Partners

Partner Won’t Have to Arbitrate Bias Claim against Law Firm, 3rd Circuit Rules

A federal appeals court has ruled a female partner doesn’t have to arbitrate her sexual discrimination claim against Dickie McCamey & Chilcote, despite an arbitration clause in the firm’s bylaws. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Philadelphia refused to require arbitration of the suit by partner Alyson…

Mar 27, 2009 4:23 PM CDT

NY Lawyers & Dominatrix Accused of Running $50M Mortgage Fraud Scheme

In the news last month when he complained that authorities had searched his law office, a Long Island criminal, matrimonial and real estate attorney now has additional trouble on his agenda. Private practitioner George Guldi, 57, is accused of running, along with a dominatrix, her husband and two more New…

Mar 27, 2009 10:04 AM CDT

After Early March Mayhem, Law Firm Layoffs Slow: Month’s Total Nears 3,500

It appears that the worst might possibly be over, both for the struggling global economy and the ever-increasing number of major law firms that have been laying off support staff, associates–and even partners–in record numbers. Although law firm layoffs continue–Thursday’s tally included some 234 people let go at four well-known…

Mar 27, 2009 4:54 AM CDT

30 WolfBlock Lawyers to Join Cozen

Observers predicted earlier that as many as 100 of the lawyers working at dissolving WolfBlock might wind up at another Philadelphia-based law firm, Cozen O’Connor. But right now only about 30 are officially doing so, although more may soon make the move, too, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal. All…

Mar 27, 2009 12:16 AM CDT

Like Pilot in Cockpit, Lawyer Needs Low Shelves, Organizer Says

For some attorneys, credenzas work just fine. But others, like an unidentified trial attorney whom designer Lisa Whited sought to help during a recent law firm job, need an alternative system, reports the New York Times. Seeing the papers that covered his desk and floor as he prepared a case,…

Mar 26, 2009 11:33 PM CDT

Fox Rothschild is Acquiring Pastore Firm, Opening New Office in Stamford, Conn.

Three months after some former Dreier lawyers formed their own firm in Stamford, Conn., they are moving to a much bigger platform. Fox Rothschild is acquiring the nine-lawyer Pastore Osterberg boutique, which will establish a 15th office for the 450-attorney Philadelphia-based national firm and convert the former Stamford office of…

Mar 26, 2009 9:16 PM CDT

Clifford Firm Lays Off 24 NYC Attorneys, Defers Start Date for Incoming ‘09 Class

A London-based megafirm has made a second round of associate layoffs in its New York office, and it is pushing back the start date for its incoming class of associates. Because of a work slowdown, Clifford Chance has cut 24 transactional associates in New York City, the firm announces in…

Mar 26, 2009 6:18 PM CDT

Former Homeland Security Chief Chertoff Joins Covington

Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is joining Covington & Burling’s white-collar defense and investigations practice. Chertoff is a former assistant U.S. attorney, a former head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and a former judge with the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Am Law Daily reports.…

Mar 26, 2009 4:17 PM CDT

Trustee Says Dreier Had Run Through Most of His Cash

A receiver appointed to locate the assets of Marc Dreier says the New York lawyer had run through most of his cash by the time he was charged with selling fake promissory notes. The report by receiver Mark Pomerantz of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison suggests a relationship between…

Mar 26, 2009 11:39 AM CDT

Ex-Partner at La. Law Firm Gets 15 Years in Bizarre $30M Fraud Case

In the final chapter of a bizarre case at one point involving counterclaims that read like the plot of a John Grisham novel, a former partner at a Louisiana law firm who admitted his guilt today was sentenced to a 15-year federal prison term for fraud and money laundering. Ex-attorney…

Mar 26, 2009 2:08 AM CDT

Stanford Receiver Asks Judge for Hunton & Williams Legal Files

A receiver for Stanford Group Co. has asked a federal judge in Dallas to order a law firm that represented an Antigua-based bank at the center of a claimed $8 billion Ponzi scheme allegedly run by Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford to turn over related legal files. The court-appointed receiver,…

Mar 25, 2009 5:47 PM CDT

Chicago-Based Arnstein & Lehr Acquires 7-Lawyer Fla. Firm

Following up on a previously announced plan of Florida expansion, Chicago-based Arnstein & Lehr is acquiring a seven-lawyer Coral Gables firm. All of the attorneys at Fieldstone Shear & Denberg will be joining Arnstein, and Ronald Fieldstone, David Shear and Michael Denberg will be joining as equity partners, according to…

Mar 24, 2009 8:46 PM CDT

Partner Pay Cuts are New Signpost in Dismal Law Firm Economic Landscape

Associates and staff were low-hanging fruit waiting to be cut in law firm layoffs. Start dates for new attorneys have been delayed, salaries have been frozen and benefits formerly taken for granted have been axed. At least one well-known law firm has even reduced the coffee service offered at its…

Mar 24, 2009 7:49 PM CDT

Ex-Client Seeks $10M Legal Fees Clawback Over Ill-Fated Patent Litigation

A former client is suing two law firms in an effort to recapture some $10 million in legal fees and costs from ill-fated patent infringement litigation. E-Pass Technologies is asserting negligent misrepresentation claims against the company’s former counsel in its California lawsuit, reports the Recorder. The defendants are New York…

Mar 24, 2009 6:36 PM CDT

Clifford Chance Partners Approve Cuts in their Ranks

Partners at the United Kingdom law firm Clifford Chance voted yesterday to approve a partnership restructuring that will force some of their own out the door. The firm had already announced its intention to cut both salaried and equity partners, but it hasn’t indicated how many will be affected, Legal…

Mar 24, 2009 11:10 AM CDT