiving more than $1 million of Build the Wall funds through a nonprofit he…

Aug 20, 2020 4:52 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Lawyer is accused of $20M money laundering scam; BigLaw firm trims salary cuts

Lawyer is charged in alleged $20M cryptocurrency scam Lawyer Scott Hughes, 44, of Newport Beach, California, has been accused of helping launder at least $20 million in an alleged cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme. The indictment unsealed Tuesday claims that Hughes and four other defendants promised guaranteed returns for phantom investments in…

Aug 19, 2020 4:29 PM CDT

Kamala Harris’ husband takes leave of absence from BigLaw firm

Douglas Emhoff, the litigator husband of Sen. Kamala Harris—a Democrat from California and the presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 2020 election—has taken a leave of absence from DLA Piper, where he is a partner in the Los Angeles office.

Aug 18, 2020 12:54 PM CDT

Fired legal assistant at Kirkland & Ellis claims firm restructuring was motivated by age bias

A former legal assistant at Kirkland & Ellis alleges that the law firm discriminated based on age when it fired a group of older litigation support workers and made them reapply for new positions in a “sham process.”

Aug 17, 2020 11:04 AM CDT

More work shifted to law partners as demand for legal services dropped, new report says

Are partners hoarding legal work in challenging times? That is one of the questions raised by a new report that found that the average growth in billed rates reached record highs in the year’s second quarter, even as demand for legal services plummeted.

Aug 13, 2020 2:11 PM CDT

In expansion push, Dentons announces combination with law firm of nearly 100 lawyers

In its push to become the first truly national U.S. law firm, 10,000-plus lawyer firm Dentons has announced that it is combining with Utah firm Durham Jones & Pinegar.

Aug 11, 2020 10:26 AM CDT

Wife of ‘third founder of Google’ accuses Morrison & Foerster of ‘betrayal’ in divorce

The wife of Scott Hassan, a tech entrepreneur who helped write Google’s original code, is suing Morrison & Foerster for allegedly breaching its fiduciary duty to her by representing her husband's interests after she filed for divorce.

Jul 31, 2020 3:18 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: BigLaw firm reveals ‘stay gap;’ full DC Circuit will hear Michael Flynn case

Allen & Overy reveals its ‘stay gap’ Allen & Overy is the first major law firm to disclose its “stay gap”—the difference in retention between minority and white lawyers. Black, Asian and minority ethnic lawyers leave the firm seven months earlier on average than white lawyers, while Black lawyers leave…

Jul 30, 2020 4:39 PM CDT

Federal judge references ‘mansplaining’ while chastising BigLaw partner for interrupting

Winston & Strawn partner Abbe Lowell blamed Zoom videoconference delays for speaking over a Massachusetts federal judge during a Tuesday hearing.

Jul 29, 2020 4:34 PM CDT