Partners

More Partner Bloodletting Predicted for 2009

Law firms are likely to take a hard look at underperforming partners this year, with more cuts and de-equitization ahead, according to some consultants and recruiters. There is “a scary consistency” to the predictions, the American Lawyer concludes, with cuts likely at law firms both here and in the United…

Feb 12, 2009 1:11 PM CST

Locked-Out Lord & Whip Partner Pursues ‘Nuclear Option’

A year ago, Lord & Whip had 15 lawyers. But now it is down to no more than four partners, and they reportedly can’t agree on anything. So managing partner Kathleen Bustraan allegedly took matters into her own hands. Without a partnership vote, she locked attorney John Boyd and his…

Feb 12, 2009 1:05 AM CST

Pa. Attorney Was Victim in Juvenile Jail-for-Pay Case, His Lawyer Says

A Pennsylvania lawyer who formerly was a co-owner of juvenile detention facilities implicated in a jail-for-pay case that has brought down two senior judges was a victim of their kickbacks scheme, his lawyer says. “Bob Powell never solicited a nickel from these judges and really was a victim of their…

Feb 11, 2009 8:55 PM CST

Hiring Disbarred Lawyer Was a Mistake, Ex-Judge Says

Hiring—and trusting—a disbarred lawyer known for his 1980s involvement in a bizarre condoms-for-chickens scam was a mistake, a retired Michigan judge says. “Former Clinton Township district court judge William Cannon blamed his criminal woes on his legal researcher Timothy Mucciante today at an adjourned preliminary exam,” reports the Detroit Free…

Feb 11, 2009 7:35 PM CST

Ex- Associate Claims Fried Frank Didn’t Promote Her Because She Is Gay

A former litigation associate at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson claims in a bias complaint that the firm refused to promote her to partner because she is openly gay. Julie Kamps filed the complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as well as human rights divisions in New…

Feb 11, 2009 6:44 PM CST

Irked Judge Asks 3 Lawyers to Explain Alleged Secret Fee-Sharing Agreement

By voluntarily withdrawing from 77 personal injury cases against a Florida-based cruise line after his law firm was accused of bribing an employee for inside information, attorney Jay Wingate was essentially forfeiting his legal fees in the cases, too. But now, according to an irate Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge, it…

Feb 10, 2009 11:47 PM CST

Spinoff Lures 3 London Partners from Cohen Milstein

There were already hard feelings about Michael Hausfeld’s departure in November, along with 17 antitrust lawyers, from the class action firm he founded. So it likely isn’t music to the ears of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll that the firm’s three-partner London office is now defecting to join Hausfeld, too.…

Feb 10, 2009 9:22 PM CST

Broke Blagojevich Looks for a New Lead Defense Lawyer

When Chicago attorney Sam Adam was asked recently by a television crew why fellow counsel Ed Genson was planning to leave the legal defense team for now-former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Adam pointed a finger to his head and replied: “Cuckoo.” The comment, which reiterated Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s use…

Feb 10, 2009 8:08 PM CST

Despite Economy, Some Open New Law Firms—and Thrive

Despite the struggling economy, lawyers are opening new firms—some voluntarily, and others as an alternative to unemployment. In both cases, many of the fledgling law partnerships are doing well, reports the National Law Journal. Business is booming for Jason Kohlmeyer, a Minnesota lawyer who opened a new criminal defense and…

Feb 9, 2009 9:41 PM CST

Bickel & Brewer Satellite Office is a Pro Bono Powerhouse

At its satellite office in south Dallas, Bickel & Brewer has an unusual practice focus: pro bono work. But it reflects Bill Brewer and John Bickel’s longtime commitment to representing low-income clients. They decided to one day open a separate division to represent low-income clients about three years after they…

Feb 9, 2009 6:34 PM CST

Partner Profits at Latham Are Down 21%, but ‘Not Too Shabby,’ Chairman Says

When Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft reported a decline of 30 percent in partner profits, its chairman W. Christopher White noted that average profits per equity partner stood at $1.88 million. The figure is “not too shabby,” White told the Am Law Daily at the time. Now another law firm leader…

Feb 9, 2009 3:11 PM CST

Why Some Law Firms Are Promoting More Partners This Year

Recent partnership announcements at several law firms contain some surprises: Some firms are promoting more to partnership this year than last. One of the surprises was Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, which laid off around 100 lawyers last year and reported a 30 percent drop in profits per equity partner. The…

Feb 9, 2009 2:24 PM CST

Former Fla. Lawyer and Her Paralegal Charged with Stealing Client Funds

Last year, Jessica Miller blamed her paralegal, office manager and best friend, Kristen Collins, for the disarray in her law firm’s financial records that led Miller to give up her license to practice law in Florida. Collins, on her side, said she paid firm and personal bills with client trust…

Feb 7, 2009 2:04 AM CST

Prosecutors Seized All Files in My Law Office, NY Attorney Says

A former member of the Suffolk County Legislature says the county’s district attorney seized virtually every file in his Long Island law office this week. “They took 30 years of my files,” attorney George Guldi, 57, tells Newsday. “They’re trying to drive me out of business.” In addition to real…

Feb 7, 2009 1:05 AM CST

NY Madam Says Cravath Partner on Her Client List

A former New York madam says her client list included Wall Street lawyers and other high-profile people, but the Manhattan District Attorney’s office wasn’t interested in prosecuting her customers. Kristin Davis pleaded guilty last year to charges of promoting prostitution, ABC News reports. She was sentenced to three months of…

Feb 6, 2009 3:37 PM CST