More Top Lawyers Break Through $1,000 Hourly Billing Barrier

Kirkland & Ellis lawyer Kirk Radke has emerged as one of the nation’s most expensive lawyers, court filings suggest. Radke, a private equity and corporate lawyer, charged hourly fees of $1,250 in early 2010, the Wall Street Journal reports. He is one of an increasing number of top lawyers billing…

Feb 23, 2011 12:50 PM CST

Del. Chancery Court OKs Airgas Poison Pill, Finds Board’s Actions in Accord with Biz Judgment Rule

In a much-watched corporate case, the Delaware Chancery Court today OK’d the so-called poison pill strategy successfully utilized by Airgas Inc. to fend off a hostile takeover attempt by Air Products & Chemicals Inc. for the past year. At issue in the unusually lengthy corporate battle was whether the decision-making…

Feb 16, 2011 1:15 AM CST

Meet Travis Laster, Unusual Delaware Chancery Judge Who Focuses on ‘Darker Underside’ of Cases

The newest judge in one of the nation’s most respected corporate courts is unusually outspoken about what he calls “the darker underside” of securities class actions and his opinion of lawyers on both sides of the case. Vice Chancellor Travis Laster, who is in his early 40s, calls plaintiffs attorneys…

Feb 11, 2011 6:32 PM CST

Vendor or Competitor? Pangea3 Purchase Pleases Some, Worries Others

Feb 1, 2011 7:50 AM CST

DLA Piper to Become World’s Largest Law Firm with Australian Merger

DLA Piper is planning a merger with its Australian partner DLA Phillips Fox to become the world’s largest law firm. The merger, targeted to take place May 1, is subject to a partnership vote, Bloomberg News reports. The two law firms had formed an exclusive alliance in 2006. The merged…

Jan 27, 2011 2:41 PM CST

Are Deal Lawyers Considered ‘Second-Class Citizens’ on Wall Street?

Investment bankers may be “fee-hungry opportunists,” but they are first-class citizens on Wall Street. Deal-making lawyers, on the other hand, are considered second-class citizens, according to a commentary on the Wall Street Journal’s Deal Journal blog. “If you’re a Wall Street deal lawyer, you’re a well-paid functionary,” the blog says.…

Jan 18, 2011 5:54 PM CST

What Today’s Outsourcing Boom Means for Legal Practice (Podcast)

When Thomson Reuters announced its acquisition of one of India’s largest legal outsourcing firm late last year, we wanted to know: Is the legal information giant entering into direct competition with its law firm clients? Listen to find out more.

Jan 3, 2011 2:37 PM CST

Suit Accuses Orrick of Delivering ‘Fatal Blow’ to Coudert Brothers

A lawsuit filed by a bankruptcy administrator blames the demise of Coudert Brothers on a law firm that poached several of its lawyers, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. The suit claims Orrick was “feigning interest” in a Coudert merger so it could obtain information on the profitability of partners and offices…

Dec 15, 2010 2:08 PM CST

SEC Says Law Firm Tech Manager Used Merger Info from 20 Clients for Insider Trading Scheme

A former information technology manager in charge of keeping electronic materials secure for an unidentified Wilmington, Del., law firm allegedly used confidential information from at least 20 clients in insider trades made by himself and his brother-in-law. Jeffery J. Temple used the information to trade in stock of major corporations…

Dec 7, 2010 11:22 PM CST

Seattle’s Lane Powell Acquires 17 Lawyers From Oregon Law Firm

Seattle-based Lane Powell is boosting its banking practice with the acquisition of 17 lawyers from Roberts Kaplan in Portland, Ore. The change takes place Jan. 1, according to the Portland Business Journal and the Puget Sound Business Journal. The acquisition makes Lane Powell Portland’s sixth-largest law firm. In the Seattle…

Dec 3, 2010 1:53 PM CST

Merge-Mania: Firms Link Up to Cover More Ground

Dec 1, 2010 6:34 AM CST

K&L Gates Chief Says Norton Rose Deal More of an Arrangement than a Merger

K&L Gates chairman Peter Kalis says the recent spate of trans-Atlantic mergers aren’t the real thing. Kalis told The Lawyer that the deals are more akin to “arrangements” than mergers, and that includes Norton Rose’s claimed merger this week with law firms in Canada and South Africa. He even has…

Nov 18, 2010 1:35 PM CST

Mergers in Canada, South Africa Put Norton Rose in Top Ten

U.K. law firm Norton Rose is expanding into Canada and South Africa through mergers with two other firms. In Canada, Norton Rose is merging with Ogilvy Renault, according to Legal Week, the Am Law Daily and the Toronto Globe and Mail. In South Africa, it is merging with Deneys Reitz.…

Nov 15, 2010 3:58 PM CST

Proskauer Rose and SJ Berwin Call Off Merger Talks

Proskauer Rose and British law firm SJ Berwin have ended merger talks after nine months of discussions. The law firms confirmed the end of the talks in a joint statement, Legal Week reports. SJ Berwin’s new managing partner Rob Day told The Lawyer that one of the issues hampering talks…

Nov 12, 2010 4:08 PM CST

After Initial Denial, Kilpatrick Stockton and Townsend Announce Merger

Kilpatrick Stockton and intellectual property firm Townsend and Townsend and Crew have announced they will merge on Jan. 1, despite earlier assertions to the contrary. The new firm will be called Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, according to a press release and the Greensboro News & Record. Kilpatrick Townsend will have…

Nov 3, 2010 2:53 PM CDT