Partners

No SLAPP Privilege for Client in Calif. Suit By Fired Former Counsel

A litigation privilege recognized in a California statutory scheme intended to protect citizen participation in civic matters didn’t apply to a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a nonequity partner against his former law firm and client, a state appellate court has ruled. Agreeing with a trial court’s determination that communications…

Jan 13, 2009 8:21 PM CST

Hit By Tax Liens, 40-Year Town Attorney Takes Leave From Law Firm

For 40 years, Edwin Shoemaker served as town attorney for Somerset, N.Y. But now, reportedly facing as much as $100,000 or more in federal and state tax liens, he is taking an indefinite leave of absence from his law firm, Andrews Pusateri Brandt Shoemaker & Roberson, according to the Lockport…

Jan 13, 2009 6:43 PM CST

Cadwalader Partner Profits Drop 30%, Less than Rumored Amount

Some rumors had put the drop in partner profits at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft at 50 percent. So the news of a 30 percent decline doesn’t seem all that bad. Average profits per equity partner at Cadwalader fell to $1.88 million for 2008, down from $2.725 million the year before,…

Jan 13, 2009 1:25 PM CST

Practitioners Play Musical Chairs Amidst Biggest Bankruptcy Boom in 20 Years

As experts predict the biggest boom in bankruptcy matters in 20 years, the practice niche is a hot hiring area. Among those who have suddenly jumped the law firm fence to potentially greener pastures elsewhere are O’Melveny & Myers restructuring co-chair Michael Sage, who moved to Dechert on Monday, and…

Jan 12, 2009 11:54 PM CST

Littler Mendelson Boosts Partner Profits, Topping Other San Francisco Firms

The employment law firm Littler Mendelson managed to boost profits per equity partner by 3 percent and revenue per lawyer by 5 percent, the highest increases out of seven San Francisco-based firms surveyed. Average profits per partner at Littler Mendelson increased to $435,000 while the firm’s head count increased by…

Jan 12, 2009 5:42 PM CST

Silver Lining in Law Firm Layoffs News: Many Partnerships are Better-Managed

With law firm layoffs seemingly snowballing and major international firms making capital calls on partners and predicting flat profits at best, the economic outlook in the legal arena right now clearly isn’t sunny. But neither is it as stormy as some news reports might suggest, despite the demise of a…

Jan 9, 2009 11:45 PM CST

Wildman Harrold Axes 10 Attorneys

Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon has confirmed that the Chicago-based law firm has laid off “approximately” 10 attorneys. About half are non-equity partners and the rest are associates. In a written statement provided to the Above the Law, Wildman says the laid-off lawyers “will be transitioning out of the firm…

Jan 9, 2009 7:36 PM CST

Ex-Associate (a Harvard Law Grad) Dishes on Skadden in Calif. Lawsuit

For seven years, Gary H. Green II handled labor and employment matters as an associate in the Los Angeles office of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom. Now he is apparently putting some of his knowledge of the practice area to personal use, in a pro se lawsuit (PDF) he…

Jan 9, 2009 1:44 AM CST

No Billion-Dollar Verdicts in 2008

The year 2008 passed without a single billion-dollar verdict. The top verdict overall last year was in a dispute over a contract for satellites. Jurors awarded $606.6 million against Boeing Co. and a subsidiary. The damages may seem big—but the award was the lowest top verdict of the year since…

Jan 8, 2009 4:54 PM CST

More Lawyers May Delay Retirement Due to Stock Drop, Crowding their Firms

The drop in the stock market is likely to make many lawyers think twice about taking retirement. At the same time, firms squeezed by the economic downturn can’t afford the incentives to entice older partners to leave. Many firms are opting to do away with mandatory retirement at a time…

Jan 8, 2009 3:15 PM CST

Clifford Chance Plans to Ax Up to 80 Associates, Asks Partners to Ante Up

Updated: Partners and several associates at Clifford Chance will be feeling the pain of the economic downturn. Clifford Chance is beginning a review that could lead to layoffs of up to 80 London associates at the same time it is asking partners to make increased capital contributions. The law firm…

Jan 8, 2009 1:18 PM CST

Associate Attorney General Nominee Sued File Sharers for RIAA

Technology blogs are talking about some controversial lawsuits filed by Barack Obama’s nominee for associate attorney general. Jenner & Block’s Tom Perrelli has represented the Recording Industry Association of America in “a slew of cases, including a high-profile bid to unmask file sharers without the requirement of a judge reviewing…

Jan 7, 2009 7:09 PM CST

Laid-Off Holland & Knight Partner Sues Over Retirement Benefits

A partner laid off by Holland & Knight in 2002 has filed a suit seeking retirement benefits of more than $5,000 a month. R. Thomas Farrar claims in the suit that the law firm violated his partnership agreement and waived its right to arbitration, the Daily Business Review reports. He…

Jan 7, 2009 11:57 AM CST

Top Cravath Partner: Kill Billable Hour

Evan Chesler isn’t the first prominent lawyer to make the suggestion. But his call, in a January magazine article, to kill the billable hour used by most corporate law firms as a basis for charging clients is bound to be influential because of his position at the helm of one…

Jan 7, 2009 12:50 AM CST

License Plate Law Puts Ariz. Attorneys in Driver’s Seat for Marketing Efforts

An Arizona law requiring license plates to be installed so that the state’s name is not obscured apparently has provided a lucrative marketing opportunity for a few enterprising criminal defense attorneys. After 100 state residents showed up earlier for help getting their license plates put on correctly, Michael Urbano and…

Jan 6, 2009 9:57 PM CST