Partners

Opponent ‘Bought’ Privileged Docs, Used Them to Seek More

A struggling mortgage lender in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case may have opened up a major new battlefield in the legal malpractice arena. Eager to put an end to a fraud suit brought by a software developer, New Century Mortgage agreed, as part of a settlement in federal bankruptcy court…

Sep 5, 2008 6:46 PM CDT

Make That 37 Partners Who Have Left Heller Ehrman This Year

With the departure of two San Francisco Bay area attorneys for other law firms, the total number of partners who have left Heller Ehrman this year now reportedly tallies at least 37. Trademark lawyer Harold Milstein is the seventh Heller partner to join Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton this year,…

Sep 3, 2008 7:33 PM CDT

More Lawyers Patent their Inventions and Sue, Sometimes Surprising their Firms

Some law firms are apparently being caught “flat-footed” when one of their lawyers files suit to protect his or her own patented invention, according to an article in IP Law and Business. At least 10 lawyers have filed infringement suits to protect their inventions, and some of them continued to…

Sep 3, 2008 4:19 PM CDT

Tenn. High Court to Hear About Fiery 25-Year Law Firm-Judge Spat

After 25 years of periodic dispute between a Greeneville, Tenn., law firm and a local Greene County judge, the situation has heated up to a point where the state supreme court is about to weigh in. The law firm, which is one of the largest in Greeneville, is asking the…

Sep 3, 2008 3:57 PM CDT

Foley Hoag, Law Profs Represent Georgia in World Court Hearing

Foley Hoag and two law professors are representing the Republic of Georgia in an emergency hearing before the International Court of Justice. The hearing set to begin Sept. 8 claims Russian forces and Russian-supported separatist militias engaged in ethnic cleansing against Georgians, according to a Foley Hoag press release e-mailed…

Sep 3, 2008 2:09 PM CDT

Interview Mistakes Include ‘Too Much Information Syndrome’ and Bad Suits

Some advice on how to avoid job search mistakes sounds like common sense: Make sure there are no typos in your resume or cover letter. Get an early start on your job search, and be aware of employer deadlines. Don’t get discouraged. Circle back after rejections and ask for guidance.…

Sep 3, 2008 12:10 PM CDT

3 Duane Morris Corporate Partners Jump to Sheppard Mullin

A three-lawyer corporate group is jumping ship from Duane Morris to Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton in the San Diego area. Robert Copeland, James Mercer III and Michael Umansky are joining Sheppard Mullin as partners, according to a law firm press release. They were previously partners in the San Diego…

Sep 2, 2008 5:48 PM CDT

The Insider

The economic news is doom and gloom—how is it affecting your business?

Sep 1, 2008 1:00 PM CDT

Hiring for Lateral Partners—and Entire Practice Groups—is Strong

Law firms are continuing to hire lateral partners, but the process is slowing as each side takes more time to evaluate the other. Legal recruiters who spoke to the Recorder cite a number of reasons for a strong lateral market for partners—and for entire practice groups. In some cases, law…

Aug 29, 2008 12:00 PM CDT

Judge Approves Deal Letting Melvyn Weiss Keep Future Fees

A New York judge has approved a deal that allows former securities class action lawyer Melvyn Weiss to keep future fees from some cases he worked on at his former law firm, now known as Milberg. Weiss pleaded guilty to paying kickbacks to lead plaintiffs in securities lawsuits and is…

Aug 27, 2008 1:07 PM CDT

Leader of Dissolved IP Boutique Says No One Wanted His Job

A Philadelphia intellectual property boutique is being acquired by a larger firm, and the outgoing managing partner attributes his firm’s dissolution to an unusual problem: No one wanted his job. Synnestvedt & Lechner of Philadelphia was having a banner year in terms of revenue per lawyer, managing partner Joseph Posillico…

Aug 27, 2008 12:11 PM CDT

Rising Bankruptcy Bar Star Quits Mayer Brown for Orrick

The co-chair of Mayer Brown’s financial restructuring and bankruptcy practice group is leaving the firm, effective immediately, to join Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. Raniero “Ron” D’Aversa Jr., 44, will be based in Orrick’s office in New York. Sources say that he will be joined there by several associates, reports the…

Aug 25, 2008 11:41 PM CDT

As It Loses a 3rd Name Partner, Thelen Shrinks Its Name

Following word today that the third name partner in four months has announced plans to leave Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner, the firm has announced that it will shorten its name to Thelen. Jeffrey Steiner has announced that he will be leaving for DLA Piper next month, along with…

Aug 25, 2008 10:42 PM CDT

From Salvation Army Shelter to Christian Lawyer: Meet Doug Romero

The Law Office of Douglas Romero in Denver has a pastor on staff and a plaque on the wall that says “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Every Wednesday, the staff meets for a Bible session. When Romero hires new associates, he asks them, “Tell me, how is your walk with God?’…

Aug 25, 2008 4:49 PM CDT

Axing Associates Now Could Mean Problems Later, Expert Says

In a struggling economy, reduced levels of legal work and rising costs tempt law firm partners to cut associates. But the money they save by doing so now may result in associate salary increases later, if history repeats itself. In 2002 and 2003, the number of associates employed by the…

Aug 22, 2008 10:46 PM CDT