Partners

Latest Twist in Rothstein Case: Firm Loaned $35M to Lawyers & Others

With $1.4 billion in liabilities and $42 million in assets, according to court filings, the now-defunct Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler law firm obviously isn’t doing well in the wake of an alleged $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme by former attorney Scott Rothstein. And of that $42 million, $23.9 million represents loans and…

Dec 23, 2009 9:20 PM CST

15 Lawyers Say So Long to Dickstein, Hello to Kasowitz Benson in Same Building

There may be some tense elevator encounters among attorneys at one Manhattan office building after the announcement of a planned defection of 15 lawyers from Dickstein Shapiro to Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman. That’s because the New York City contingents of the two law firms both work in the same…

Dec 23, 2009 8:22 PM CST

Cravath Makes No New Partners; Economy Not to Blame, Lawyer Says

One of the most prestigious New York-based law firms made no new partners this year, and this wasn’t because of the difficult economy, one lawyer tells the Am Law Daily. The reason why, this unidentified senior partner at Cravath Swaine & Moore says, is that “this year, no one met…

Dec 22, 2009 11:44 PM CST

Sudden Defection of Senior IP Partner Sparks Storm at Sonnenschein

After a senior intellectual property partner at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal announced yesterday that he is leaving the firm immediately to join McDermott Will & Emery, fireworks reportedly erupted. A war of words ensued between the departing lawyer, Palo Alto, Calif., office co-managing partner Yar Chaikovsky, and other senior attorneys…

Dec 22, 2009 8:32 PM CST

Ex-Fried Frank Associate Says Female Partner Harassed Her

A former litigation associate of nearly a decade is poised to file a federal discrimination suit against Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson, contending that the firm denied her a promotion to partnership because she is a lesbian and did not intervene to prevent higher-ups from harassing her. Julie Kamps,…

Dec 22, 2009 1:00 AM CST

Feds Probe Possible Campaign-Finance Violations by Rothstein Lawyers

In the latest development in an ongoing investigation of the alleged $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme that disbarred attorney Scott Rothstein is accused of masterminding, federal authorities are now reportedly probing whether campaign-finance laws were violated by other attorneys in his now-defunct Florida law firm. Rothstein may have funneled money from…

Dec 21, 2009 8:13 PM CST

Hogan & Hartson Associate Makes Partner ... at Seyfarth Shaw

An associate at Hogan & Hartson has made partner … at Seyfarth Shaw, starting work today at the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. William Kahn focuses his practice on international mergers and acquisitions, and has a client portfolio that includes aerospace, defense and technology companies. He tells the Blog of Legal…

Dec 17, 2009 9:55 PM CST

Rothstein Faces New Malpractice Suit; Auction at Replica Law Office Planned

For those who weren’t included in an unusual media tour of Scott Rothstein’s office as his former South Florida law firm was imploding this fall over an alleged $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme: There will be a second chance to see the office more or less as it was at that…

Dec 17, 2009 9:06 PM CST

Epstein Becker Partner Sues Greenberg’s Leslie Corwin, Claims Malpractice

Partnership law expert Leslie Corwin of Greenberg Traurig is defending a malpractice suit by pointing a finger at the plaintiff, a partner with Epstein Becker & Green. The plaintiff, Allen Roberts, claims Corwin and Greenberg Traurig mishandled an arbitration with Roberts’ former law firm, employment boutique Roberts & Finger, the…

Dec 17, 2009 6:43 PM CST

In Spirit of Season, Law Firm Offers Gift Certificates for Divorce Advice

Looking for the perfect gift for squabbling neighbors or friends who are on a bumpy stretch of road in their marriage? A London law firm has a suggestion that is both practical and affordable. In honor of the holiday season, when spouses tend to be especially stressed, Lloyd Platt &…

Dec 17, 2009 5:49 PM CST

You Can’t Sue Us for Malpractice, K&L Gates Tells Non-Client’s Trustee in Filing

Responding to a Pennsylvania malpractice suit contending that a major law firm should have detected an alleged fraud by executives during its internal investigation of a now-bankrupt beverage maker, K&L Gates has fired back in preliminary objections to the Allegheny County action. It contends, among other arguments, that there is…

Dec 17, 2009 1:19 AM CST

Some Top Lawyers Bill More than $1,000 an Hour for Bankruptcy Work

A few lawyers are billing more than $1,000 an hour for bankruptcy work in Manhattan and Delaware courts. The top billers for the year ending in August 2009 were Pleasantville, N.Y., solo Alan Harris and tax partner Bernie Pistillo of Shearman & Sterling and, the American Lawyer reports. Harris charged…

Dec 16, 2009 4:41 PM CST

Ex-Senate Leader’s Law Firm Success Recipe: Transparency, Inclusion & Shared Mission

Two weeks into his new job at DLA Piper, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle still has a clean desk, according to a photo published by Legal Bisnow. However, the senior policy adviser’s strategic position right next to Frank “Rusty” Conner III, who serves as managing partner of the…

Dec 15, 2009 9:15 PM CST

Lawyer Who Was in Line to Be State Bar President Is Jailed in Teen Sex Case

A prominent Minnesota lawyer slated to become president of the state bar association in another two years was jailed over the weekend in a teen sex case and is reportedly now on leave from Gray Plant Mooty. Aaron Biber, 46, was co-chair of the firm’s antitrust and trade regulation practice…

Dec 15, 2009 12:13 AM CST

62 Former Heller Ehrman Partners Agree to Pay $1.6M to Creditors

Although most senior lawyers at the now-defunct Heller Ehrman firm apparently have yet to agree to a payout to the bankrupt law firm’s creditors, a group of 62 primarily junior partners has reportedly promised to ante up $1.6 million in a tentative settlement. The individual payouts aren’t disclosed in yesterday’s…

Dec 11, 2009 9:44 PM CST