Large Firm

Percentage of equity partners continues to shrink while BigLaw profits increase

The percentage of equity partners in the nation’s top 100 law firms continued to decline last year, even as average revenue per lawyer increased. The percentage of equity partners was 56% of total partners in 2018, down from 78% in 2000, Law.com reports. The percentage “has been steadily contracting for…

May 7, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

About 800 ex-prosecutors say Trump would be charged with obstruction if he wasn’t president

Updated: Donald Trump would have been charged with obstruction of justice if he wasn’t president, based on evidence described in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, according to a statement signed by hundreds of former federal prosecutors. As of Wednesday afternoon, about 800 former federal prosecutors and Department of Justice attorneys had signed the statement.

May 6, 2019 3:32 PM CDT

BigLaw firm wins partial dismissal of 2 plaintiffs’ claims in gender bias suit

A federal magistrate judge has tossed some claims by two former Morrison & Foerster associates who sued the law firm for alleged gender bias in a would-be class action. The May 1 decision by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley allows the women a chance to replead their claims, Bloomberg…

May 6, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Businesses double down on mandating diversity from outside counsel

As law firms grapple with surging calls for improved diversity in their partnership ranks, corporate clients have joined the chorus and added to the pressure in three ways: the carrot, the stick and moral suasion.

May 1, 2019 1:45 AM CDT

Socialite grifter convicted, despite help from courtroom stylist; she allegedly fooled law firms

A professional courtroom stylist was unable to win an acquittal for accused socialite grifter Anna Sorokin, who was also accused but not charged with duping three BigLaw firms.

Apr 30, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Fired BigLaw paralegal must pay $35K sanction in dropped suit against law firm, 7th Circuit says

On Friday, a federal appeals court upheld a sanction requiring a paralegal who filed a $200 million bias suit against Baker McKenzie to pay the law firm’s attorney fees. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago upheld an order requiring the paralegal, Elena Stephens, to pay about $35,000.…

Apr 29, 2019 9:16 AM CDT

Trump re-election campaign has topped $8M in legal fees in 2 years

President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign has spent more than $8 million in legal fees since he took office in 2017. In ABC News’ analysis of campaign finance records, the Trump campaign spent nearly $1.7 million on legal expenses in the first three months of 2019. More than $1.2 million of…

Apr 26, 2019 3:54 PM CDT

New program will pay some law school admittees to defer studies and work in public interest

Weil, Gotshal & Manges recently announced a program that funds yearlong public interest positions for individuals admitted to a handful of prestigious law schools who are willing to put off their studies for one year. The Weil Legal Innovators Program will fund the public interest work of 10 prelaw students,…

Apr 26, 2019 2:08 PM CDT

Federal judge rejects BigLaw firm’s sanctions request in gender bias suit

Corrected: A federal judge in San Francisco has denied Morrison & Foerster’s request for sanctions in a suit claiming “mommy track” gender bias by the law firm. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of San Francisco rejected the motion during arguments Thursday, the Recorder reports. Morrison & Foerster had claimed…

Apr 19, 2019 11:20 AM CDT

BigLaw firm isn’t liable to investors for lawyer’s work for Ponzi schemer, 5th Circuit rules

A federal appeals court has ruled that Greenberg Traurig is immune from liability in a lawsuit by investors who lost money in a Ponzi scheme perpetrated by a client. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans ruled Wednesday that the law firm is immune under Texas law…

Apr 19, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

Alleged phony lawyer arrested for creating fake website with Cravath bios

A Tennessee man was charged Tuesday for allegedly creating a fake website for a six-lawyer New York City law firm, so he could dupe people into paying him for legal services. John Lambert, 23, was arrested Tuesday and charged with wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, according to a press…

Apr 18, 2019 3:56 PM CDT

BigLaw global chairman’s death after leave for health issues highlights stress of law practice

Baker McKenzie global chairman Paul Rawlinson died April 12, six months after he decided to take a temporary leave to deal with health issues caused by exhaustion. Rawlinson was 56, report the Financial Times, Bloomberg Big Law Business and the American Lawyer in articles here and here. The cause of…

Apr 16, 2019 10:54 AM CDT

Jones Day says gender bias lawsuit painted ‘distorted picture’

Jones Day is responding to a gender bias lawsuit with a statement that cites an “inclusive culture” and a partnership that includes 240 women. A $200 million lawsuit filed April 3 had alleged that the firm has a “fraternity culture” in which female lawyers have to participate if they hope…

Apr 10, 2019 9:01 AM CDT

BigLaw firm seeks sanctions against plaintiff, firm in suit alleging ‘mommy track’ bias

Morrison & Foerster has filed a sanctions motion alleging that the law firm that sued it for alleged “mommy track” gender bias added a plaintiff, despite a warning that she did not have a viable claim. The motion, filed Monday, seeks dismissal of the claim filed by the plaintiff, known…

Apr 10, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

Former Willkie co-chair plans to plead guilty in college cheating scandal

Gordon Caplan, the former co-chairman of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, says he will plead guilty in the college admissions scandal.

Apr 5, 2019 1:30 PM CDT