Midsize Firm

Federal judge axes suit against law firm in sunken-treasure hoax, sets sanctions hearing for partner

A well-known Delaware law firm is no longer facing a civil lawsuit over a sunken-treasure hoax. But a sanctions hearing has been scheduled later this week by a federal judge in Florida for partner Bruce Silverstein of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, Delaware Law Weekly (sub. req.) reports. Silverstein is…

Dec 9, 2014 12:15 PM CST

Boies Schiller to pay as much as $350K to associates in end-of-year bonuses

Once again, litigation boutique Boies, Schiller & Flexner is paying top bonuses to associate attorneys. Many senior associates will get $125,000 to $150,000 in end-of-year payments reflecting their work and the firm’s success, and two will receive top bonuses of $350,000 each, the New York Times’ DealBook blog reports. David…

Dec 3, 2014 4:35 PM CST

Verrill Dana to hire 20 lawyers from Connecticut firm, will tie Pierce Atwood as biggest Maine firm

Although technically not a merger, an agreement by Verrill Dana to acquire the employees of a Connecticut-based law firm effectively is one, says managing partner K.C. Jones. And when the 20 lawyers from Levett Rockwood come on board around the beginning of the year, the combined roster of approximately 140…

Dec 2, 2014 3:00 PM CST

After 100 years as tenant under a verbal lease, law firm is moving to another building

Established in 1888, an Auburn, California, law firm has had its offices in the same bank building for 101 years. During that time, as Sinclair, Wilson, Baldo & Chamberlain maintained its real estate and trusts-oriented practice, the firm eliminated the spittoons that were once placed throughout the office for the…

Nov 21, 2014 1:05 PM CST

Think tank sues Winstead for $1M, says firm helped CEO secretly settle with worker by promoting her

A think tank has sued a prominent Texas-based law firm and its chairman emeritus, contending that they helped its then-CEO try to settle an employee’s claim against him at great cost to the organization. At issue was a claim by an assistant to founder and CEO John Goodman of the…

Nov 19, 2014 2:23 PM CST

Ex-Navy SEAL sues lawyer, says bad advice about best-selling Osama bin Laden book cost him millions

Recently profiled on 60 Minutes, a former Navy SEAL who wrote a best-selling book about the U.S. government raid that killed Osama Bin Laden wound up being federally investigated, his lawyer says. The issue: Whether Matt Bissonnette, writing under the pen name “Mark Owen,” revealed government secrets in violation of…

Nov 6, 2014 10:50 AM CST

Racketeering suit says law firm aided sunken-treasure fraud, seeks $10M in damages

An investor group has filed a federal racketeering suit against a well-known Delaware law firm and one of its partners, contending that they aided and abetted a sunken treasure fraud concerning emeralds a client claimed to have discovered undersea off the Florida coast. The alleged participation of Bruce Silverstein and…

Oct 9, 2014 10:50 AM CDT

Law firm sues ex-partner, says he billed client for $2.3M in fictional work

A New York law firm sued a former partner Tuesday, contending that he billed a corporate client $2.3 million over an eight-year period for “nonexistent work on cases that had already been terminated and/or never existed.” David Denenberg also sought reimbursement for $800,000 in nonexistent expenses, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron…

Sep 23, 2014 4:10 PM CDT

Well-known firm is growing again, will acquire 17-lawyer tech boutique

For the second time this year, a well-known northeastern and mid-Atlantic law firm is expanding by acquiring a specialized boutique. As of Oct. 1, the latest addition for McCarter & English will be SorinRand, a 17-attorney East Brunswick, N.J., law firm that specializes in representing technology companies and venture capitalists,…

Sep 22, 2014 5:45 PM CDT

4 top partners will exit NY law firm to establish new office for competitor

Four senior partners, including two practice group leaders, will be exiting their New York law firm at the end of the month to form a new Buffalo office for a growing competitor. Joining Woods Oviatt Gilman from Damon Morey, one of Buffalo’s oldest and largest law firms, will be William…

Sep 11, 2014 4:15 PM CDT

BuckleySandler is opening a London office

A 150-attorney Washington, D.C.-based law firm known for its representation of financial services clients is opening a London office. It is the first international outpost for BuckleySandler, which announced the new office Monday. James T. Parkinson is relocating from D.C. to serve as its partner-in-residence. “As the enforcement, regulatory and…

Sep 9, 2014 12:10 PM CDT

Growing military and federal employment boutique opens new San Diego office

A growing New York-based boutique that focuses much of its practice on representing members of the military and federal employees has opened its first office west of the Mississippi River. The new Tully Rinckey office is located in San Diego. It is headed by longtime litigator Steven Herrick, who earned…

Sep 3, 2014 11:35 AM CDT

Prominent law firm says it knew nothing of claimed sunken treasure fraud, wasn’t counsel of record

A partner at a well-known Delaware law firm says in a court filing that he and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor knew nothing about an alleged fraud on a federal court in Florida concerning a client’s claimed sunken undersea treasure find. Responding to the court’s show-cause order, Bruce Silverstein says…

Sep 2, 2014 2:55 PM CDT

Hinshaw & Culbertson to acquire 45-attorney California firm

Known for its insurance and coverage work, Hinshaw & Culbertson is adding a 45-attorney California-based law firm with an international office in London to its roster. As of Oct. 1, the Chicago-based firm, which has 22 offices throughout the U.S., will acquire Barger & Wolen, which focuses on insurance litigation…

Sep 2, 2014 11:45 AM CDT

Former managing partner embezzled $30M from law firm and affiliated title company, suit says

Updated: A former managing partner of a well-known Atlanta real estate boutique has been sued by the law firm and an affiliated title company for allegedly embezzling $30 million. The suit says Nathan E. “Nat” Hardwick IV diverted funds from operating and trust accounts at Morris Hardwick Schneider and LandCastle…

Aug 27, 2014 6:35 PM CDT