Law Firms

No conflicts by Sullivan & Cromwell in representation of Samuel Bankman-Fried, report finds

Sullivan & Cromwell did not ignore “red flags” that would have alerted it to misconduct when it represented Samuel Bankman-Fried, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, in the purchase of shares in a mobile trading platform, according to a second report by a court-appointed bankruptcy examiner.

Sep 30, 2024 2:05 PM CDT

Which law firms scored highest in summer associate surveys? And which had memorable events?

The law firm with a No. 1 ranking by summer associates is either Dentons or Paul Hastings, according to surveys by Law.com and Law360 Pulse.

Sep 27, 2024 9:19 AM CDT

Some top partners in BigLaw will bill nearly $3,000 per hour next year, data says

Billing rates for some of the nation’s highest-grossing law firms are expected to continue an upward climb next year.

Sep 26, 2024 12:07 PM CDT

Suit alleging Jones Day’s family-leave policy discriminates against men can go to trial, judge rules

A federal judge has ruled that two former associates at Jones Day can go to trial on seven claims against the law firm, including allegations that its family-leave policy discriminates against male attorneys.

Sep 26, 2024 10:52 AM CDT

Man gets prison time for attorney-fraud scheme that targeted some BigLaw firms

A North Carolina man convicted in an attorney-fraud scheme has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay more than $22.5 million in restitution to 73 victims, including four BigLaw firms.

Sep 24, 2024 10:13 AM CDT

Taft’s revenue ranking ‘will move up substantially’ after planned merger, law firm says

Taft Stettinius & Hollister plans to merge with Denver-based Sherman & Howard, creating a law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers.

Sep 24, 2024 8:50 AM CDT

Straight white woman can’t sue over BigLaw diversity fellowship because she didn’t apply, motion says

A former law student has no standing to sue over King & Spalding’s summer associate diversity fellowship because she never applied for the position, the law firm has said in a Sept. 19 motion to dismiss.

Sep 23, 2024 3:05 PM CDT

Dechert, 2 ex-partners settle RICO suit alleging scheme to steal data from client’s opponent

An airline executive who alleged that a former Dechert partner conspired to hack and release his emails in a campaign to silence him has settled his civil RICO lawsuit against the law firm defendants.

Sep 23, 2024 9:33 AM CDT

Artificial Intelligence in Litigation: Streamlining deposition summarization and analysis

Generative artificial intelligence tools for legal professionals have been a large part of my focus in this column. Since 2017, I’ve written about all different types of software and have been covering AI tools. After the general release of ChatGPT in November 2022, one of my top priorities has been to include generative AI products designed for legal professionals.

Sep 20, 2024 9:55 AM CDT

Law firms likely to add associates at ‘robust clip’ in these practice areas, recruiters say

Associate hiring is on the rise amid rosy projections for law firm finances next year, according to recruiters who spoke with Law360.

Sep 19, 2024 3:05 PM CDT

Law firm can sue over alleged fake online reviews that toppled its top rating, appeals court says

A Houston law firm alleging that it was defamed by 99 fake three-star reviews on its Google business page can sue for defamation for 62 of those reviews, an Ohio appeals court has ruled.

Sep 19, 2024 2:37 PM CDT

With attorney fees, Gibson Dunn must pay over $725K to ex-partner who had earned $60M

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has agreed to pay a former partner more than $140,000 in attorney fees unless the amount is overturned in an appeal of his much higher arbitration award.

Sep 19, 2024 9:57 AM CDT

What does the future hold for licensed paraprofessionals?

Much has been made of the gigantic access-to-justice gap in this country. One possible way to help bridge the gap is to expand the pool of people eligible to practice law. Of course, that raises age-old concerns about unauthorized practice of law.

Sep 18, 2024 8:49 AM CDT

Pro se litigant and lawyer ordered to pay $1.5M for using Lewis Brisbois name

Updated: A federal judge in Houston has ordered a lawyer and a pro se litigant in a rental-fee and eviction dispute to pay $1.5 million for registering a Texas business using the name of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, the law firm representing their litigation opponent in the rental litigation.

Sep 17, 2024 3:05 PM CDT

It’s ‘past time to proceed to the merits’ in fired BigLaw associate’s bias case, judge says

A federal judge in California last week refused to toss an amended gender-bias and retaliation lawsuit filed against Kirkland & Ellis by a fired associate, saying “it is past time to proceed to the merits.”

Sep 16, 2024 12:26 PM CDT