Partners

2 Baker & Daniels Partners Leave for Athletics Director Posts

If you ever had a dream of becoming your alma mater’s athletics director, making partner at your law firm could be good job training. At least that’s what two former partners at the sports-savvy Indianapolis-based Baker & Daniels have discovered. In July, John “Jack” Swarbrick, a former Baker partner, became…

Nov 3, 2008 5:38 PM CST

La. Lawyer Pleads Guilty in Bizarre $30M Law Firm Theft Case

A New Orleans gaming lawyer who until recently was contending that his former law firm concocted theft allegations against him pleaded guilty today to charges that he bilked the firm and casino clients out of $30 million, stashing most of it in a Swiss bank account. James “Jamie” Perdigao, 46,…

Oct 31, 2008 8:03 PM CDT

Heller’s Chairman is Headed to Dechert

The chairman of the dissolving Heller Ehrman law firm has found a new home—Dechert. Matthew Larrabee will practice in the litigation group of the firm’s San Francisco office, reports the Am Law Daily. “Larrabee moved into the San Fransisco office today,” the article states, “though a partnership vote on Larrabee…

Oct 30, 2008 7:56 PM CDT

Eversheds Eliminates Planned Partner Profit Payouts

In the latest example of law firms battening their hatches to cope with a stormy economy, a major United Kingdom firm is eliminating quarterly profit distributions to equity partners scheduled for November and February. “Eversheds said the unusual move was aimed at encouraging partners to improve lock-up—work in progress and…

Oct 30, 2008 4:36 PM CDT

Ex-Partner May Plead in Fraud Case Over Alleged $30M La. Law Firm Theft

A news agency is reporting that James Perdigao, a former partner at a New Orleans law firm who is accused of fraud and money laundering concerning the $30 million he allegedly stole from an Adams and Reese trust account before repaying the money, is now expected to plead guilty. “Court…

Oct 30, 2008 4:24 PM CDT

2 Ga. BigLaw Partners Join No-Frills Firm

As a partner at Hunton & Williams, James Meadows billed his time at $650 per hour. Since moving on Oct. 1 to the no-frills law firm of FSB Legal Counsel, he charges half that amount. But the rate reduction is worth it, because of the flexibility the job offers, he…

Oct 29, 2008 9:59 PM CDT

What McKinsey Told White & Case

Implementing recommendations in a recent report by the McKinsey & Co. management consultants on its worldwide operations, White & Case is changing the management structure in its European offices. The matrix of those in charge will now be organized by geographic region and global practice group, rather than simply representing…

Oct 29, 2008 7:23 PM CDT

Bond Revoked for La. Lawyer Accused in $30M Law Firm Theft and Hacking Cases

A Louisiana attorney previously accused of stealing some $30 million from his law firm’s trust account has had his bond revoked after a more recent claim that he hacked into its computer system last month. Former Adams and Reese partner James “Jamie” Perdigao, 46, had been free on $2 million…

Oct 28, 2008 10:00 PM CDT

Thelen Leaders Seek Vote to Dissolve, Hope to Close By Dec. 1

Updated: Citing crippling economic factors and the impact of partner losses, the partnership council of Thelen recommended in a meeting today that the law firm’s partners vote to dissolve. The firm hopes to shut down by Dec. 1. Partners have seven days to vote on dissolution. Thelen attributes its troubles…

Oct 28, 2008 8:08 PM CDT

Kramer Levin Bankruptcy Trio, Milbank’s Luc Despins Jump Ship to New Firms

Updated: Three former bankruptcy partners of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, including the co-leader of the firm’s Distressed and Special Situations Lending Group, have departed for Gibson Dunn & Crutcher. David Feldman, Eric Wise and Matthew Williams are now partners in their new firm’s New York office, where Feldman will…

Oct 28, 2008 6:06 PM CDT

Some Lawyers Ante Up $25K in Gay Marriage Fray, as Law Prof Stars in Ads

A Pepperdine University law professor is taking to the airwaves to back a California constitutional amendment to bar gay marriage in the state, while other lawyers on both sides of the debate are contributing as much as $25,000 to committees battling over the issue. Professor Richard Peterson appears in TV…

Oct 28, 2008 3:26 PM CDT

Thacher Proffitt Loses Vice Chairman and White Plains Lawyers

The vice chairman of Thacher Proffitt & Wood is jumping to Greenberg Traurig along with seven other lawyers who made up the firm’s office in White Plains, N.Y. The American Lawyer reports on the development. Outgoing vice chairman Thomas Leslie said in a press release that Thacher Profitt “is a…

Oct 28, 2008 10:48 AM CDT

Ex-Milberg Partner Gets 6 Months in Class Action Kickbacks Case

Developing: Doubling the three months recommended by prosecutors, a federal judge today sentenced a former name partner of the New York City-based law firm now known as Milberg to half a year in prison. David Bershad, 68, who cooperated with the government, got a six-month sentence from U.S. District Judge…

Oct 27, 2008 9:26 PM CDT

Thelen Energy Partner May Light Up Reed Smith

Thelen shareholder Ellen Bastier may be jumping ship, along with some of her colleagues, to Reed Smith. All of Reed Smith’s 325 equity partners were asked to vote this week on whether to acquire Bastier, a San Francisco-based energy lawyer in Thelen’s business department, the Recorder reports. An unnamed Reed…

Oct 24, 2008 8:22 PM CDT

After Freezing Fees, Wal-Mart GC Considers Cutting Associate Billing Rates

Wal-Mart general counsel Tom Mars says he is considering initiatives to lower associate billing rates at the company’s outside law firms “to some point where they reflect value.” In an interview with the Daily Journal (sub. req.), Mars said he is not the only general counsel concerned that billing rates…

Oct 24, 2008 11:44 AM CDT