Partners

Note on Chair Informed Cohen Milstein Head of His Expulsion From Firm

Although he was then chairman of the firm, Michael Hausfeld apparently didn’t even know that his fellow partners at Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll were holding a vote Nov. 6 about whether to expel a partner. But after the vote, Bloomberg reports, a note on Hausfeld’s chair put him in…

Nov 11, 2008 11:38 PM CST

Another Philadelphia TV News Anchor Spat Hits the Courts

Warring former news anchors at Philadelphia television stations are creating a litigation boom for at least one local law firm. In the latest lawsuit, filed yesterday in Pennsylvania Common Pleas Court, ex-NBC10 anchor Lori Delgado, 28, says she quit her job because of fear for her safety and her husband’s…

Nov 11, 2008 8:59 PM CST

Akerman Chairman Confirms Merger Plans, But Offers No Specifics

Akerman Senterfitt’s planned merger with WolfBlock may have unraveled in September, but the Florida-based law firm hasn’t given up on all suitors. In an interview with the National Law Journal, Akerman chairman Andrew Smulian answered “yes” when asked if the firm has plans for other mergers. “A lot of people…

Nov 11, 2008 6:27 PM CST

Dewey Raids Patton Boggs for 2 Lawyers to Open Qatar Office

Two lawyers from the Doha office of Patton Boggs, in Qatar, are joining Dewey & LeBoeuf, to help open an office there for their new firm. William Cattan is joining Dewey as a partner and Joanna Addison will be a senior associate, the law firm reports in a press release…

Nov 11, 2008 6:08 PM CST

Narcissists with Big Egos Lead Many Law Firms, Consultant Says

Narcissists who like to exert control and reject collaborative decision-making are leading many large law firms through major changes, according to a consultant at Altman Weil. “Narcissistic leaders are distinguished by their big ideas, big personalities, big egos and general indifference to the opinions of others,” consultant Douglas Richardson writes…

Nov 11, 2008 4:45 PM CST

Cohen Milstein Name Partner to Colleagues: I’ve Been Expelled

After decades at Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll, a name partner is leaving the firm. The exact reasons why aren’t clear, but on Friday, in an e-mail to some attorneys, Michael Hausfeld said he’d been expelled in an “abrupt and unceremonious” manner, reports the American Lawyer. He joined the 65-lawyer…

Nov 10, 2008 9:18 PM CST

‘Manifestly Improper’: Personal Attorney Appears Before N.Y. Judge

The New York Commission on Judicial Conduct has recommended a censure for a Manhattan trial judge who acted in a “manifestly improper” manner by presiding over two criminal cases in which his personal attorney appeared. “However, by a vote of 4-3, the commission dismissed a second charge that Acting Supreme…

Nov 10, 2008 8:54 PM CST

Law Firm Funds Controversial Phila. ‘Justice’ Mural

A proposal to put a 38-foot mural promoting the theme of American justice on the side of a building in an upscale neighborhood in Philadelphia has proven controversial. Apparently concerned that the art work being sponsored by the Spector Gadon & Rosen Foundation at the law firm for which attorney…

Nov 10, 2008 4:56 PM CST

Bad Economy Didn’t Stop Large Law Firms from Adding Lawyers in 2008

DLA Piper has retained its position as the nation’s largest law firm, growing by 4.5 percent in 2008. The law firm’s head count grew only slightly more than the average of 4.3 percent for the 250 law firms surveyed this year by the National Law Journal. DLA Piper had 3,785…

Nov 10, 2008 12:03 PM CST

Winston Opens in Asia, Expands in D.C. With Heller Lawyers

Chicago-based Winston & Strawn is planning to expand its practice significantly, with the help of attorneys from the dissolving Heller Ehrman law firm. “Pending local regulatory approval in mainland China and Hong Kong, Winton & Strawn plans to open offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, with several partners, associates…

Nov 7, 2008 4:51 PM CST

No Practice, No Problem: Embattled Mich. Lawyer Gets Job as COO

Only a few months ago, the future seemingly wasn’t looking rosy for Carl Oosterhouse, a former partner of Dickinson Wright. The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board found that he should have his law license revoked for admittedly misappropriating client and law firm funds at another partnership for which he previously worked,…

Nov 6, 2008 8:36 PM CST

New Lawyer to Represent ‘Crockefeller’ on Multiple Fronts

An apparently bogus blueblood who made international headlines this summer after he allegedly kidnapped his 7-year-old daughter is putting a high-profile criminal defense attorney in charge of a variety of legal proceedings he is now facing. Jeffrey Denner of Denner Pellegrino will now represent “Clark Rockefeller,” who is believed to…

Nov 5, 2008 6:44 PM CST

Chicago Attorney and Ex-Alderman Ed Vrdolyak Pleads in Kickback Case

A well-known Chicago attorney who is a former longtime city alderman has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail fraud. The case, which involves a claimed kickback paid to put a real estate deal on a fast track, was to have gone to trial this week. “Edward Vrdolyak said he…

Nov 4, 2008 9:07 PM CST

11 of 44 Chicago Law Firms Met Female Partner Goal

Updated: A Chicago Bar Association program aimed at increasing the number of women in law firm partnership ranks is being criticized for being too lenient in crediting law firms for improvement. The “Call to Action” program found that 11 out of 44 Chicago law firms met their pledge to increase…

Nov 4, 2008 4:18 PM CST

McKee Nelson Cuts 17 Associates; Expects 10% Drop in Partner Profits

McKee Nelson announced today that it laid off 17 corporate finance associates and 15 staff because of a steep decline in structuring mortgage-backed and asset-backed securitizations. “This is market-driven, not the fault of these kids,” William Nelson, the firm’s co-founder, told the Wall Street Journal Law Blog. “All of the…

Nov 3, 2008 10:34 PM CST