Partners

Law Firms Consider Shrinking Partner Offices

Law firms looking to cut down expenses are considering one-size-fits-all offices. Real estate experts told the National Law Journal that some law firms are thinking of downsizing partner offices to the same size as associate space or squeezing two associates into single offices. Other firms are taking less drastic measures,…

Apr 3, 2009 2:23 PM CDT

Law Firm MP Asks Miss Manners About ‘Shot in the Dark’ Resumes

The managing partner of a law firm has turned to Miss Manners for advice on a vexing question: Is a personal reply required when lawyers send “shot in the dark” resumés? Miss Manners’ reply differentiates between what etiquette requires and what behavior is courteous. Here is the managing partner’s letter,…

Apr 3, 2009 11:36 AM CDT

Up to 92 Clifford Chance Partners to be Axed ... But Which Ones?

After earlier news that Clifford Chance plans to restructure its partnership and that partners have approved the plan comes word of exactly how many partners will be affected. Partners of the London-based megafirm last week approved the plan to cull their ranks based on a promise that no more than…

Apr 2, 2009 9:23 PM CDT

Paralegal Loses Sex Claims, But Can Sue Texas PI Lawyer Over Firing & OT

A Texas judge has dismissed a paralegal’s civil litigation claims of sexual misconduct by a well-known plaintiff personal injury attorney, but allowed her to continue with other allegations. Harris County District Judge Tracy Christopher yesterday granted a motion for summary judgment for lack of evidence by attorney Richard Laminack on…

Apr 2, 2009 8:01 PM CDT

Color My Lawyer

The ingenious folks at Apple have come up with another practice to be envied: Color-coding store employees. Need a manager? Look for the red-T-shirt. Need a genius? Go to the guy in the dark blue tee. Need a question answered? The dude in the orange shirt can help.

Apr 2, 2009 2:20 AM CDT

Calif. Man Arrested Over Package Left at Law Office

Yesterday, the local bomb squad evacuated the top four floors of a 12-story building in Oakland, Calif., after a package containing wires and radio parts was left at the office of a well-known civil rights attorney. Although staff at the office of attorney John Burris admitted the man who left…

Apr 2, 2009 12:12 AM CDT

April is the Cruelest Month for Lawyers Behind on Their Taxes

Although most lawyers pay their taxes and file their returns on time, some don’t. And those who don’t often make for a doozy of a story. One longtime Illinois lawyer, now deceased, simply refused to file, says George Collins, himself a longtime Chicago practitioner who regularly represents attorneys in disciplinary…

Apr 1, 2009 11:43 PM CDT

Possible Bomb Today at Law Office of Calif. Civil Rights Attorney

The top four floors of a 12-story office building in Oakland, Calif., was evacuated today after a suspicious package was personally delivered to the office of civil rights attorney John Burris this morning by an unknown person. The incident is the latest in a series of disturbing developments as many…

Mar 31, 2009 9:43 PM CDT

Robinson & Cole Names New MP, Lays Off 11 Attorneys & 19 Staff

A well-known Connecticut-based Northeast regional law firm has just named a new managing partner. Sadly, as Above the Law points out, one of his first tasks was to announce layoffs. Due to the dismal economy, the firm is eliminating 11 associates and counsel and 19 staff members from its roster,…

Mar 31, 2009 7:28 PM CDT

Cyclical Downturn or Paradigm Shift? BigLaw Leaders Aren’t Sure

It’s been a stunningly severe economic downturn, with nearly 7,000 legal jobs lost at major United States and United Kingdom firms—so far—this year. But is the sudden change of fortunes, possibly, a paradigm shift, rather than simply another cyclical downturn? Law firm leaders aren’t sure, reports the Lawyer. Regardless of…

Mar 31, 2009 12:06 AM CDT

Citi Law Firm Survey: Hard Times Won’t End Soon, Managing Partners Say

Quarterly results released today from a Citi Private Bank Law Watch survey don’t paint a rosy picture of the financial future for major law firms. Although bankruptcy practices are thriving, even litigation—which normally does well in a downturn—is slower than expected, apparently because of corporate belt-tightening, reports the Blog of…

Mar 30, 2009 10:54 PM CDT

Bizarre $50M Fraud Case Will Help NY Lawyer Challenge Law Office Raid

A prominent New York lawyer complained bitterly when his law office was raided last month by Suffolk County authorities. But now George Guldi is in a better position to object to the warrant that authorized the search and records confiscation, thanks to a bizarre $50 million mortgage-fraud case in which…

Mar 30, 2009 9:49 PM CDT

Husband Arrested in Murder of Up-and-Coming La. Lawyer

When Chiquita Tate met her husband-to-be, she fell for him—hard. Now he is accused of murdering the up-and-coming Louisiana attorney, whose body was found last month in her Baton Rouge law office. She had been preparing to defend a client the next week in a murder trial. Sentenced to 90…

Mar 30, 2009 9:12 PM CDT

Orrick Chairman Admits Strong Leadership Style

Ralph Baxter Jr., who has led San Francisco-based Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe for 19 years, has a reputation as a visionary and strong leader who has led the firm’s international expansion and emphasized core values in recruitment. That top-down leadership style may be the reason Baxter was able to attract…

Mar 30, 2009 11:29 AM CDT

Stanford Exec Sues Proskauer Partner, Says He Put Her in SEC Frying Pan

Blaming a former company lawyer for the criminal case against her, an executive of Stanford Financial Group has sued the lawyer, Thomas Sjoblom, and Proskauer Rose, the firm at which he is a partner. “He essentially dropped her in the grease,” attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents Laura Pendergest-Holt in the…

Mar 28, 2009 1:42 AM CDT